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America’s Got Talent isn’t just a place for contestants to showcase their unique skills. It’s also the place where they can share a powerful message with the world.
On Tuesday night’s episode, the Mayyas, a women’s dance group from Lebanon, did just that, speaking about the struggles they face as dancers in their country before turning in a Golden Buzzer-winning audition.
“Lebanon is a very beautiful country, but we live a daily struggle,” one of the dancers told the judges before her audition. Another added: “Unfortunately, being a dancer as an Arab is not yet fully supported.”
The group’s choreographer said the Mayyas were inspired to try “AGT” by Nightbirde, which received judge Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer last year. Nightbirde was later forced to withdraw from the competition due to cancer and died in February.
“You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy,” Nightbirde said after her powerful audition.
One of the Mayyas’ dancers became emotional as he explained what the opportunity to be in “AGT” means to the group.
“Being here, standing on the biggest stage in the world, is our only chance to show the world what Arab women can do, what art we can create, what struggles we fight,” she said.
The group put on a hypnotic, dreamy performance, waving their arms and dancing with long feathers in perfect sync. Judges Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofía Vergara were stunned.
“There are no words to explain to you what we felt over here,” Vergara said. “It was the most beautiful, creative dance I’ve ever seen.”
Cowell said the group will “make a difference in so many positive ways, period.”
America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell Nearly hit in the head with an ax in a “very, very dangerous” audition
“It was probably the best dance routine we’ve ever seen,” he added.
Vergara said she wanted to give the dancers more power than just giving them a “yes.”
“I would be so honored to empower you even more on this journey because you deserve it,” said the former Modern Family star, before hitting the gold buzzer and showering the Mayyas with gold confetti.
‘AGT’ judge Howie Mandel awards Golden Buzzer to 11-year-olds discovered singing in the studio audience
“This is a life-changing experience for us,” one of the dancers told host Terry Crews afterwards.
The Mayyas aren’t new to Golden Buzzer-winning auditions. In 2019 they received the Golden Buzzer for “Arabs Got Talent” and won the season. Later that year they also appeared on Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions, where Cowell also served as a judge.
How far will they go on “AGT”? We’ll have to wait for the live shows to find out.
Kieran Rhodes sings a powerful original song about depression; Kristen Cruz is moving from the TikTok kitchen to the “AGT” stage
Another emotional audition came from 20-year-old Kieran Rhodes, who said he used to play baseball before discovering his passion for music. He then taught himself singing and piano and now attends the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Rhodes began singing Billy Joel’s “She’s Got a Way” before the gruff Cowell interrupted him and asked if he had any original songs. Rhodes continued to sing “Disengage,” which he wrote to help him overcome his depression.
The song had several viewers in tears.
“I could hear you play and sing for hours,” Vergara said. “You have everything.”
Mandel praised the student for not succumbing to his nerves, while Klum praised the “melancholy” in his voice.
Cowell kept his feedback factual.
“You’re a great singer,” he said. “I really enjoyed your original song and I really hope this audition can change your life.” Rhodes earned a “yes” from all four judges.
Another successful singer was Kristen Cruz, who gained a following on TikTok, where she uploads photos of herself singing while preparing matcha, coffee, and protein shakes in her kitchen.
She smashed the Rock number “I See Red” by Split Enz to a standing ovation from the jury.
“Are you really singing that?” Cowell marveled.
Vergara said the performance was “unexpected” and “sexy.”
“I want your voice,” said Klum, “I love everything about you. You are already a star in the making. You just have a real gift.”
Cruz received a yes from all four judges.
Simon Cowell has been proven wrong about pole dancing
Cowell clearly wasn’t a fan of pole dancing as an art form prior to Kristy Sellars’ audition, quipping to his fellow judges, “It’s just pointless.”
But the pole dance contestant quickly proved the judge wrong by giving a magical performance with an animated backdrop to tell a story.
“You have such an amazing vision and you’ve really taken pole dancing to a whole new level,” said Klum.
“That’s a Vegas show right there,” Mandel said.
And Cowell ate his previous words.
“You never know how these ideas are going to work on stage, but being there in the room was just phenomenal,” he said, and Sellars earned a unanimous “yes” from the judges.
Sellars previously won Australia’s Got Talent in 2019.
