America’s Got Talent season 16 in over! The final virtual audition took place on March 6 to find an assortment of singers, dancers, comics, magicians, death-defying acts and high-flying performances to compete in 2021. Here are all the details we know about season 16, including how and when to watch, including the Golden Buzzer picks, judges, cast, host, spoilers, voting and more!
Who won America’s Got Talent season 16?
The winner of season 16 of America’s Got Talent is magician Dustin Tavella, who inspired viewers to vote for him with his heartwarming stories about his wife and his love for his adopted sons Xander and Sylas. And Heidi Klum agreed, telling Parade.com that he won in big part because he invited us into his life. “We got to know his wife, his two boys. He even talked about his mom and dad. I think inviting us in like that, I think that people fell in love with him. He pulled on a lot of heartstrings.”
What’s next for America’s Got Talent season 16 winner Dustin Tavella?
Dustin told Parade.com that he will immediately begin making plans for his Las Vegas show. “Definitely for the Vegas act, I want to make sure I stay true to myself of telling stories and inspiring and motivating and, hopefully, encouraging people. As far as the magic goes, I feel like the sky is the limit. I feel we get to dream as big as we possibly can."
When did America’s Got Talent season 16 premiere?
America’s Got Talent season 16 premiered on Tuesday, June 1.
Why wasn’t America’s Got Talent on for two weeks?
America’s Got Talent is took a two-week break due to Olympics coverage. No new episodes aired from July 27-Aug. 2. The Emmy-winning series returned on Tuesday, Aug. 9.
When do America’s Got Talent live shows begin?
America’s Got Talent returned from its Olympics break on Tuesday, Aug. 9 with its first live show of season 16. Next, Check Out the 35 Acts That Made It to the Live Shows for America’s Got Talent Season 16
What time will America’s Got Talent season 16 be on in 2021?
AGT will air from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT on Tuesday nights.
Who is the host of America’s Got Talent?
Terry Crews has been the host since season 14 and will be back for season 16.
Who are the judges on America’s Got Talent?
Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell executive produces and serves as a judge on America’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent: The Champions and the latest addition to the franchise, AGT: Extreme. Cowell is a record company executive, television and film producer, and global entertainment icon. Renowned for his eye for talent and candid opinions, he returns for his sixth season on the NBC summer talent search series.
Howie Mandel
Howie Mandel is in his 12th season as a judge on America’s Got Talent. Mandel hosts the podcast Howie Mandel Does Stuff alongside his daughter, Jackie. He recently finished production on his new documentary, Howie Mandel: But Enough About Me. Other recent projects include judging America’s Got Talent: The Champions, Deal or No Deal, where he served as executive producer and host, and Nat Geo’s Animals Doing Things, where he co-hosted with his son, Alex.
Heidi Klum
Klum began modeling at the age of 19 and shortly thereafter she appeared on the cover of the 1998 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue which then propelled her career. Klum’s many titles now include supermodel, producer, entrepreneur, television personality, actress, author and fashion designer and she has continued to make an impact across various industries. In 2013, she won an Emmy Award for her longtime hit, Project Runway. Season 16 marks her eighth season in the judge’s chair on America’s Got Talent.
Sofia Vergara
Vergara is an Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG-nominated actress best known for playing Gloria Pritchett-Delgado in the five-time Emmy Award-winning comedy Modern Family. Season 16 is Vergara’s second as a judge on AGT.
Is Simon Cowell returning to AGT?
The good news is, yes, he will be back, and in his words, better than ever. Cowell told Parade.com, “Honestly, and I shouldn’t say this, but it wasn’t that bad actually breaking your back. It wasn’t great for three or four weeks, but after that I had to do so much exercise, I actually feel better than I did before the accident. I was told off for saying earlier, ‘If you want to feel healthy, break your back.’ I shouldn’t really be saying that, but that’s how I feel. And, as has transpired on these interviews, everyone actually had a better time without me.” You probably recall that Cowell broke his back in the middle of the season while riding an electric bike at his home in Malibu. He was rushed to the hospital for a six-hour surgery and missed the rest of the season. He is on his way to a full recovery, according to ET, with daily physical activity, including walking and swimming. Sources told ET in October that Cowell was recovering “ahead of what was expected,” and, “He’s doing over 10,000 steps a day as well as swimming to get his back strong and healed again. He no longer needs to wear a back brace all the time.” Hopefully that means we’ll see him in the judge’s seat next season! We can’t imagine the show without him, and we’re probably not alone in that.
What does the Golden Buzzer mean on America’s Got Talent?
We all love those emotional Golden Buzzer moments when one of the judges (Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara) or host Terry Crews is so moved by a performance that they press the Golden Buzzer, confetti streams down, and that act is sent directly to the live shows. Each of the judges and Terry only gets to use the Golden Buzzer one time each season and that takes place during the initial audition period. We have gotten so used to the Golden Buzzer, but it wasn’t initially a part of America’s Got Talent. In fact, it wasn’t introduced until Season 10. But it has proven how good a judge of talent our judges and host are. Five out of the six AGT winners since its introduction– Paul Zerdin, Grace VanderWaal, Darci Lynne, Kodi Lee, and Brandon Leake – were Golden Buzzers. The one exception was Shin Lim.
