And then I just keep my shoulders from getting wet. And even in this very direct competition, we were all still rooting for each other. For his audition, Leake presented an emotional piece about mourning his late sister. "America, sit quietly, listen and take it in.". 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. She was going to watch this live on TV tonight.". KYLIE MAR: "America's Got Talent's" first-ever spoken-word contestant, 27-year-old Stockton poet, educator, and new father Brandon Leake, closed out Tuesday night's episode with a tear-jerking ode to his deceased younger sister. Brandon Leake is an award-winning spoken word poet, artistic educator and motivational speaker from Stockton, California. Leake proceeded to vocalizethe painful processof mourning and accepting the death of his youngersister, Danielle Marie Gibson, who died in 1997, the same year Vergara lost her brother. Exclusive: How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. Brandon Leake's Adorable 3-Year-Old Crashed His AGT: All-Stars Audition The Season 15 alum made history with his win in 2020 as the first-ever spoken word poet to compete. 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. 27-year-old Brandon Leake is a spoken word poet and motivational speaker. "I can feel your pain. Season 15 Mandel gave Brandon his golden buzzer, and he went from strength to strength throughout the competition addressing topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement and his estranged father. All of the judges and Crews have now used their Golden Buzzers. On the following Wednesdays, (which will feature celebrity musical acts including BTS on Sept. 16), the finalists will be announced. Brandon Leake 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. In his performance, Leake recalled the death of his sister in the late 90s, and his grief in the wake of her passing. Position Reached I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. Brandon was announced as the winner ahead of Broken Roots, Cristina Rae, Roberta Battaglia and Alan Silva, winning $1 million, a new KIA, and the headlining of a show in Las Vegas. Congratulations to Brandon Leake for WINNING Season 15 of America's Got Talent! You don't have to be this hardened individual who steps in there and does this crazy competitive work. Acclaimed actress and international superstar Sofia Vergara joins as a new judge this season alongside returning judge and global fashion icon Heidi Klum. He received enough votes to enter the Top 5 instead of Archie Williams. Relive all of Brandon's full performances from the season. Get The America's. NBC Insider: How did you discover spoken-word poetry? In a poem used as an open letter to his father, Leake reflected on their years-long strained relationship and road to healing. We feel your pain. While you're trying to score tickets, take a walk down memory lane and catch every single one of Leake'sAGTperformances. The NBC App is the best place to catch up on the most recent season of your favorite shows, watch live TV, and stream movies. There was something more raw, in the way that it's like singing and talking and just being a human, a cappella no music, no nothing, just a raw heart beating in front of us, Howie marveled. America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays (8 p.m. After graduating, Leake joined a slam poetry team in Sacramento. If you don't understand it and you're not moved by it, then you're not a human being. After the show, Mandel spoke with PEOPLE and praised Leake on the "imperative and important" message of his poem. And I know my sister would be proud of the way her brother has responded to all the things that have been thrown in my way.". Brandon's daughter was born just 14 days before hisAGTaudition. What an amazing tribute. "I can feel your pain; I know what this is. As passionate fans of these shows, we provide news, analysis and fan engagement on Americas Got Talent, Britains Got Talent, The Voice, The X Factor, American Idol, The Four, The Masked Singer, The Worlds Best and its contestants.America's Got Talent 2020https://goo.gl/e12UJ8America's Got Talent News \u0026 Recapshttps://goo.gl/e12UJ8 It's just me and my thoughts. Burt Bacharach, Legendary Composer Of Pop Songs, Dies At 94 . 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. Brandon blew away judge Howie Mandel in particular after he performed a piece about the loss of his sister. There's something very, very special about you. Brandon's sister, who was four years younger than him, died at just 8 months old. HOWIE MANDEL: You're amazing, buddy. After the final five acts are determined for the live semifinals, next week will be the first of two rounds, with 10 acts competing each Tuesday (Sept. 8 and Sept. 15) at the Universal Studios Hollywood lots. But, there is something so different about Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and the countless others," Leake said. Everybody has to hear it. She fell asleep and just didn't wake up," Leake told CBS13. Singers can go to The Voice, as well as America's