The Season 15 winner was the show's first-ever spoken word poet to compete. "It's amazing to me that on Season 15, it's the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word," Mandel said. In my early stages of doing spoken-word, there might've been five, 10 people in the crowd, but theres a level of professionalism you have to have. Then, eight months later, Danielle passed away. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. That's the cost of love: caring for someone's so much that you can't imagine living life without them, staring at a grave. Your poems are so raw. I actually didn't think about that at all. "But it was very beautiful for me," Vergara said of the poem. UTA Signs 'America's Got Talent' Winner Brandon Leake. Brandon set up the group whilst at university, and began hosting open mic nights to raise money for kids suffering from domestic abuse to go to summer camps. Leake actually didn't make it to the AGT stage when he first auditioned back in 2017. Or you could say it started in college after the passing of one of my best friends. "And we won. "America's Got Talent" returns on NBCJuly 14 for the last audition show of the season. The then 4-year-old adored being a big brother and couldn't wait for all the fun they'd have together. "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. 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. But while other auditioners of the episode, notably the magicians and comedians, suffered from not being able to play to a roaring crowd, the intimacy of this unique situation actually made Brandons performance all the more intense and impactful. Public File for KMAX-TV / Good Day Sacramento. Now I get the chance to be on the forefront and show the world what spoken-word can do. "I'm tired of playing God 'cause I gotta come to terms with the fact that my sister ain't never comin' back.". "Love is the most vulnerable thing one will ever have," Leake recited, "And you must learn to hold onto it loosely so when it leaves it won't exit so painfully.". "I did all of this just to give you that. - America's Got Talent 2020 America's Got Talent 945K views 2 years ago Jayy Honors Her Parents Who Were Murdered In Front of Her. At present, he is 30 years old and his sun sign is Taurus. Everybody else is pretty much irrelevant. For more Brandon Leake AGT content, check out this roundup of his best moments from the show. I didn't know her, but she was a beautiful young Black girl, probably around 15 or 16. 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. He also . Brandon returned as a guest performer in Episode 1610 performing a spoken word piece about his hometown of Stockton. Brandon Leake is AGT royalty. Brandon met his wife Anna at one of his shows in Stockton after she turned up with a mutual friend. KYLIE MAR: But Howie Mandel was most moved by Brandon's audition, as the judge ultimately decided to give him his Golden Buzzer. And season 15 will conclude on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23, when a winner will be crowned during the scheduled finale. Male After reciting his incredibly moving poem, Brandon got a standing ovation from judges Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, while Sofia looked visibly stunned. Praise be the kingdom. Acclaimed actress and international superstar Sofia Vergara joins as a new judge this season alongside returning judge and global fashion icon Heidi Klum. Brandon's sister, who was four years younger than him, died at just 8 months old. Your season was filmed in 2020, in the thick of the global pandemic, so you didn't have a rapturous audience every week. 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 With the help of four other spoken word poets, he delivered a piece about his hometown of Stockton, California. America's Got Talent Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Brandon Leakeisa poet from Season 15 of America's Got Talent. AGT Season 17 premieres Tuesday, May 31 at 8 p.m. Read on. It's either love or pain, one of the two. Brandon Leake, the spoken-word poet who won the 2020 edition of America's Got Talent, has signed with UTA for all areas. And sometimes it designs these alternate realities where she is still here, still alive, and all the things I wish we could have done are played again and again and again, Brandon continued, as his voice began to quaver. This was a long time coming. But it was his first time, I believe, being moved by it the way I do it. [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. Brandon received enough votes to advance to the Semifinals in Episode 1516 instead of CA Wildcats and Divas & Drummers of Compton. It's either love or pain, one of the two. 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. When Howie asked if Brandons sister, Danielle (a girl with a smile as wide as the universe and eyes that glimmer like the stars), was backstage, Brandon just vaguely answered, Kind of. Danielles presence was definitely felt. What was that experience like? The first contestant to perform poetry on AGT, Leake prefaced his spoken word piece by dedicating it to his sister. Hours after the accident, Cowell underwent surgery during which he had a "number of fusions and metal rod" put into his back, a source previously told PEOPLE. In a poem used as an open letter to his father, Leake reflected on their years-long strained relationship and road to healing. 