The Mayyas.Photo: Joe Schmelzer
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The Mayyas
The Mayyas.Joe Schmelzer
The Lebanese female dance troupe first caught America’s attention during theirshow-stopping audition, which prompted judgeSofía Vergarato press her Golden Buzzer.
During the live shows, the group delivered anotherhypnotizing dance routinethat fellow judge and executive producerSimon Cowellpredicted would “change the world.”
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Nicolas Ribs
Nicolas Ribs.Joe Schmelzer
Magician Nicolas Ribs has mesmerized the judges and audiences since his very first audition. Inhis debut performance, Ribs delivered an unbelievable digital magic act, in which two-dimensional objects became three-dimensional through the use of a screen.
“He did magic in a way we’ve never seen before,” judgeHowie Mandeltold PEOPLE. “The use of animation, projection, shadows, music and sleight of hand, all put into one to create an imagery like we’ve never seen before and kind of tell a story in just making cards appear, was just beautiful.”
Added Ribs, “I’m so happy, so excited to share my magic with everyone. It’s amazing.”
03of 11Sara JamesSara James.Joe SchmelzerAsSimon Cowell’sGolden Buzzer-winning act, 14-year-old singer Sara James wowed the crowd during her audition with a rendition ofBillie Eilish’s “Lovely.“James, who is from Poland, then took things to the next level during her live show performance, singing a moody, slower version of the belovedElton Johnclassic"Rocket Man.“All the way, Cowell has championed the teen singer, declaring her live show performance as “the best closure of the show we’ve had all season.“For James, the positive feedback has been surreal. “It’s crazy, it’s mad,” shetold PEOPLE. “I’m just a teenager from Poland, I don’t even know what I’m doing here, do you know what I mean? Thank you so much to all the judges. I’m so grateful.”
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Sara James
Sara James.Joe Schmelzer
AsSimon Cowell’sGolden Buzzer-winning act, 14-year-old singer Sara James wowed the crowd during her audition with a rendition ofBillie Eilish’s “Lovely.”
James, who is from Poland, then took things to the next level during her live show performance, singing a moody, slower version of the belovedElton Johnclassic"Rocket Man.”
All the way, Cowell has championed the teen singer, declaring her live show performance as “the best closure of the show we’ve had all season.”
For James, the positive feedback has been surreal. “It’s crazy, it’s mad,” shetold PEOPLE. “I’m just a teenager from Poland, I don’t even know what I’m doing here, do you know what I mean? Thank you so much to all the judges. I’m so grateful.”
04of 11MetaphysicMetaphysic.Joe SchmelzerThe artificial intelligence (AI) group brought immense joy to the crowd on their audition when they used their AI technology to transform formerAGTcontestant Daniel Emmet into judgeSimon Cowellas he sang"You’re the Inspiration.“For their live show performance, not only was Cowell featured on the screen — so were fellow judgeHowie Mandeland hostTerry Crewsas the “trio” sang the opera classic"Nessun Dorma.“The praise has been high for the group, including Cowell himself, who called them “the best act of the series so far.”
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Metaphysic
Metaphysic.Joe Schmelzer
The artificial intelligence (AI) group brought immense joy to the crowd on their audition when they used their AI technology to transform formerAGTcontestant Daniel Emmet into judgeSimon Cowellas he sang"You’re the Inspiration.”
For their live show performance, not only was Cowell featured on the screen — so were fellow judgeHowie Mandeland hostTerry Crewsas the “trio” sang the opera classic"Nessun Dorma.”
The praise has been high for the group, including Cowell himself, who called them “the best act of the series so far.”
05of 11Avery DixonAvery Dixon.Joe SchmelzerAs the first Golden Buzzer of the season, Avery Dixon wowed the judges and audience withhis upbeat saxophone performance.AfterTerry Crewspressedhis Golden Buzzerfor the 21-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, Dixon headed into the live shows with a new confidence, performing a rousing rendition of theStevie Wonderclassic “Higher Ground.“The act ledSimon Cowellto declare the “same thing he said toCarrie Underwood” when she won the fourth season ofAmerican Idolin 2005: “You’re going to be a superstar.““To hear those words from Simon, it’s unreal,” Dixontold PEOPLEafterward. “It’s like, did he really just say that to me? … I’m still just really floating on air right now.“Added Crews, “I sat right there on the side, giving him all the props, but he didn’t need it. He won the whole crowd over. To watch this man gain the confidence that he has, he’s a completely different performer.”
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Avery Dixon
Avery Dixon.Joe Schmelzer
As the first Golden Buzzer of the season, Avery Dixon wowed the judges and audience withhis upbeat saxophone performance.
AfterTerry Crewspressedhis Golden Buzzerfor the 21-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, Dixon headed into the live shows with a new confidence, performing a rousing rendition of theStevie Wonderclassic “Higher Ground.”
The act ledSimon Cowellto declare the “same thing he said toCarrie Underwood” when she won the fourth season ofAmerican Idolin 2005: “You’re going to be a superstar.”
“To hear those words from Simon, it’s unreal,” Dixontold PEOPLEafterward. “It’s like, did he really just say that to me? … I’m still just really floating on air right now.”
Added Crews, “I sat right there on the side, giving him all the props, but he didn’t need it. He won the whole crowd over. To watch this man gain the confidence that he has, he’s a completely different performer.”
