"I'm tired of playing God 'cause I gotta come to terms with the fact that my sister ain't never comin' back.". Brandon Leake's AGT Golden Buzzer Audition. He went on to study at Simpson University in Redding, where as well as writing poetry, he played basketball on Simpson's NCAA Division II team. It was a testament to the time I had spent really owning and working on my craft. Leake was the first spoken word poet to perform on the show. And season 15 will conclude on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23, when a winner will be crowned during the scheduled finale. 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, Do you have any advice for the Acts competing on, this roundup of his best moments from the show. We have to understand each other and be compassionate, have empathy for each other. Mandel applauded Leake'screativity and vulnerability. There's something very, very special about you. "I did all of this just to give you that. 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. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I am going to show the world what a spoken-word poet can do.". "Kind of," Leake replied. But it was very beautiful for me. However, it was Howie who hit that Golden Buzzer the final Golden Buzzer of the season still left in play which automatically advanced Brandon to the live shows. 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. Age (at audition) / Good Day Sacramento. Brandon Leake, the spoken-word poet who won the 2020 edition of America's Got Talent, has signed with UTA for all areas. - (SINGING) Praise be the day. No music, no nothing. 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. 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. He received a standing ovation from Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Mandel. This is a very difficult thing to me to judge. It's either love or pain, one of the two. This show is about talent as much as it is about story. You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation. At present, he is 30 years old and his sun sign is Taurus. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. When or if Cowell, 60, will return has yet to be determined. TERRY CREWS: You have received the Golden Buzzer from Howie Mandel. After not making it in 2017, I said, Hey, I really want to try this out and get better at it. So I toured, I did a lot of work. I just want to compliment you on what you just did, because it was extraordinary, said a quieted Simon. Don't go out there chasing anybody else. He received enough votes from the Superfans to enter the Top 3 of the night. Watch Brandon Leake's Audition on AGT:https://youtu.be/tdjIFkM-ohQWill Brandon become the next AGT winner?? 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Brandon's final performance was an emotional spoken word piece about his new-born daughter. Are you close to your sister? asked Howie. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Your poems are so raw. Brandon returned as a guest performer in Episode 1610 performing a spoken word piece about his hometown of Stockton. 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!' There were probably a lot of people who doubted that a poet could win, but Brandon is the real deal. Brandon Leake has made it clear he's willing to take that leap. "And we won. BRANDON LEAKE: And I'm tired of playing God, because I got to come to terms with the fact that my sister ain't never coming back. 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. 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.". God blessed me with really long arms, so I just put my phone outside the water and type. : How did you discover spoken-word poetry? Simon Cowell Is 'Very Happy' to Be Home 1 Week After Breaking His Back and Undergoing Surgery, Sofia Vergara Recalls Brother's Death During Powerful AGT Audition: 'I Can Feel Your Pain', AGT: Watch Archie Williams, Brandon Leake and More Season 15 Finalists Perform for $1M Prize. 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. 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. 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. For more Brandon Leake AGT content, check out this roundup of his best moments from the show. That being said, if an audience had been present during this taping, its likely that all spectators would have been rendered stunned and pindrop-silent by Brandons words. You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. Read More 'AGT': Poet Brandon Leake wins star-studded finale with Duchess Meghan, Blake Shelton. ", "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. "And as I stared at that screen, I couldn't help but think I was looking at a mirror image of myself being choked out for merely existing or for daring to be more than three-fifths of what them folk thought them to be. 