Singing star Victory Brinker made history on America’s Got Talent’s latest episode. After a 16-year run, she became the first contestant to ever receive a Golden Buzzer from all four judges, as well as the host. With her angelic opera singing, the pint-sized prodigy surprised the audience, earned a standing ovation from the crowd, and made an appearance that is surely one for the books.
This season, both the host and the judging panel have all used their Golden Buzzers, a feature that sends acts straight to the live shows (and makes golden confetti rain all over the stage). Howie was the first to give his to a choir of 18 nurses from New York. Terry gave his to a high-flying group of taekwondo masters. Heidi’s was awarded to Léa Kyle, a quick-changing magician. Sofia granted hers to a singing powerhouse named Jimmie Herod. Lastly, viewers certainly recognize Simon’s Golden Buzzer winner, Nightbirde, as her original song has reached almost 30 million views on YouTube.
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But for the first time, Simon decided to switch up the rules. Following Victory’s performance, he called Terry down to the judging table and all five celebrities agreed to gift the singer with something special. “We’re not going to give you a yes today,” Simon initially told her, welcoming a roar of “Boo!”s from the audience. “We’re gonna do something else we’ve never ever, ever done on the show before.” After counting backward from five, all four judges and Terry hit the magic button and sent her right to the Dolby Theater for the quarterfinals.
Just before Victory’s audition, the judges noticed a bird flying through the theater. While actress and businesswoman Sofia fawned over how pretty the pigeon looked, Simon insisted his presence was a sign of luck. Out onto the stage came an excited and nervous – or “ex-nervous” as she called it – Victory. She told Simon that if she won the million-dollar prize, she’d buy him a glittery rainbow shirt to color up his wardrobe. Much like season 5’s Jackie Evancho or season 11’s Laura Bretan, a surprisngly big voice came from such a small girl as Victory belted out a rendition of “Juliet’s Waltz” from Roméo et Juliet. Towards the end of her performance, the bird landed on a speaker on the stage to, as Sofia said, come visit her. “I mean that is pretty incredible,” Heidi said. “That is a sign.”
The judges all praised her performance, saying she has a beautiful, powerful voice. With the gift from the judging panel, we can expect to see Victory again during the America’s Got Talent live shows. “You got the Golden Buzzer!” her mom told her as they left the theater. She gratefully responded, “I got all the Golden Buzzers! I’m so thankful!”
America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 pm ET on NBC.
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