America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzers for season 16
Howie Mandel’s Golden Buzzer
In the season premiere, Howie Mandel pushed his golden buzzer for the Northwell Health Nurse Choir. The choir, which performed “Lean on Me,” is composed of 18 nurses from 10 Northwell Health hospitals and medical centers in New York, and what makes the choir special is the members are all frontline nurses, not professional singers.
Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer
In week 2, Simon Cowell used his one and only Golden Buzzer to send 30-year-old Nightbirde, whose real name is Jane Marczewski, all the way to the live shows. Nightbirde performed her original song, “It’s OK.” The song is the story of the last year of her life, battling cancer, so she’s really not OK as she still has cancer in her lungs, spine and liver. In fact, she only has a 2 percent chance of surviving, but she is upbeat about it, saying, “Two percent is not zero. Two percent is something.”
Terry Crews’ Golden Buzzer
In week three, Terry Crews was so impressed by the World Tae Kwan Do Demonstration Team that he hit the Golden Buzzer for them, sending them straight to the live shows. “I have never seen anything like that in my life!” Crews commented while the broken boards from the team’s flying feet kicks were floating around the stage like confetti. The World Tae Kwan Do demonstration team is comprised of members from around the world, including South Korea and the U.S.
Sofia Vergara’s Golden Buzzer
Sofia pressed the Golden Buzzer for 30-year-old Jimmie Herrod from Portland, Oregon when he took the stage and revealed to Simon Cowell that the song he was going to audition with was “Tomorrow” from Annie. “Are you serious?” Simon said. “That is my worst song in the world. You are going to sing that? You should do another song.” But Jimmie, who teaches music online to kids, didn’t have another song prepared, so he had to take the risk. Luckily, he won over Sofia, who said, “I loved it. That was so amazing. I feel like I had to [push the Golden Buzzer]. You deserve it.”
Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer
Heidi Klum hit her Golden Buzzer for 25-year-old, quick-change artist Léa Kyle from Bordeaux, France. “You were doing real magic,” she said. “It was absolutely incredible. You know how much I love fashion. I feel like we have never had anyone who is as good as you, so I feel you should go straight to the live shows. What do you think?”
Group Golden Buzzer
All the Golden Buzzers for the season had been given out when 9-year-old Victory Brinker took the stage, so Simon Cowell, who is a producer as well as judge came up with something that had never ever been done on AGT before: a group Golden Buzzer. Simon said, “Victory, we are not going to give you a yes today. We are going to do something else. Something we have never ever done on the show before. We are all going to give you something special!” And all four judges and host Terry Crews pressed the Golden Buzzer together.
America’s Got Talent season 16 acts
Week 2 AGT Auditions
Week 3 AGT Auditions
Week 4 AGT Auditions
Week 5 AGT Auditions
Week 6 AGT Auditions
Week 7 AGT Auditions
Week 8 AGT Auditions
Who was eliminated and who made it to the semi-finals on America’s Got Talent season 17
Week 1 AGT Eliminations (8/11)
Week 2 AGT Eliminations (8/18)
Week 3 AGT Eliminations (8/25)
How to audition for America’s Got Talent season 17
How can I get tickets to America’s Got Talent season 16?
The Live Shows for America’s Got Talent season 17 will be comprised of fully vaccinated audience members ages 12 and up and will take place every Tuesday and Wednesday starting 8/10/21 through 9/15/21. If you are already fully vaccinated, you can sign up now and answer yes when asked if you are fully vaccinated when inputting your information. If you are not fully vaccinated yet, you have time to become eligible to attend the first day of the live shows on August 10th. An audience member will be considered fully vaccinated after two (2) weeks have passed after the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine; or single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. For more information and for the vaccine reference guide, click here.
When is America’s Got Talent on?
America’s Got Talent airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
What channel is America’s Got Talent on?
America’s Got Talent airs on NBC on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
How to stream America’s Got Talent on TV and online
You can stream episodes of America’s Got Talent the next day on NBC.com, the NBC App, Peacock and Hulu.
Who won America’s Got Talent season 15?
Brandon Leake made America’s Got Talent history as the first-ever spoken-word performer on the show, and then compounded that when he also became Mandel’s Golden Buzzer and went on to win. The 27-year-old artistic educator from Stockton, Calif., is no stranger to performing. He has taken his spoken word act around the world to New Zealand, Mexico and Canada, as well as 36 states in the U.S. But his time on AGT was special. “It has taught me just how much I value the things that this show could never provide, like family and unconditional love and care from those who support you and care for you beyond the arts,” he said. “As artists, we provide a service to the world and to the community, but not having to earn anything from anyone and those people who care for you unequivocally is the most valuable thing that I will ever have.”
How America’s Got Talent voting works
Voting begins following the auditions (which are voted on by the judges) and the Judges Cuts when the live shows begin. Voting will be via one of the following platforms: NBC.com, The AGT App or Xfinity 1 Remotes. Next, find out what we know about American Idol 2021.