America’s Got Talent: Has a Golden Buzzer ever won the show?

America’s Got Talent
Paul Zerdin from AGT Season 10 | Image source: Instagram @paulzerdin

The popular reality competition show America’s Got Talent has fans from across the globe eager to witness legendary performances from various acts and performers. The show introduced the Golden Buzzer during its ninth season to encourage extraordinary performances and acts.

For the fans who don’t already know, whenever either of the judges of the show host presses the Golden Buzzer for any particular performer - he/she/ they would advance to the next phase of the show - Live Shows. Each of the judges has one Golden Buzzer to give away, while the show host also has one buzzer to give away each season.

Additionally, whenever any performer receives the iconic Golden Buzzer, golden confetti is poured over the entire stage, raining on the performers. Over the years, several acts have won the Golden Buzzer on the show, including Paul Zerdin, Grace VanderWaal, Darci Lynne Farmer, Kodi Lee, Brandon Leake, and Mayyas.


America’s Got Talent: Paul Zerdin won the first Golden Buzzer: A few others followed

Paul Zerdin

Paul Zerdin in AGT Season 10 | Image source: NBC
Paul Zerdin in AGT Season 10 | Image source: NBC

A Ventriloquist based in London, United Kingdom- Paul Zerdin was the first performer to win the Golden Buzzer for his performance. His act in Comedy/ Ventriloquist won him the title of winner during the tenth season.


Grace VanderWaal

Grace VanderWaal in AGT Season 11 | Image source: NBC
Grace VanderWaal in AGT Season 11 | Image source: NBC

Grace VanderWaal, singer/ Ukeleleist from Suffern, New York, participated in America’s Got Talent season 11 and won the Golden Buzzer and that season’s winner title. Fans might not know that Grace’s Golden Buzzer audition has become the second-most-viewed performance in AGT history.


Darci Lynne Farmer

Darci Lynne Farmer in AGT Season 12 | Image source: NBC
Darci Lynne Farmer in AGT Season 12 | Image source: NBC

Darci Lynne Farmer won the Golden Buzzer in the Comedy/ Singing category during the twelfth season of America's Got Talent. She is a Ventriloquist from Oklahoma City who later won the show, making Darci the first female ventriloquist to win AGT.


Kodi Lee

Kodi Lee in AGT Season 14 | Image source: NBC
Kodi Lee in AGT Season 14 | Image source: NBC

Kodi Lee, a blind and autistic singer and pianist from Lake Elsinore, California, won America’s Got Talent Season 14 in the singing category after winning the Golden Buzzer.


Brandon Leake

Brandon Leake in AGT Season 15 | Image source: NBC
Brandon Leake in AGT Season 15 | Image source: NBC

AGT Season 15 winner Brandon Leake hails from Stockton, California, and his performances made the audience and judges emotional. He is a crafty poet who won the Golden Buzzer and the show during the fifteenth season of AGT.


Mayyas

Mayyas in AGT Season 17 | Image source: NBC
Mayyas in AGT Season 17 | Image source: NBC

The Dance Group Mayyas, which hails from Lebanon, competed on the show under the age group 13-25. They won the title, followed by Sofia Vergara’s Golden Buzzer during AGT season 17.


America’s Got Talent season 19 and Golden Buzzers

However, the show introduced a slight change for the currently running America’s Got Talent season 19. For season 19, the judges are given two chances to give away the Golden Buzzer.

Hence, each can choose two performances and send them to the live shows part of the show. Along with four judges, the AGT host Terry Crew also has the power to give away one Golden Buzzer to his favorite act on the show. Including them all, the nineteenth season has nine Golden Buzzer chances.

In America’s Got Talent season 19 quarterfinal, judge Sofia Vergara pressed the Golden Buzzer for the Argentinian dance group Legión. Because of them, the group went directly to the show's finals.

Sofia’s second Golden Buzzer was for Japanese performers Ryu Taro and Yuya Gomi, also known as Schumacher. Drone act Sky Elements, with their 1,000 drone performance, received Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer.


Fans can stream the current America’s Got Talent season 19 on NBC.

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Edited by Sarah Nazamuddin Harniswala