You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. "America's Got Talent" returns on NBCJuly 14 for the last audition show of the season. I would say the writing was always personal, but performing was not always personal. His new book of poems, Unraveling, came out in March 2022, showcasing his singular artistry yet again. Year after year, \"America's Got Talent\" features an impressive array of singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, magicians, ventriloquists and hopeful stars, all vying to win America's hearts and a $1 million prize.America's Got Talent is available now on Peacock, the new streaming service from NBCUniversal. Poets just have our local coffee shops. "My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away," she said. Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, Germaphobe Howie Mandel Talks Wearing Masked Singer Lobster Costume, Stephanie Hsu & Tallie Medel on Their Awards Journey and Meeting Tilda Swinton | SAG Awards 2023, Tyler Henry Connects Celebs With Late Siblings (EMOTIONAL), Jennifer Hudson dishes on talk show success, Black History Month: Denver poet JC Futrell performs poem 'BRICS', Veterans Creative Arts Showcase | Morning Blend, AGT: All-Stars Finale: Winner WONT Receive Prize Money, Kate and Charlie Gibson talk 'The Book Case' podcast and new writers. On June 30, 27-year old Brandon Leake took the stage to perform a spoken-word ode to his late sister, Danielle, and the performance left Sofia visibly shaken. After Shevon belted an original ballad that she wrote for Jamie, Through the Good and Bad, and received unanimous yeses, she and Jamie (who is now her husband) elatedly revealed to Terry backstage that they will soon be new parents themselves. ET) on NBC. First published on March 1, 2021 / 6:45 AM. "Kind of," Leake replied. Table of Biography [ show] Early Life Brandon Leake was born on May 4, 1992. Like, How about I trade my six feet for yours? But that's not real. Brandons vulnerable words resonated throughout the empty venue in an AGT first, no live audience was present, due to coronavirus concerns. : The journey started one of two ways. Moved by his performance, Howie Mandel pressed his Golden Buzzer, sending Brandon directly to the Quarterfinals. "I'll say in the moment of doing it on the national stage, it wasn't immensely difficult due to the years of practice beforehand," said Leake. Brandon met his wife Anna at one of his shows in Stockton after she turned up with a mutual friend. "I had a nightmare that I would be 90 years old doing this show and nobody would be watching it, judge Simon Cowell said while looking back to the empty Pasadena Civic Auditorium. ", "Lines like that are what build the bridge between me and another person, and who would have thought that poetry or spoken word could do that," said Leake. And I'm tired of playing God, because Ive got to come to terms with the fact that my sister ain't never coming back. The Season 15 winner was the show's first-ever spoken word poet to compete. . Acclaimed actress and international superstar Sofia Vergara joins as a new judge this season alongside returning judge and global fashion icon Heidi Klum. Your mother and I love you more than youll ever know., Today fans divided over Jenna's dress as some viewers say it's 'inappropriate', Sister Wives Janelle Brown doesnt approve of Christines new romance, Inside 1000-lb Sisters stars Amy and Michael's secret fights over kids, Today's Savannah Guthrie abruptly leaves show after scary new medical diagnosis, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Brandon Leake is the winner of Americas Got Talent season 15, Leake is a spoken word poet and motivational speaker, Brandon blew away judge Howie Mandel after he performed a piece about the loss of his sister, Brandon met his wife Anna at one of his shows in Stockton, Leake was born on the south side of Stockton, California, Brandon has a daughter of six months named Aaliyah, AGT's Heidi Klum hits the Golden Buzzer pickingCristina Rae for the finals. After reciting his incredibly moving poem, Brandon got a standing ovation from judges Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, while Sofia looked visibly stunned. I know what this is. The reason I became so much better was actually 'cause I failed making the show the first time. No music, no nothing, just a raw heart beating in front of us. Leake says his overall goal is to spread a message that creates a more loving and gracious society. "I've been ground-bound because she left. Surprising Cause Of Death Revealed For 37-Year-Old ABC News Producer. This was a long time coming. Brandon is also the founder and CEO of Called to Move, an organization that aids youth in self-actualizing and personally developing through the art of poetry. Brandon Leake is the first spoken word poet act to receive the, In Brandon's Finals performance, it was mentioned that he auditioned for, Brandon is Howie Mandel's second (third if counting. "There's something very, very special about you. SIMON COWELL: Really-- this is a very difficult thing for me to judge. Opera Singer Shocks 'America's Got Talent' Judges with Cline Dion, Ariana Grande Impressions, 'America's Got Talent' 's Heidi Klum Says 'I Might Poop Myself' from Nerves About Season 17, Howie Mandel Calls His Golden Buzzer Act the 'Most Surprising, Jaw-Dropping Moment' He's Seen on 'AGT', 'AGT' Season 17 Starts Production: 'I Could Not Be Any More Excited,' Heidi Klum Says See First Look, 'AGT: Extreme' Crowns Season 1 Champion: 'He Deserves This!' Brandon Leake, AGT Season 15 winner: The journey started one of two ways. He received enough votes to enter the Top 5 instead of Archie Williams. Poet It's either love or pain, one of the two. I just want to compliment you on what you just did, because it was extraordinary, said