By Lars Brandle
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Howie Mandel, Mel B, Terry Crews, SofÌa Vergara, Simon Cowell on ‘America’s Got Talent.’
Trae Patton/NBC
The semifinalists did their thing, America voted. Now we know the score.
On Wednesday night, Sept. 17, America’s Got Talent America revealed the six performers who collected the most votes and get the go-ahead for the Finale.
Singers Jessica Sanchez, Jourdan Blue and the Leo High School Choir Choir are safe, as are improv Rapper Chris Turner, projectionists LightWire, and acrobats Sirca Marea. They join rappers Micah Palace (judge Simon Cowell’s Live Golden Buzzer) and Mama Duke (Mel B’s Live Golden Buzzer), dance troupe Team Recycled (Howie Mandel’s Live Golden Buzzer) and singer-songwriter Steve Ray Ladson (Sofía Vergara’s Live Golden Buzzer), each of whom bypassed the Semifinals drama.
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It’s the end of the line, however, for Bay Melnick Virgolino, Unreal, Birmingham Youth Fellowship Choir, TT Boys and Zak Mirz, who are eliminated at the penultimate stage.
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For Sanchez, a spot in the final is a dream come true. “I’m really stunned, thank you America,” she told host Terry Crews after her name was called. “I’m just so honored to be here…I’ll do my best.”
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Sanchez has imagined this moment for two decades, or more. The Houston, TX native, who is nine months pregnant, auditioned for the first season of America’s Got Talent back in 2006, when she herself was child, aged just 10.
She returned to AGT for its 20th season, when she auditioned by singing Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things.” The judges were so impressed that Sanchez wound up earning a golden buzzer from Vergara, sending her immediately to the live round of the competition.
For her Semifinal knockout, she performed a soulful rendition of Golden Hour” by JVKE, a song choice that was questioned by judges Mel B and Howie Mandel, but loved by Vergara, Cowell, and, apparently, America.
Next up, the Finalist Acts will perform for the last time on Tuesday, Sept. 23, with voting opening at 6pm ET. The following night, Sept. 24, is the big reveal on NBC: the winner of America’s Got Talent Season 20, and the $1 million grand prize.
Casting is already underway for Season 21. Visit agtauditions.com for more.
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