America’s Got Talent 2024 LIVE — Judges shocked by the ‘best quick change we’ve seen’ as fans wonder ‘how?’
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ONE America's Got Talent contestant has left the audience stunned after her magical audition.
Solange Kardinaly, a magician from Portugal, shocked the judges with her quick change act as she switched outfits multiple times in just seconds without any warning.
"That was magic," judge Simon Cowell said after the audition as Howie Mandel added, "You’re the best quick-change artist we have ever seen - you really are."
While the judges praised the contestant's magic act, fans on social media were left wondering how Solange pulled it off.
"How?" one viewer reacted simply on X, formerly known as Twitter, as another asked, "?? how does that work?"
"That's not an illusion it's actual magic," another stunned fan added.
America's Got Talent returns to NBC next Tuesday at 8 pm EST. Fans can also stream the show with a Sling subscription here or a Peacock subscription here.
Follow along below for the latest AGT news and updates...
Former America’s Got Talent performer suffered tragedy
Nightbirde’s real name was Jane Marczewski, and she sadly passed away in 2022 after losing her battle with cancer.
After sending in an audition tape to AGT the 31-year-old was invited to the show and wowed Simon Cowell and his fellow judges with her moving performance of an original song called It’s Okay.
She instantly won over an emotional Simon who honored her with the coveted Golden Buzzer, while the other judges and the crowd gave her a standing ovation and rapturous applause.
The entertainer became an overnight sensation after her incredible audition, with a video of her performance racking up over 30 million views on YouTube.
Learn more about Howie and Terry’s family
Terry and Howie share three kids, including one son and two daughters.
Their eldest child and daughter, 40-year-old Jackelyn Shultz, was born in 1984, followed by their son, 34-year-old Alex Mandel, in 1989.
The couple welcomed their youngest child and daughter, 32-year-old Riley Ehrlich, in 1992.
Meet Howie Mandel’s wife Terry
Howie and Terry Mandel have been married for 44 years and wed on March 16, 1980, according to People.
Aside from being the wife of the famed America’s Got Talent judge, Terry is known as a TV producer and talent agent who has “alongside her husband on a few different projects,” per the outlet.
She worked as an associate producer on the 1985 TV special Howie Mandel: Live from Carnegie Mall.
The power couple runs a business together named The Abstract Talent Agency, which is based in Los Angeles, California.
What to know about Terry Crews' marriage
Crews has been married to his longtime wife Rebecca King-Crews since 1990.
The two have had a total of five children during their 34-year marriage.
Over the years, the couple has had to overcome cheating and addiction during their marriage which they revealed in their audio memoir Stronger Together in spring 2021.
What is Terry Crews up to?
Terry Crews continues to pin down acting roles after rocketing to fame after the 2004 comedy White Chicks.
After his run on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Craig of the Creek ended in 2021, he has since gone on to prepare for his role in the TV series, Tales of the Walking Dead, scheduled to air sometime in 2022.
On February 8, 2022, he was also seen on PBS’ Finding Your Roots alongside Tony Danza.
What happens when you win AGT
The season 18 winner of America’s Got Talent received a cash prize of $1 million and was awarded the opportunity to headline a show at the renowned Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But there’s a catch for the $1 million prize as the winner must decide to earn it 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 choose to get $25,000 a year for 40 years or can take the present cash value of the annuity, which was around $300,000 before taxes in 2011, according to Forbes.
Meet last year’s winner
Adrian Stoica and his dog Hurricane won Season 18 of America’s Got Talent.
The announcement of their win followed a performance to the Queen song, Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
Judge Sofia Vergara also joined Stoica on stage for the performance.
Judges’ reactions to Richard Goodall, part two
After Sofia Vergara said Richard Goodall was an "amazing surprise," it was time to hear from judge Heidi Klum.
"Richard, Richard, Richard, you knocked me off my feet," Klum said, shaking her head.
"I mean, we all had the best time with you up there on that stage."
"I really, really feel something when I see you up there and hear you up there," she added.
"And now... this is what I'm going to do for you, because I love you," Klum revealed, before dramatically pressing the Golden Buzzer.
The entire audience once again rose to their feet to give Goodall his second standing ovation of the night.
Judges' reactions to Richard Goodall, part one
Richard Goodall received a standing ovation not just from the America's Got Talent live audience, but also from all four of the judges.
"Wow," Howie Mandel could be heard exclaiming in the background after Goodall's performance.
"That was amazing," Terry Crews shouted into the cameras.
The crowd began chanting Goodall's name, yelling "Richard, Richard, Richard," repeatedly before the judges made their official comments.
"Richard, you are my hero," said Simon Cowell, putting his hand against his chest.
"Because that was special, genuinely special. I think America is going to love you," Cowell added, speaking to a visibly emotional Goodall.
Watch Richard Goodall's audition
Who is AGT star Richard Goodall? Indiana janitor gone HollywoodNine Golden Buzzers this season
During the auditions, the four AGT judges and the host are allowed to push the Golden Buzzer for any act they like.
However, they previously only had one opportunity each season to hit the buzzer.
Guest judges could also push the button for their favorite performance during the Judge Cuts.
Starting with season 19, the returning judges, including Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Heidi Klum, will each get one additional Golden Buzzer.
That means each of the four judges will get two Golden Buzzers per season - and host Terry Crews also has one Golden Buzzer opportunity.
What is the Golden Buzzer?
