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For years Simon Cowell hasn’t really been in love with the Judge Cuts round of “America’s Got Talent.” Going from the Pasadena-set auditions, where about 3,000 screaming fans fill NBC’s reality TV show with love and laughter, to the intimate setting of the Judge Cuts, where only about 250 people watch in the Dolby Theatre, has always been a big “drop in energy,” Simon tells our sister site Deadline. However, because the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of Hollywood, it forced the “Agt” producers to come up with an exciting new twist for the upcoming Season 15 Judge Cuts.

See Eric Stonestreet jokes about replacing Heidi Klum on ‘America’s Got Talent’: ‘I’ve been waiting for a long time’

Instead of four episodes that dwindle down the number of acts based on the judges’ feedback, there will only be one for this 2020 cycle. On July 28, the judging panel — Simon, Howie Mandel,...

The Golden Buzzer acts for Season 15 of “America’s Got Talent” are a perfect mix of variety, but which one is Your favorite? To recap, this year’s crop of confetti shower recipients are a child singer (Roberta Battaglia), an adult soloist (Cristina Rae), a singing group (Voices of Our City Choir), a dance act (Waffle Crew) and the show’s first-ever spoken word artist (Brandon Leake). Re-watch each of their “Agt” audition videos below and then be sure to vote for the best in our poll.

The performers lucky enough to receive a Golden Buzzer advance automatically to the live shows, where they’ll compete for America’s votes. This year’s live rounds are still in question because of the coronavirus pandemic, however our sister pub Deadline reports they will begin airing on August 11. A whopping 44 acts will perform over four weeks (11 per night), though it’s unclear if...

It’s not often, or ever, that one of the “America’s Got Talent” acts has already met all of the celebrity judges prior to their first audition. But in comedian Michael Yo‘s case, he was already familiar with Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, Eric Stonestreet and even the missing Heidi Klum before he took the stage on Tuesday night. As a previous host and reporter on E!, Michael had the chance to interview each of the judges years ago. Now, in his quest to live out his dream he’s come to “Agt” in order to make them laugh. Watch his comedy set above.

See Texas cheer team auditions for ‘America’s Got Talent’ without an audience: ‘We’re gonna be cheering for you,’ says Sofia Vergara [Watch]

Of course Simon wanted to know which of them Michael enjoyed interviewing the most, but I’m going to chalk his answer...

If like Simon Cowell you’re unfamiliar with spoken word poetry then it’s about time you got into it! On Tuesday night, “America’s Got Talent” showcased its first ever act of the art form and Howie Mandel was so moved by it that he awarded its artist, Brandon Leake, with his Golden Buzzer. Watch the powerful audition above.

SEEEx-Olympian Shevon Nieto earns standing ovation on ‘America’s Got Talent’ after powerful song about perseverance [Watch]

Like with singing, spoken word is an artist’s medium of expressing some of life’s most powerful emotions. The poems in spoken word are meant to be performative, allowing the intensity of love, pain and anger that are often its subject to come across passionately through both physical and vocal expression. Brandon’s poem from Tuesday night is an ode to his sister who passed away, but whose presence still resonates in his life and...

Has “America’s Got Talent” just found its next mega success story? During the Tuesday, June 30 episode, teen country singer Kenadi Dodds took the stage with her original song “One Way Ticket to Tennessee,” giving us fond memories of when Grace VanderWaal appeared in 2016. Kenadi easily sailed through to the next round based on the judges’ critiques, which begs the question: can she go all the way and join the “Agt” winners list? Watch the audition video above and then give us your take down in the comments section.

SEETexas cheer team auditions for ‘America’s Got Talent’ without an audience: ‘We’re gonna be cheering for you,’ says Sofia Vergara [Watch]

Grace, a shy singer-ukuleleist, earned Howie’s Golden Buzzer in Season 11 following her powerful rendition of her original tune “I Don’t Know My Name.” She’s since gone on to find great success in the entertainment industry, winning Next Big...

“America’s Got Talent” season 15 continues on June 30 with another two-hour episode showcasing the best (and worst) auditions. In this phase of “Agt,” an act needs at least three of the four judges to give them a “yes” vote to advance to the next round. If two or more judges buzz the act, it is immediately eliminated.

Each judge, along with host Terry Crews, has one chance to hit the “golden buzzer” and send an act straight through to the live performances. Terry was inspired to press his golden buzzer on the season 15 premiere by the performance of the Voices of Our City Choir. Their mission is to serve the homeless community of San Diego. In their audition they sang “Sounds of the Sidewalk,” an original tune written and produced through their songwriting clinic. In the second episode, new judge Vergara made it rain gold for 10-year-old Roberta Battaglia who delivered...

Since Heidi Klum is still out sick (thankfully not from Covid-19), guest judge Eric Stonestreet has temporarily joined Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell at the “America’s Got Talent” judging panel. During the Tuesday, June 30 episode, Eric drew laughs by joking that he’s been “waiting to replace Heidi in this business for a long time.” Heidi’s fever has taken her out of the commission for the time being, but have no fear, “Agt” fans, she will be back when the Judge Cuts start up on July 28.

“All right guys, Heidi is still under the weather and thank you so much Eric for being here,” Terry stated at the beginning of Tuesday’s show. Backstage, many of the acts including cheer squad Wildcats were preparing for their big moment on the stage.

SEETexas cheer team auditions for ‘America’s Got Talent’ without an audience: ‘We’re gonna be cheering for you,...

During the Tuesday, June 30 episode of “America’s Got Talent,” ex-Olympian Shevon Nieto earns a standing ovation from all four judges — not because of her athleticism, but because of her voice. This 37-year-old was born in Jamaica, grew up in New York and now lives in California. Shevon is a two-time Olympic runner who retired in 2016 after her husband, an Olympic high-jumper, became paralyzed. “Welcome to the Olympics of talent,” Howie Mandel proclaims when she steps out onto the stage. Watch the “Agt” sneak peek video above.

Shevon wrote an original song titled “Through The Good And Bad” for her husband, a powerful story about love and perseverance. It was after his accident that she began feeling “comfort in music” for the first time. Howie, Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara and guest judge Eric Stonestreet all stand up at the conclusion of her performance, some of them moved to tears. Alas, Heidi Klum...