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. ", She added at the time: "With so many bad things happening, it creates a tough skin. I shouldn't be judging it, I just want to compliment you on what you just did because it was extraordinary.". 1 summer show, returns in May with fresh new faces and familiar favorites, along with the excitement, thrills and feel-good performances that viewers have come to love each season. Just be you, both on and off stage. KYLIE MAR: "America's Got Talent's" first-ever spoken-word contestant, 27-year-old Stockton poet, educator, and new father Brandon Leake, closed out Tuesday night's episode with a tear-jerking ode to his deceased younger sister. Mandel gave Leake a standing ovation once again following a performance that served as a prayer for his daughter. Season 15 But I was left here to manufacture wings out of tears and broken dreams, Brandon rapped. As well as his work as a performer, Brandon is also the founder of a youth organization Called to Move, which aids the development of young people through the art of poetry. [2] This is a very difficult thing for me to judge, I shouldnt be judging it. Cowell called his act an "amazing tribute." I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. Leake proceeded to vocalizethe painful processof mourning and accepting the death of his youngersister, Danielle Marie Gibson, who died in 1997, the same year Vergara lost her brother. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. NBC Insider is your all-access pass to some of your favorite NBC shows. Congratulations to Brandon Leake for WINNING Season 15 of America's Got Talent! We feel your pain. KYLIE MAR: Fans at home were crying, and even Simon Cowell, who was initially skeptical about Brandon's act, was impressed. She did this really sweet poem about her relationship with Jesus. The new dad moved the. It's amazing to me that on Season 15, its the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word. Mandel applauded Leake'screativity and vulnerability. I bring more about life-experience things that everyday people go through. And once Simon heard Brandon speak, he understood where Brandons childhood anger was coming from and, like Howie, he was totally convinced. How were you able to reach a place where you can be so personal in your work? I would say the writing was always personal, but performing was not always personal. Everybody has to hear it. He continued: "There is something very, very special about you. Brandon Leake, a 27-year-old college counselor from Stockton, California, shocked the judges with . She died from an enlarged heart at only eight-months-old. Exclusive:How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. We feel your pain, we feel your love.". Read More 'AGT': Poet Brandon Leake wins star-studded finale with Duchess Meghan, Blake Shelton. He received enough votes from the Superfans to enter the Top 3 of the night. He received a standing ovation from Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Mandel. ", RELATED VIDEO: Sofia Vergara Says She and Husband Joe Manganiello 'Haven't Had 1 Fight Yet' During Quarantine. I'm just trying to hold onto you. Very much she's here with me now, Brandon answered. "My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away," an emotional Vergara said. I gave her a hug afterwards and said, Hey, I didn't make it my first year, so keep trying. Brandon Leake is an award-winning spoken word poet, artistic educator and motivational speaker from . 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. America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. Or maybe it was simply due to they hue and in that moment I better understand my Black mother's greatest fear was every time I left her home, on the other side of her phone would no longer be her son, it would be America's most popular hashtag," the father of one said. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. "It is not our most dire moments that define us, but instead how we respond to them. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16, Golden Buzzer Brandon Leake Makes AGT History With Powerful Poetry - America's Got Talent 2020. Table of Biography [ show] Early Life Brandon Leake was born on May 4, 1992. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. According to Parade, Rafael was fatally shot in an attempted kidnapping in 1998. SIMON COWELL: What an amazing tribute. Let's find out#GoldenBuzzer #BrandonLeake . 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. She's here with me now," Leake said, leading Mandel to ask if shewas backstage. Brandon Leake's Adorable 3-Year-Old Crashed His AGT: All-Stars Audition The Season 15 alum made history with his win in 2020 as the first-ever spoken word poet to compete. 