AMERICA'S Got Talent is airing a new episode of audition tonight, and one preview shows contestant Ben Waites leaving one of the judges in tears.
The 32-year-old contestant from Nashville said he is a southern gospel singer and a vocal coach.
He performed True Colors, by Cyndi Lauper, and explained to the judges that he picked that song because "it's able to communicate a message of hope."
Judge Sofia Vergara became emotional during Waites' audition, which will air during tonight's episode of America's Got Talent, at 8pm on NBC.
Read our America's Got Talent live blog for updates…
- Jennifer Korn
Past AGT judges
The original judges of America’s Got Talent were David Hasselhoff, Brandy Norwood, and Piers Morgan when the show began in 2006.
Since then, a slew of famous faces have taken their seats on the judging panel.
The full list includes: David Hasselhoff, Brandy Norwood, Piers Morgan, Julianne Hough, Gabrielle Union, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, Howard Stern, Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne, and Mel B.
- Jennifer Korn
Who is Sofía Vergara?
Sofía Vergara is a Colombian-American actress best known for her role in the television comedy Modern Family as Gloria.
Between 2013 through 2020, she was the highest-paid actress on American television for seven years.
- Jennifer Korn
Who is Howie Mandel?
Howie’s most well-known job was presenting the game show Deal or No Deal.
Mandel has served as a judge on America’s Got Talent for the most time of any previous judge.
He made his debut appearance in Season 5, and this will be his twelfth season behind the dreaded X’s.
- Jennifer Korn
Who is Simon Cowell?
Simon Cowell is well-known around the world for his tough yet lovable judging approach on numerous competition shows.
America’s Got Talent, Britain’s Got Talent, The X Factor, and American Idol have all featured him.
He originally joined the judges on Season 11 of America’s Got Talent.
- Jennifer Korn
Who is Heidi Klum?
Heidi Klum is a German-American model, television personality, producer, and entrepreneur who was the first German Victoria’s Secret Angel.
She originally appeared on the show in 2013 and remained on the panel until 2018, when she took a brief hiatus.
For Season 15, Klum returns as a judge.
- Jennifer Korn
Who are the AGT judges?
Each season of the series, the fate of the competitors lies in four judges’ hands. They are:
- Howie Mandel
- Simon Cowell
- Sofía Vergara
- Heidi Klum
How to get on America's Got Talent
For those who want to take their first step to stardom, many rounds of auditions for America's Got Talent are held across several cities in the US.
This season, contestants were asked to submit an initial video of their act.
Those video submissions determined who got invited to be a part of the show’s live auditions.
The team traveled to cities like Miami, Louisville, New York City, and Dallas to hold the live auditions.
Where America's Got Talent is filmed
For season 17 of America's Got Talent, the filming location is in Los Angeles, California at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, where the show was filmed in 2021.
Reality Titbit reported that the venue has a 3,000-seat capacity.
How is AGT prize money awarded
The $1million prize for America's Got Talent winners is part of what makes it a high-stakes talent competition.
Every competitor shares how winning the money would transform their lives, but in reality, winning the competition doesn't make someone an instant millionaire.
A disclaimer explains: “The prize, which totals $1,000,000, is payable in a financial annuity over forty years, or the contestant may choose to receive the present cash value of such annuity.”
This means that the winner can either choose to get $25,000 a year for 40 years or take the current cash value which in 2011 was about $300,000.
- Jennifer Korn
How much money do AGT winners get?
America's Got Talent is filled with so many skilled acts who want to share their gifts with the world, but what exactly do they receive if they win the competition?
The winner of each season receives a cash prize of $1million.
In addition to that, they also get an opportunity to headline a residency in Las Vegas at Luxor.
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