I just want to compliment you on what you just did because it was extraordinary. Stream now on Peacock.ALL of Brandon Leake's Performances on Season 15 of AGT! The activist also liaises with Stockton Police Department, advocating for reform of their use-of-force policies to better the relationship between minorities and the police. And I know my sister would be proud of the way her brother has responded to all the things that have been thrown in my way.". Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel were back again without a guest judge or Simon Cowell, who broke his back on Aug. 8 at his Malibu, California, home when he fell off an electric bike. We feel your pain. Brandon Leake's ode to his sister turned an audience-free "AGT" into a night to remember. In his ode to his sister, he reads, "If I could trade my six feet for yours. "And we won. Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation. - America's Got Talent 2020https://youtu.be/SaPXcg7lLfgAmerica's Got Talenthttp://www.youtube.com/user/americasgottalent#AGT #AmericasGotTalent My kids don't bother me when I'm in the shower, my wife doesn't need anything from me when I'm in the shower. "This right here is genuinely a moment in which spoken word got a chance to be on the forefront of the American conscious," he said to People following his victory. Cowell called his act an "amazing tribute." The NBC App is the best place to catch up on the most recent season of your favorite shows, watch live TV, and stream movies. 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. Acclaimed actress and international superstar Sofia Vergara joins as a new judge this season alongside returning judge and global fashion icon Heidi Klum. Last week, a source told PEOPLE that "Simon's healing has been going well," and "he's recovering at home." To know that an art form that was so underground for so long got the public eye and took a win, that's more than any million-dollar prize could ever be.". 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 Go behind-the-scenes, stay on top of breaking news, hang with the stars, and much more. "America, sit quietly, listen and take it in.". Mother was like a zombie. I handicapped myself for years because I was too concerned with how people looked at me, how people perceived me. I am so grateful to be in this country. The first contestant to perform poetry on AGT, Leake prefaced his spoken word piece by dedicating it to his sister. Brandon has performed in locations such as New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and 36 U.S. states for his Dark Side Tour, which promotes his first-ever published poetry chapbook and his album Deficiencies: A Tale From My Dark Side, which is rooted in transparency and healing. His daughter, now 6 months old, is named Aaliyah, but her dad calls her "booboo". Everybody else is pretty much irrelevant. This story contains details from the June 30 episode of "America's Got Talent.". What an amazing tribute. March 1, 2021 / 6:45 AM However, that didn't seem to affect the emotion in the room. KYLIE MAR: But Howie Mandel was most moved by Brandon's audition, as the judge ultimately decided to give him his Golden Buzzer. Mandel gave Leake a standing ovation once again following a performance that served as a prayer for his daughter. The Season 15 winner is the competition's first (and only) spoken-word poetry champion. You are so amazing. Moved by his performance, Howie Mandel pressed his Golden Buzzer, sending Brandon directly to the Quarterfinals. ", "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. BRANDON LEAKE: I know I said earlier to hold on to love loosely so when it leaves, it won't exit so painfully. Howie and Heidi are amazing, but he's the boss! SPOKEN word performer and civil rights activist Brandon Leake is the winner of Americas Got Talent season 15. Mandel applauded Leake'screativity and vulnerability. I actually didn't think about that at all. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara all gave him standing ovations. What did getting the Golden Buzzer during your audition feel like? Surprising Cause Of Death Revealed For 37-Year-Old ABC News Producer. That's what felt really good: knowing I'd done so much work to get so much better, and that I was finally there. What was that experience like? It's the time that I don't have anybody pulling on me. 27; 30 Tears also flowed for singer Shevon Nieto, a two-time Olympic runner who quit training for her third Summer Games after her boyfriend Jamie, also an Olympic athlete, was paralyzed from the chest down in a 2016 high-jumping accident. It's either love or pain, one of the two. There were probably a lot of people who doubted that a poet could win, but Brandon is the real deal. But, there is something so different about Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and the countless others," Leake said. After reciting his incredibly moving poem, Brandon got a standing ovation from judges Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, while Sofia looked visibly stunned. Leake says his overall goal is to spread a message that creates a more loving and gracious society. 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. UTA Signs 'America's Got Talent' Winner Brandon Leake. And season 15 will conclude on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23, when a winner will be crowned during the scheduled finale. His words captured the judges and drew a standing ovation. Don't go out there trying to be somebody else. 