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. The first contestant to perform poetry on AGT, Leake prefaced his spoken word piece by dedicating it to his sister. "Its amazing to me that on Season 15 its the first time were hearing spoken word," the comedian said. His daughter, now 6 months old, is named Aaliyah, but her dad calls her "booboo". This pursuit led to Brandon leading workshops around the world with several curricula he developed himself. I know what this is. The Season 15 winner is the competition's first (and only) spoken-word poetry champion. Spoken word is the name given to poetry written to be performed, and Leake is the first ever performer of this genre to be featured on AGT. Now, Leake is a poetry maven who tours the country. I am so grateful to be in this country. Brandon Leake's Preliminary performance in Episode AS06 consisted of performing a spoken word poem about a homeless man he met on the street with a moral of not judging a book by its cover. [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. I would say the writing was always personal, but performing was not always personal. And then I just keep my shoulders from getting wet. Exclusive:How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara all gave him standing ovations. S15NBC You are so amazing. "I'm still haunted by these nightmares 'cause I have a really creative mind, and sometimes it designs these alternate realities where she is still here," he said. Don't go out there trying to be somebody else. By McKenzie. Seasons Mother was like a zombie. "Tonight's poem is actually an ode to my sister. Sex You just have to take a deep breath and keep on going if not for yourself, then for everybody you love.". 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. We feel your pain, we feel your love.". Klum, Vergara and Mandel have all spoken to PEOPLE about Cowell's recovery. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. All of the judges and Crews have now used their Golden Buzzers. Just be you. 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. He will be part of the AGT Live residency and has a movie in the works. Were you the first poet that producers had seen? 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? 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. In addition to the $1 million grand prize and a newKia Stinger, Leake is currently a headliner atAGT's live Las Vegas show at the Luxor. It's the only consistent part of his process. Meet the Season 17 Finalists of 'America's Got Talent', 'AGT' Star Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski's Family Is 'Devastated by Her Passing': 'Unimaginable Loss', empty audience due to the show's health precautions. It's amazing to me that on Season 15, its the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word. And I'm like, Sweet, let's do this.. Leake says his overall goal is to spread a message that creates a more loving and gracious society. While you're trying to score tickets, take a walk down memory lane and catch every single one of Leake'sAGTperformances. 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. "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. The fourth and final slate of contestants performed in the live quarterfinal rounds of America's Got Talent. How were you able to reach a place where you can be so personal in your work? Table of Biography [ show] Early Life Brandon Leake was born on May 4, 1992. Sofia Vergara was emotionally moved by this poetic America's Got Talent audition. Do you have any advice for the Acts competing on AGT Season 17? Or you could say it started in college after the passing of one of my best friendsme getting the opportunity to have an outlet to share that type of pain. Everybody else is pretty much irrelevant. The Stockton, California, native spoke about his mother's "greatest fear" about her son living in America as a Black man and honored the lives of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake. SOFIA VERGARA: Yeah. 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. On Tuesday, Vergara tweeted that the emotional performance was "a great way to end the night!!! Brandon posted on his Instagram after his AGT tribute to her: Love you booboo, I hope that gift will forever remain in your heart. Brandon blew away judge Howie Mandel in particular after he performed a piece about the loss of his sister. The judge's older brother, Rafael, was murdered in 1998 at age 27 during a kidnapping attempt in Colombia, and the memories came flooding back when Brandon Leake recited a poem about his sister's death, according to Fox News. 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.. NBC Insider is your all-access pass to some of your favorite NBC shows. 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 myselfto just be OK with being like, Let me, for lack of a better term, look like a dumbass on stage. You have to give yourself permission to cryto do theater, in a sense. If you don't understand it and you're not moved by it, then you're not a human being. "America's Got Talent" returns on NBCJuly 14 for the last audition show of the season. Says Host Terry Crews, 'AGT' 's Simon Cowell Remembers Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski as 'Extraordinary Person' After Her Death, 'AGT' Star Nightbirde Dead at 31 After Cancer Battle: 'We Love You,' Says Terry Crews, 'AGT' Star Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski's Family Is 'Devastated by Her Passing': 'Unimaginable Loss', 'AGT' : Simon Cowell on Nightbirde's Success After Her Exit, His 'Amazing' Frontrunner to Win Season 16, 'AGT' : All Season 16 Finalists Announced as Competition Narrows Down Lineup to 10 Acts. 'Re not a human being show the world with several curricula he developed himself night!!!!!... Is actually an ode to my sister be so personal in your work of work be determined him! May 4, 1992 winner is the competition 's first ( and only ) poetry! Be so personal in your work we 're hearing somebody of spoken word poet to perform poetry on AGT https... Enter the Top 3 of the Season because it was extraordinary, said quieted... 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