Ed Sheeran, Jennifer Hudson, Lenny Kravitz, Cyndi Lauper and Rosie O’Donnell joined in the “AGT” finale fun. (Photo collage property of NBC)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Thousands auditioned, but only hundreds got the approval of Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel to go to Boot Camp.
Only 48 acts survived and made to Radio City Music Hall live shows!
Over the past couple of weeks, we have seen stellar performances, surprising eliminations (we wish you were here Andrey Moraru, David & Leeman and Emil & Dariel) and the birth of superstars.
Tonight, AcroArmy, Emily West, Mat Franco, Miguel Dakota, Quintavious Johnson or Sons of Serendip walked away with the $1,000,000 prize and the title of the next best act in America.
But before, we got to the all-important results of the evening; it was time for some entertainment!
Mr. 305 kicked the night off with a fiery performance of “Fireball” with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes! While Howard and Heidi danced in their seats, Pitbull worked the room as the Rockettes rolled out their signature moves!
As the ladies and Pitbull left the stage, Nick recapped the show with brand new footage and presented the finalists as a group together for the second to final time.
While a bulk of the acts went backstage, Sons of Serendip stayed on stage to perform their celebrity duet…”Drops of Jupiter” with Train’s Pat Monahan. I loved the arrangement and it gave me chills. After that, Pat Monahan rejoined his group and delivered a fiery take on “Angel in Blue Jeans.” If Train goes on tour to promote Bulletproof Picasso, I hope Pat invites Sons of Serendip to open up for them!
The second duet of the night belonged to AcroArmy and Travis Barker? I found it very odd that the production team would pair them together. The crew performed some of their best stunts to Lorde’s haunting cover of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”
It was time for the show to pay homage to the judges! From Howie stripping to Heidi falling over her chair, it was great to relive some of the judges’ best moments. I loved their chemistry and I hope that they return for the tenth anniversary season.
One of the evening’s most pleasant surprises was Lenny Kravitz’s performance of “The Chamber.” This was everything fans could expect from the “Stand” actor-singer. As he left the stage, he joined Miguel Dakota with their duet of “American Woman.” I thought that they rocked it out!
Howard and the judges turned the tables on Nick as they created a montage for the case for him to win an Emmy! Some of the highlights included his angry mime and his taste in fashion! As Nick sat in Howard’s chair, the King of All Media joined Mat Franco on stage and they brought out the Queen of Nice, Rosie O’Donnell, to assist them with his final trick.
Mat asked both Howard and Rosie to take out 10 cards a piece. He shuffled another deck and asked Scary Spice to pick a card…she picked out the number three. Mat used magic to transport three of Rosie’s cards and added them on Howard. It was amazing to see this incredible trick and also the camaraderie between the New York media giants and America’s favorite magician.
The Top Six met with the judges at the Snapple Finale Celebration! Quintavious taught Howie how to sing, Howie gave dating advice to Miguel and Howard praised both Emily West and Mat Franco. After the Snapple Finale Celebration closed, Oscar and Grammy-winning actress Jennifer Hudson debuted her new single: “It’s Your World.” It was great to hear her powerful voice on the Radio City Music Hall stage.
Once the dancers left the stage, Quintavious joined Ms. Hudson to perform the song that made both of them superstars: “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” I got chills when Quintavious sang in his full voice and Jennifer channeled Effie White once more. Before she left the stage, Jennifer added that Quintavious is a star.
Emily West’s dream came true when she performed with her hero, Cyndi Lauper! Dressed as Rock-and-roll fairy godmother, the Grammy and Tony-winning performer made beautiful music with America’s favorite songstress. I loved their harmonies on “True Colors” and it was a moment to remember. The “Girls Want to Have Fun” singer revealed that she first met Emily during her time on The Celebrity Apprentice and was ecstatic that Emily had her second chance.
The “America’s Got Talent: Season Nine” Top Six were on edge as Nick Cannon revealed the all-important results. (Photo property of NBC)
Nick revealed the first two results…
In sixth place…MIGUEL DAKOTA!
In fifth place…QUINTAVIOUS JOHNSON! (A lot of the audience booed and Mel B were shocked!) However, Nick gave Quintavious a great alternative: a trip to Universal Orlando Resort’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The show took a break from the results and Radio City was sent into an frenzy as Ed Sheeran took the stage to perform “Don’t.” Once, the English singer-songwriter left the stage, it was time to return to business.
In fourth place….SONS OF SERENDIP!
This made…AcroArmy, Emily West and Mat Franco: the Final Three of Season Nine!
Unfortunately for ACROARMY, they got this year’s bronze medal! They became the first danger act to make it to the finale.
For both Emily West and Mat Franco, their lives were about to change forever!
The winner of the $1,000,000 prize and the headliner of the AGT Las Vegas show was…MAT FRANCO! (Who became the first magician to win AGT!) As for EMILY WEST, I hope she remembers what happened to Adam Lambert, Jackie Evancho and Jennifer Hudson when they lost, they eclipsed their rivals in talent and went on to have impeccable careers. I believe she needs to get a new and better recording contract and I want an album!
Congrats to both Mat Franco and Emily West delivering an incredible season! I will be back next year to cover America’s Got Talent: Season 10!