America's Got Talent's Golden Buzzer sends a contestant straight to the live performances round.
This means the competitor gets to skip other rounds of AGT.
When the Golden Buzzer is pressed by one of AGT's judges, the stage background and the red 'X' buzzer light up in gold.
To add some extra pizzazz, gold confetti also rains down on the stage.
What to know about Richard Goodall's fans
Richard Goodall has already amassed a significant fan base, though his tried-and-true followers are his former students.
"I can't express with words how lucky I feel to be able to say that I am one of the kids who always told him how amazing his voice is," wrote one YouTube user.
"My favorite part of walking through the hallway of Elementary school is hearing this phenomenon," they wrote, alongside a red heart emoji.
"Richard, you are indeed a true hero," they added.
Golden Buzzer winner plays in a band
In his spare time, Richard Goodall plays in a band, titled ManOpause, with his friends.
Goodall's bandmate, Tom Greenberg, called him "the best of the best."
“I knew that was coming,” Greenberg said, as reported by My Wabash Valley News.
“He deserved it. He’s just so good and Journey, I mean you throw him on a Journey song and he’s just the best of the best. He’s just a perfect Journey singer.”
Richard Goodall was nervous ahead of audition
Richard Goodall admitted to being nervous ahead of the America's Got Talent audition but revealed that hearing the opening notes of Journey helped calm him down.
“I went to my music,” he said, as reported by My Wabash Valley News.
“When I hear Journey, Foreigner, and Survivor music it centers me, calms me down, and lets me know that I am okay.”
Meet Richard Goodall, part two
The 55-year-old has been a janitor for 23 years, first at Chauncey Rose, and now at West Vigo Middle School.
Despite his seemingly overnight fame as a result of his America's Got Talent performance, this isn't the first time Goodall has achieved fame outside of his hometown.
Back in the summer of 2022, he went viral for his performance at Davis Park Elementary School's year-end program, where he performed the same hit song – Journey's Don't Stop Believin'.
Journey's former frontman, Steve Perry, even gave Goodall a shoutout for his performance after stumbling across a now-viral TikTok video.
Meet Richard Goodall, part one
Richard Goodall was born and raised in Terre Haute, Indiana.
During the show's 19th season premiere, Goodall revealed that growing up, he would listen to music in his bedroom on his "Radio Shack stereo."
"I just belt it out," he said.
"Eventually, I was like, I got to find myself a job, so I became a janitor at Chauncey Rose Middle School, which is only three blocks away from my house.”
"The kids would hear me sing, and they tell me that I've got talent," he explained.
"That's why I'm here. That's why I got on a plane," he told the judges.
Inside Richard Goodall's Golden Buzzer
Janitor Richard Goodall wowed the world with his incredible singing skills and received a Golden Buzzer from Heidi Klum.
The model said that Richard's performance "knocked me off my feet."
Watch Howie Mandel get booed
Howie Mandel booed on AGT as he's compared to Simon after he bashes auditionFans reacted to Howie's feedback
Meanwhile on X, formerly Twitter, many viewers became fans of the band and didn't agree with Howie's vote.
"Howie Mandel is the 'new Simon' in terms of true constructive criticism that may be brutally honest," one wrote.
"He needs to get off this show," a second raged.
"Thought that was really foolish and irresponsible judging from Howie."
"Not sure how he doesn't see the talent there but can't contain his excitement for the kid that did basic math problems slowly. The show is broken!"
The comment above referred to the little contestant who had help from his dad doing math problems.
Howie Mandel booed last week, part four
Meanwhile, Heidi, Sofia, and Simon had nothing but praise for the up-and-coming band.
"I love you [and] the people love you," the former Modern Family actress said.
Simon agreed with Heidi and Sofia, "You can't fake how you feel and I really felt that.
"This is absolutely the right thing that you've done to come on because I think people are really gonna like you."
While Heidi, Sofia, and Simon said yes to the group, Howie went with no.
Howie Mandel booed last week, part three
Howie was the first to share his opinion, "The audience loves you, you have great voices, great harmony, but personally..."
Before the former Deal or No Deal host could finish his sentence, Sofia, along with the crowd, began to boo him.
"This was a great song in a pub. If I was in a bar and you guys are playing, I would have the best night ever," Howie continued.
Howie Mandel booed last week, part two
In their interview, Kieran revealed that their dream is to perform for sold-out crowds in arenas.
Ben then nervously admitted that he always wanted to sing in front of Simon.
When it was their turn to perform, they sang their original song Born To Love.
"It's about the fact that every person at some point has a heavy moment that they have to deal with and that we're born to love and not to struggle," Ben told the crowd.
Throughout their folky performance, the crowd and some of the judges enjoyed their song.
Howie Mandel booed last week, part one
On last week's episode of America's Got Talent, the audience booed judge Howie Mandel for a comment he made to a contestant.
During the second act of the night, America was introduced to three guys named Ben, Kieran, and Jonathan.
Their band is called Ashes and Arrows.
'It was a beautiful treat to have you here'
Sofia said it was "a beautiful treat" to listen to Dee Dee, while Heidi said she "nailed it."
"Welcome to the world that you deserve to be in!" Howie added.
"I promise you, tomorrow, things are going to just be better," Simon told Dee Dee.
"Keep going, because one yes could change your life," Dee Dee told the crowd.
All four judges gave Dee Dee a yes.
Dee Dee wowed the judges with her powerful vocalsCredit: NBC