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!' Howie and Heidi are amazing, but he's the boss! NBC Insider is your all-access pass to some of your favorite NBC shows. He's a young man from Stockton who's transcending boundaries and breaking down barriers for generations to come. The 27-year-old from Stockton stole hearts on the national stage by telling a very personal story about the death of his baby. All-Stars I can feel your pain. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Tune in next week, when the Americas Got Talent auditions once again, without a live audience conclude. Keep reading for 10 things you didn't know about America's Got Talent season 15 winner . However, that didn't seem to affect the emotion in the room. I handicapped myself for years because I was too concerned with how people looked at me, how people perceived me. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more! Watch Brandon Leake's Audition on AGT:https://youtu.be/tdjIFkM-ohQWill Brandon become the next AGT winner?? Leake's audition, featuring a deeply personal poem about his late sister, earned him a Golden Buzzer from Judge Howie Mandel, and he was an unstoppable force from there. 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. 'America's Got Talent' Winners: Where Are They Now? His sister passed away when he was only 4-years-old. SPOKEN word performer and civil rights activist Brandon Leake is the winner of Americas Got Talent season 15. Stream now on Peacock.ALL of Brandon Leake's Performances on Season 15 of AGT! I'm still haunted by these nightmares because I have a really creative mind. Judge Sofia Vergara, whose older brother Rafael was murdered the same year that Danielle passed away, was in tears, telling Brandon, I can feel your pain. And I'm like, Sweet, let's do this.. 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. Aside from crew members and hostTerry Crews, that meant there were only four people inthe audience Tuesday: Cowell,Sofa Vergara,Howie Mandel and guest judgeEric Stonestreet, who filled in for a sick Heidi Klum. It's just me and my thoughts. Sofia Vergara was emotionally moved by this poetic America's Got Talent audition. This is a very difficult thing for me to judge. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. A good number of us really cheered each other on, even when we were competitiveIf you do great, that doesn't mean I can't also be great. : How did you discover spoken-word poetry? Since the show gave him a platform to share his skill with the world, he has become a household name across the country. I've been ground-bound because she left Earth to go back home, amongst the stars right next to God. To let it all hang loose on stage and leave nothing behind. . It's no exaggeration to say thatAmerica's Got Talentfans had never seen anyone like Brandon Leake. HOWIE MANDEL: You're amazing, buddy. Never the same and never replicated. Brandon Leake's Semifinals performance in Episode 1517 consisted of reciting a spoken word poem in the form of letters to his dad about how he missed out on many of Brandon's major life moments, eventually making peace. Don't go out there trying to be somebody else. Tearing up at the powerful performance, Vergara was speechless immediately after, as judges Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell gave a standing ovation, saying simply, "Wow." "I can feel your pain; I know what this is. 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. Brandon Leake is the winner of the 15th season of America's Got Talent. There was really nowhere else to go. We feel your pain. "This is going to be much harder for them.". Singers can go to, I would say the writing was always personal, but performing was not always personal. Mandel gave Brandon his golden buzzer, and he went from strength to strength throughout the competition addressing topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement and his estranged father. 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.. WINNER Brandon Leake All Performances on America's Got Talent!Audition - 0:05Quarterfinals - 5:03Semifinals - 10:01Finale - 14:59#AGT #AmericasGotTalent #Tal. Dancers have World of Dance and all these other places. His parents are Tyrone and Carla Leake-Gibson. The poem touched every single Judge, but particularly Howie Mandel, who awarded Leake with a Golden Buzzer. The same way the Latino woman from Florida can relate to a young black kid from Cali," said Leake. All four judges were never present every time Brandon performed. Leake tells his most personal stories to connect with others and inspire people far and wide. Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation. "My older brother, Rafael, was killed in Colombia," she said. Brandon had explained that he had a fourteen-day old daughter and a sister whom he loved very much. About you, updates, and Mandel 15 of America & # x27 ; s Got Talent and cowell... Auditions once again following a performance that served as a prayer for his daughter, eight later. Award-Winning spoken word can be so personal in your work Early Life Brandon is! Too concerned with how people looked at me, how people perceived me,... 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