America’s Got Talent‘s renown is well-known throughout the entertainment industry. Many kinds of performers have been featured on the AGT stage – with varying degrees of success.
However, some went above and beyond with their performance. For this, the show has a unique distinction called “The Golden Buzzer,” and every participant highly covets it.
It is considered the gold standard in terms of awards, and each time it was received, it became a memorable moment. To better understand what it takes to be a Golden Act, we’ll present you with 4 acts that have managed to get this distinction.
1) Piff the Magic Dragon
There’s a high chance that Piff the Magic Dragon is unlike any other magician you’ve seen. He stands out due to his full-body dragon suit during his performances.
Piff first appeared on AGT during season 10. He took everyone by surprise during the auditions, which prompted the judges to give him a resounding “Yes” across the board.
Only during the next leg of the competition did Piff manage to blow everyone away. He called Judge Heidi Klum on stage to sign a card for him during the Judge Cuts. He then had his dog side-kick, Mr. Piffles, scramble the cards so Piff could pick one, hopefully, the same one that Heidi signed.
It wasn’t the card everyone had hoped for because it was hidden away the whole time in a can of sealed dog food. How did he do it? No one knows, but guest judge Neil Patrick Harris was so impressed by this that he ultimately awarded Piff with the Golden Buzzer.
2) Jon Dorenbos
Jon Dorenbos is a former NFL Player turned magician and motivational speaker. His life story is what forms the basis of his performances. Jon suffered from a defective aortic valve, which prompted him to undergo open heart surgery. The surgery was successful, but this also meant the end of his NFL career.
As part of his recovery, Jon turned to entertainment, where he found an outlet for his creativity. He developed his style of presentation, where he combines magic with his punchy sense of humor.
In 2016, Jon competed on America’s Got Talent, where he showcased his combined skills to put on an uplifting performance. He performed a sleight-of-hand trick, asking Judge Ne-Yo to pick a card, which Jon then tried to predict by drawing it on paper.
He then showed the card to Ne-Yo, which was incorrect. However, this was deliberate on Jon’s part because he materialized an actual card from his drawing after that.
This trick wowed Ne-Yo so that he pressed the Golden Buzzer in Jon’s favor.
3) Chase Goehring
Chase Goehring is from the Tennessee town of Nolensville. He was a typical student who attended piano lessons for fun before pursuing music full-time.
Chase’s passion for music took him far until he eventually reached AGT. During the auditions, he gave an outstanding performance that impressed the judges, which voted for him to advance to the next round.
In the judge cuts, he sang an original song titled “A Cappella.” His guitar work and singing were so fiery that he received standing ovations from Howie Mandel, Mel B, and guest judge DJ Khaled. DJ Khaled pressed his Golden Buzzer for Chase after being impressed by his performance, sending him straight to the Quarterfinals.
Chase had an amazing run throughout that whole season of AGT, eventually reaching the finals and finishing among the top 5 contenders.
4) Celine Tam
Celine Tam’s appearance on AGT was a pleasant surprise for everyone. She auditioned for the show during the 12th season, and at that time, she was among the youngest participants in AGT’s history.
Immediately as she walked up on stage, the audience cheered in excitement. Celine was enthusiastic about being there and told the judges that her biggest dream was to be the next Celine Dion. Her singing was very appreciated and brought a smile to everyone’s faces.
Guest judge Laverne Cox said that the combination of her singing and youthful charm is worthy of the big stages. Following this statement, he pressed the Golden Buzzer in her favor.
She advanced into the later stages of the competitions, continuing to delight audiences with her singing – into the semifinals.
After the competition, Celine continued her winning streak with other talent shows, including the international AGT spin-off “World’s Got Talent,” where she finished second.
America’s Got Talent – Golden Buzzer Winners At Your Event
AGT can bring many amazing artists to the public’s attention and propel them into stardom. However, all those performances aren’t just a one-off thing; they’re just a snippet of what the artist can do. Where they truly shine is up on the stage of large-scale events.
Maybe even yours, because you can hire them for any upcoming events.
We at the Grable Group can help you get in contact with the hottest performers in the industry. Call us at 615-283-0039, and let’s work together to provide your guests an entertaining experience.