a quieted Simon. He's a young man from Stockton who's transcending boundaries and breaking down barriers for generations to come. But it was very beautiful for me. However, it was Howie who hit that Golden Buzzer the final Golden Buzzer of the season still left in play which automatically advanced Brandon to the live shows. Let's find out#GoldenBuzzer #BrandonLeake . That's what felt really good: knowing I'd done so much work to get so much better, and that I was finally there. NBC Insider is your all-access pass to some of your favorite NBC shows. "I am going to show the world what a spoken-word poet can do.". This is a very difficult thing for me to judge. Brandon is the first poet to pass the audition round. Mandel hit the Golden Buzzer as just five pairs of hands clapped, sendingLeake straight to the live final shows. The first contestant to perform poetry on AGT, Leake prefaced his spoken word piece by dedicating it to his sister. Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation. For the finale in Episode 1522, Brandon Leake performed a short spoken word piece prior to the results about Season 15. Information Its like singing and talking and just being a human a cappella. When "America's Got Talent" contestant Brandon Leake took the stage to render the first-ever poetry audition on the show, the judges did not know they were in for a stunning and tearjerking performance. Below, NBC Insider chats with Leake. She died from an enlarged heart at only eight-months-old. ET on NBC. The audition greatly resonated with Vergara, 47, at the judges' panel. Sofia Vergara was emotionally moved by this poetic America's Got Talent audition. Exclusive: How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. (Kelly Clarkson and Kenan Thompson previously served as season 15 guest judges during the live shows. That being said, if an audience had been present during this taping, its likely that all spectators would have been rendered stunned and pindrop-silent by Brandons words. Brandon blew away judge Howie Mandel in particular after he performed a piece about the loss of his sister. His words captured the judges and drew a standing ovation. Go behind-the-scenes, stay on top of breaking news, hang with the stars, and much more. first episode of Season 15 impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts, Sofia Vergara falls in her haste to get away from shocking eye-bulging rapper, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "America, sit quietly, listen and take it in.". As Brandon began to recite his piece, he told the gut-punching story of his sister, who was four years younger than him, dying at just 8 months old. On Tuesday's episode of the competition series, 27-year-old Brandon Leake took the stage in front of an empty audience due to the show's health precautions amid the pandemic to perform a spoken-word set. "There was something more, so raw. "And as I stared at that screen, I couldn't help but think I was looking at a mirror image of myself being choked out for merely existing or for daring to be more than three-fifths of what them folk thought them to be. He was the winner of the competition, claiming the $1,000,000 prize, a new car, and the headlining of a show in Las Vegas. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Howie and Heidi are amazing, but he's the boss! Leake actually didn't make it to the AGT stage when he first auditioned back in 2017. March 1, 2021 / 6:45 AM You deserve the world and more. ALL of Brandon Leake's Performances on Season 15 of AGT! Now, Leake is a poetry maven who tours the country. He also . [1] He was the first spoken word poet to be on America's Got Talent and received the Golden Buzzer award in the first round from Howie Mandel. The poem touched every single Judge, but . Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. Leake tells his most personal stories to connect with others and inspire people far and wide. He received enough votes from the Superfans to enter the Top 3 of the night. Mandel applauded Leake'screativity and vulnerability. Singers can go to The Voice, as well as America's Got Talent. It doesn't take away from me. It's my opportunity. KYLIE MAR: But Howie Mandel was most moved by Brandon's audition, as the judge ultimately decided to give him his Golden Buzzer. It's amazing to me that on Season 15, its the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word. Creative writing most certainly was an escape. Judge Simon Cowell was skeptical at first, telling Brandon, I don't really understand poetry, but Brandon assured him, I'm a great intro for you. What I more so thought about was, I felt vindicated from all the people who said spoken-word could never be a mainstream art form. Never give up on this dream. I could tell my producer, it wasn't the first time he had heard spoken-word. The Modern Family actress then said that Leake's poem reminded her of her late brother. There's really no other place to find a mainstream home. "This is going to be much harder for them.". As passionate fans of these shows, we provide news, analysis and fan engagement on Americas Got Talent, Britains Got Talent, The Voice, The X Factor, American Idol, The Four, The Masked Singer, The Worlds Best and its contestants.America's Got Talent 2020https://goo.gl/e12UJ8America's Got Talent News \u0026 Recapshttps://goo.gl/e12UJ8 All of the judges and Crews have now used their Golden Buzzers. The same way the Latino woman from Florida can relate to a young black kid from Cali," said Leake. AGT Season 17 premieres Tuesday, May 31 at 8 p.m. During the Quarterfinals, the poet unveiled a timely original poem about the power of a Black mother's love and its tie to police brutality and racial injustice. It's the only consistent part of his process. 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