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Chapel Hart
Joe Schmelzer
The song, which is a modern take onDolly Parton’s chart-topping 1974 classic"Jolene,“quickly went viral —catching the attentionof country music legends likeLoretta Lynn,Darius Ruckerand even Parton herself.
“We’ve been fighting to be seen for so long,” Danicatold PEOPLE. “To have the queen of country music, the pinnacle of country music, say, ‘I see you, I love what you’re doing, I love the song,’ that was more than enough.”
At the live shows, Chapel Hart performed “The Girls Are Back in Town,” another original tune that was equally as memorable and well-received.
“The fact that we stepped out from the first time and sang songs that came from our hearts, things that we actually put to paper and to see being received that way, it’s like, ‘Maybe we’re not crazy,'” Trea said. “It’s the ultimate validation and those words that we have been waiting years to hear. And we didn’t hear it from just the judges, we didn’t hear it from just the audience, we heard it from the entire world.”
07of 11Kristy SellarsKristy Sellars.Joe SchmelzerAs the only pole dancer to compete on season 17, Kristy Sellars hasquickly made a name for herselfonAGT.In both of her show-stopping performances, which featured Sellars pole dancing to avivid animation showbehind her, the Australian performer has received standing ovations from both the judges and crowd.“I couldn’t have asked for a better reaction,” Sellars, 36, told PEOPLE of the back-to-back positive responses.“My family and I have talked about [moving to the U.S.] so I really would love to create something for Vegas and … make that happen,” she adds. “It’s a pretty incredible opportunity, so fingers crossed.”
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Kristy Sellars
Kristy Sellars.Joe Schmelzer
As the only pole dancer to compete on season 17, Kristy Sellars hasquickly made a name for herselfonAGT.
In both of her show-stopping performances, which featured Sellars pole dancing to avivid animation showbehind her, the Australian performer has received standing ovations from both the judges and crowd.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better reaction,” Sellars, 36, told PEOPLE of the back-to-back positive responses.
“My family and I have talked about [moving to the U.S.] so I really would love to create something for Vegas and … make that happen,” she adds. “It’s a pretty incredible opportunity, so fingers crossed.”
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Yu Hojin
Yu Hojin.Joe Schmelzer
Hojin, a 29-year-old magician from South Korea, has stunned crowds with his illusionist talents sincethe first dayhe took theAGTstage.
ThoughSimon Cowellinitially gave him a no for his feather illusion audition, Hojin made it through to the live rounds, when he used Cowell’s rejection as inspiration to deliver an even more mesmerizing act.
“I was very happy and it actually helped me because first audition when he said no, actually it hurt me a lot because I thought everybody would love my act,” Hojin told PEOPLE. “But only Simon didn’t like it, and I was thinking, ‘Why?’ And I decided, ‘Okay, next round, I’m gonna make Simon happy with my magic.'”
He added, “I love magic, and I want to people know my story with my magic.”
09of 11Mike E. WinfieldMike Winfield.Joe SchmelzerSince hisfirst audition, the Baltimore comedian has been making audiences roar with laughter, particularly for his jokes about his “step-man.” But it was his live show performance that really stood out, leading judgeHowie Mandelto invite the season 17 semifinalistto open for himat an upcoming comedy show.“I was [like], ‘That really just happened?'” Winfield recalled to PEOPLE. “That would be amazing!“Added Mandel, “I think he’s unique. I think he’s a star in himself. I love everything he’s talking about. I like the way he dresses and his glasses and the way he looks. I liked everything about him. I think the kid is a star. I thought that was the best performance of the night.”
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Mike E. Winfield
Mike Winfield.Joe Schmelzer
Since hisfirst audition, the Baltimore comedian has been making audiences roar with laughter, particularly for his jokes about his “step-man.” But it was his live show performance that really stood out, leading judgeHowie Mandelto invite the season 17 semifinalistto open for himat an upcoming comedy show.
“I was [like], ‘That really just happened?'” Winfield recalled to PEOPLE. “That would be amazing!”
Added Mandel, “I think he’s unique. I think he’s a star in himself. I love everything he’s talking about. I like the way he dresses and his glasses and the way he looks. I liked everything about him. I think the kid is a star. I thought that was the best performance of the night.”
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Drake Milligan
Drake Milligan.Joe Schmelzer
The country singer became an instant hit after performing his original song,“Sounds Like Something I’d Do"at hisAGTaudition. The song laterhit No. 1on the iTunes Country chart — but that didn’t stop Milligan, 24, from returning to the series in pursue of theAGTtitle, whichSimon Cowellsaid earned him his “absolute respect.”
“It’s everything I’ve dreamed of as a songwriter and as a singer, to have people listening to my songs and coming to shows and singing along my songs,” he said. “AndAGThas done that for me. They really, really changed my life forever.”
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Celia Muñoz
Celia Muñozimpressed the judgesand audiences from the get-go with her singing ventriloquist act, but she was sadly eliminated from the competition after her Aug. 23 live show performance.
“I was flattered, I [was] amazed like,Really, is this happening?” the Spanish-born ventriloquist previously told PEOPLE. “But [I’m] very happy and very, very thankful.”
source: people.com
