But instead of giving up, he went back to the drawing board, honed his craft, and tried again three years later stronger than ever. On the following Wednesdays, (which will feature celebrity musical acts including BTS on Sept. 16), the finalists will be announced. Brandon's words were able to take a 64-year-old white guy and put him inside the heart and mind of an African-American mother whose just saying goodbye and fearing for her son's return," he said. "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. 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. What surprised you most about your AGT experience? Were you the first poet that producers had seen? Brandon Leake's auditionin Episode 1506 consisted of recitinga spoken word poem about his late sister. The 27-year-old from Stockton stole hearts on the national stage by telling a very personal story about the death of his baby sister. Your mother and I love you more than youll ever know., Today fans divided over Jenna's dress as some viewers say it's 'inappropriate', Sister Wives Janelle Brown doesnt approve of Christines new romance, Inside 1000-lb Sisters stars Amy and Michael's secret fights over kids, Today's Savannah Guthrie abruptly leaves show after scary new medical diagnosis, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Brandon Leake is the winner of Americas Got Talent season 15, Leake is a spoken word poet and motivational speaker, Brandon blew away judge Howie Mandel after he performed a piece about the loss of his sister, Brandon met his wife Anna at one of his shows in Stockton, Leake was born on the south side of Stockton, California, Brandon has a daughter of six months named Aaliyah, AGT's Heidi Klum hits the Golden Buzzer pickingCristina Rae for the finals. Most of us don't often walk in other people's shoes. Brandon Leake, a 27-year-old college counselor from Stockton, California, shocked the judges with . He finished ahead of Josh Blue but behind Kodi Lee, eliminating him from the competition. Brandon met his biological father for the very first time on August 31, 2017 and he married Anna on September 2, 2017. Since the show gave him a platform to share his skill with the world, he has become a household name across the country. I just want to compliment you on what you just did, because it was extraordinary, said a quieted Simon. Exclusive:How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. This is a very difficult thing to me to judge. He went on to study at Simpson University in Redding, where as well as writing poetry, he played basketball onSimpson'sNCAA Division II team. "I can feel your pain. 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. WINNER Brandon Leake All Performances on America's Got Talent!Audition - 0:05Quarterfinals - 5:03Semifinals - 10:01Finale - 14:59#AGT #AmericasGotTalent #Tal. I gave her a hug afterwards and said, Hey, I didn't make it my first year, so keep trying. When "America's Got Talent" contestant Brandon Leake took the stage to render the first-ever poetry audition on the show, the judges did not know they were in for a stunning and tearjerking performance. 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. "I think just aside whatever this contest is and this talent show is, it's probably the clearest vision of what is going on today than what I have ever heard. [2] It's either love or pain, one of the two. According to Parade, Rafael was fatally shot in an attempted kidnapping in 1998. His daughter, now 6 months old, is named Aaliyah, but her dad calls her "booboo". Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, Germaphobe Howie Mandel Talks Wearing Masked Singer Lobster Costume, Stephanie Hsu & Tallie Medel on Their Awards Journey and Meeting Tilda Swinton | SAG Awards 2023, Tyler Henry Connects Celebs With Late Siblings (EMOTIONAL), Jennifer Hudson dishes on talk show success, Black History Month: Denver poet JC Futrell performs poem 'BRICS', Veterans Creative Arts Showcase | Morning Blend, AGT: All-Stars Finale: Winner WONT Receive Prize Money, Kate and Charlie Gibson talk 'The Book Case' podcast and new writers. UTA Signs 'America's Got Talent' Winner Brandon Leake. He will be part of the AGT Live residency and has a movie in the works. "I can feel your pain; I know what this is. For more Brandon Leake AGT content, check out this roundup of his best moments from the show. It's just me and my thoughts. 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. And then I just keep my shoulders from getting wet. "This is going to be much harder for them.". 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. Brandon Leake is an African-American spoken word poet, educator, and motivational speaker. You give the same effort of performance and excellence for 10 people as you do for 10,000. The Season 15 winner was the show's first-ever spoken word poet to compete. "I did all of this just to give you that. We feel your pain, we feel your love.". Danielle's presence was definitely felt. BRANDON LEAKE: I know I said earlier to hold on to love loosely so when it leaves, it won't exit so painfully. 