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. I just want to compliment you on what you just did, because it was extraordinary.". On Tuesday, America's Got Talent contestant and 27-year-old Calif. native Brandon Leake made history when he took the stage as the show's first-ever spoken word artist. Brandon was the first ever artist of his genre to feature on the show and has been awarded the $1,000,000 prize, as well as a headline slot at a show in Las Vegas. 15, All-Stars Leake actually didn't make it to the AGT stage when he first auditioned back in 2017. There's something very, very special about you. His tear-jerking tale of family tragedy not only earned judge Howie Mandels Golden Buzzer, but host Terry Crews told him, Youre about to put spoken word on the map like its never been before. Brandon, whose daughter was born just 14 days before his AGT audition, explained that he had turned to poetry years ago as a means of coping with his teen angst: I let all that frustration out. Brandon Leake is a poet from Season 15 of America's Got Talent. We feel your pain. Sofia Vergara was emotionally moved by this poetic America's Got Talent audition. "My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away," an emotional Vergara said. Relive all of Brandon's full performances from the season. Get The America's. Brandon is the first poet to pass the audition round. Leake was the first-ever spoken word poet to win America's Got Talent. He went on to study at Simpson University in Redding, where as well as writing poetry, he played basketball onSimpson'sNCAA Division II team. Brandon Leake is an African-American spoken word poet, educator, and motivational speaker. Exclusive: How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. 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. There's something very, very special about you. Read More 'AGT': Poet Brandon Leake wins star-studded finale with Duchess Meghan, Blake Shelton. I'm just trying to hold onto you. It's just me and my thoughts. Brandon blew away judge Howie Mandel in particular after he performed a piece about the loss of his sister. Coming from a kid who was always concerned about looking cool, being cool, and doing cool stuff, it was really hard for me to relinquish that type of cool jacket off of myself, How communal the talent pool became. I know what this is. Thesixth day of auditions, which was taped in March, marked the first episode of Season 15 impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,before countrywide lockdown orders sidelinedentertainment production. After the final five acts are determined for the live semifinals, next week will be the first of two rounds, with 10 acts competing each Tuesday (Sept. 8 and Sept. 15) at the Universal Studios Hollywood lots. The Season 15 winner was the show's first-ever spoken word poet to compete. This is a very difficult thing for me to judge. He received a standing ovation from Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Mandel. : How did you discover spoken-word poetry? Anna posted on her Instagram celebrating 3 years with her hubby. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. Until Leake, 27, burst onto the scene in June with an emotional poem dedicated to his sister, who died as a baby, a spoken-word artist had never even appeared on the show, let alone captivate. Although the audience was missing, the talent was not. Congratulations to Brandon Leake for WINNING Season 15 of America's Got Talent! Season 15 KYLIE MAR: Fans at home were crying, and even Simon Cowell, who was initially skeptical about Brandon's act, was impressed. "Kind of," Leake replied. How communal the talent pool became. No music, no nothing. For the finale in Episode 1522, Brandon Leake performed a short spoken word piece prior to the results about Season 15. "She's here with me now," he said of Danielle Marie Gibson, who died in 1997 at only 8 months old. Brandon won 'AGT' season 15 in September 2020, taking home $1 million prize money, a new Kia Stinger, and the chance to perform in Luxor Las Vegas. This is a very difficult thing to me to judge. Go behind-the-scenes, stay on top of breaking news, hang with the stars, and much more. Act The reason I became so much better was actually 'cause I failed making the show the first time. He will be part of the AGT Live residency and has a movie in the works. 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Brandon Leake is AGT royalty. Its like singing and talking and just being a human a cappella. 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. Brandon Leake, 27, a community college counselor in Stockton, California, wowed the judges with an emotional performance of a poem that paid tribute to his late sister, who died as a baby. Tonight's poem is actually an ode to my sister, Brandon explained. "She was sitting in the car next to me as we were going to pick up my grandpa. The same way the Latino woman from Florida can relate to a young black kid from Cali," said Leake. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara all gave him standing ovations. The dynamic Terry Crews returns as host. 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