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The Modern Family actress then said that Leake's poem reminded her of her late brother. Brandon Leake, a 27-year-old college counselor from Stockton, California, shocked the judges with an emotionally poetic spoken-word performance, a first on the "AGT" stage. And season 15 will conclude on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23, when a winner will be crowned during the scheduled finale. He is the first novelty act to win the competition. Brandon Leake is the first spoken word poet act to receive the, In Brandon's Finals performance, it was mentioned that he auditioned for, Brandon is Howie Mandel's second (third if counting. He returned for America's Got Talent: All-Stars where he finished in 2nd place in his Preliminary week. 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. "And here we are.". It's amazing to me that on Season 15, its the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word. Brandon Leake's Semifinals performance in Episode 1517 consisted of reciting a spoken word poem in the form of letters to his dad about how he missed out on many of Brandon's major life moments, eventually making peace. Tonight's poem is actually an ode to my sister, Brandon explained. But America's Got Talent was a place that said, Hey, we'll welcome you if you're good. And fortunately for me, I was good enough to make the show the second time around. Moved by his performance, Howie Mandel pressed his Golden Buzzer, sending Brandon directly to the Quarterfinals. Go behind-the-scenes, stay on top of breaking news, hang with the stars, and much more. She died from an enlarged heart at only eight-months-old. You don't have to be this hardened individual who steps in there and does this crazy competitive work. I could finally say spoken-word has a place in this artistry world. She's here with me now," Leake said, leading Mandel to ask if shewas backstage. Brandon Leake is an award-winning spoken word poet, artistic educator and motivational speaker from . Keep reading for 10 things you didn't know about America's Got Talent season 15 winner . "America, sit quietly, listen and take it in.". Your season was filmed in 2020, in the thick of the global pandemic, so you didn't have a rapturous audience every week. In his ode to his sister, he reads, "If I could trade my six feet for yours. SIMON COWELL: What an amazing tribute. "My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away," she said. And even in this very direct competition, we were all still rooting for each other. Last week on'AGT': Sofia Vergara falls in her haste to get away from shocking eye-bulging rapper. On Tuesday's episode of the competition series, 27-year-old Brandon Leake took the stage in front of an empty audience due to the show's health precautions amid the pandemic to perform a spoken-word set. Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel were back again without a guest judge or Simon Cowell, who broke his back on Aug. 8 at his Malibu, California, home when he fell off an electric bike. "There was something more, so raw. Your poems are so raw. He received enough votes from the Superfans to enter the Top 3 of the night. We have to understand each other and be compassionate, have empathy for each other. Brandon set up the group whilst at university, and began hosting open mic nights to raise money for kids suffering from domestic abuse to go to summer camps. If you don't understand it and you're not moved by it, then you're not a human being. Year after year, \"America's Got Talent\" features an impressive array of singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, magicians, ventriloquists and hopeful stars, all vying to win America's hearts and a $1 million prize.America's Got Talent is available now on Peacock, the new streaming service from NBCUniversal. 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. 27; 30 You just have to take a deep breath and keep on going if not for yourself, then for everybody you love.". Do you have any advice for the Acts competing on AGT Season 17? 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. The 27-year-old from Stockton stole hearts on the national stage by telling a very personal story about the death of his baby. Brandon Leake March 1, 2021 / 6:45 AM 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Brandon Leake's Finals performance in Episode 1521 consisted of reciting a spoken word poem in the form of a prayer to his daughter Aaliyah. 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. Gibson was only 8 months old. Singers can go to The Voice, as well as America's Got Talent. We'll be the voices that people look back and say this is what this era looked like," said Leake. Creative writing most certainly was an escape. Judge Simon Cowell was skeptical at first, telling Brandon, I don't really understand poetry, but Brandon assured him, I'm a great intro for you. Tune in next week, when the Americas Got Talent auditions once again, without a live audience conclude. 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. Can go to the Quarterfinals 1506 consisted of recitinga spoken word will be announced 22 and Sept.,. First novelty act to win the competition, Hey, we were all still rooting for each.! To try this out and get better at it daughter, now months... Out and get better at it haste to get away from shocking eye-bulging rapper have to be much for! Be announced behind Kodi Lee, eliminating him from the Superfans to enter the top of! And Sept. 23, when the Americas Got Talent was a place in this artistry world by it then... 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