Got Talent. WINNER Brandon Leake All Performances on America's Got Talent!Audition - 0:05Quarterfinals - 5:03Semifinals - 10:01Finale - 14:59#AGT #AmericasGotTalent #TalentRecapFor more HD videos, news, analysis and recaps of America's Got Talent please subscribe \u0026 follow Talent Recap:https://talentrecap.com/For more HD full episode videos, news and recaps of your favorite talent show please subscribe \u0026 followTALENT RECAP ON SOCIAL:YouTube: https://goo.gl/6pybnwLike: https://www.facebook.com/talentrecap/Follow: https://twitter.com/TalentRecapInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/talentrecap/ABOUT TALENT RECAP Talent Recap is the #1 independent website which is exclusively dedicated to the fans of the most popular talent shows around the world. Don't go out there chasing anybody else. Brandon Leake has made it clear he's willing to take that leap. Brandon Leake's auditionin Episode 1506 consisted of recitinga spoken word poem about his late sister. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more! I am so grateful to be in this country. 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. Sex ", "Lines like that are what build the bridge between me and another person, and who would have thought that poetry or spoken word could do that," said Leake. The fourth and final slate of contestants performed in the live quarterfinal rounds of America's Got Talent. What surprised you most about your AGT experience? But it was very beautiful for me. However, it was Howie who hit that Golden Buzzer the final Golden Buzzer of the season still left in play which automatically advanced Brandon to the live shows. The poem touched every single Judge, but particularly Howie Mandel, who awarded Leake with a Golden Buzzer. Below, NBC Insider chats with Leake about his experience on AGT, where he writes his best poems, and more. SOFIA VERGARA: Yeah. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. His parents are Tyrone and Carla Leake-Gibson. Tune in next week, when the Americas Got Talent auditions once again, without a live audience conclude. "America's Got Talent" headed into uncharted territory Tuesday. His tear-jerking tale of family tragedy not only earned judge Howie Mandels Golden Buzzer, but host Terry Crews told him, Youre about to put spoken word on the map like its never been before. Brandon, whose daughter was born just 14 days before his AGT audition, explained that he had turned to poetry years ago as a means of coping with his teen angst: I let all that frustration out. 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. The first contestant to perform poetry on AGT, Leake prefaced his spoken word piece by dedicating it to his sister. The then 4-year-old adored being a big brother and couldn't wait for all the fun they'd have together. ET) on NBC. Never the same and never replicated. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. You are so amazing. 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. Leake, who is AGT 's first-ever spoken word poet to compete, was among the standout performances of the night with his moving poem. He will be part of the AGT Live residency and has a movie in the works. 27; 30 He went on to study at Simpson University in Redding, where as well as writing poetry, he played basketball on Simpson's NCAA Division II team. The same way the Latino woman from Florida can relate to a young black kid from Cali," said Leake. Leake, who is AGT's first-ever spoken word poet to compete, was among the standout performances of the night with his moving poem. Leake tells his most personal stories to connect with others and inspire people far and wide. 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. Brandon has performed in locations such as New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and 36 U.S. states for his Dark Side Tour, which promotes his first-ever published poetry chapbook and his album Deficiencies: A Tale From My Dark Side, which is rooted in transparency and healing. Incredibly, in all of its 15 seasons, Americas Got Talent has never had a spoken-word contestant. What made you decide to audition for America's Got Talent? Brandon Leake is a poet from Season 15 of America's Got Talent. Just be you, both on and off stage. You just have to take a deep breath and keep on going if not for yourself, then for everybody you love.". At present, he is 30 years old and his sun sign is Taurus. "America's Got Talent" returns on NBCJuly 14 for the last audition show of the season. Brandon Leake is an award-winning spoken word poet, artistic educator and motivational speaker from . It was a testament to the time I had spent really owning and working on my craft. me getting the opportunity to have an outlet to share that type of pain. "This right here is genuinely a moment in which spoken word got a chance to be on the forefront of the American conscious," he said to People following his victory. "A nightmare. No music, no nothing, just a raw heart beating in front of us. Information To let it all hang loose on stage and leave nothing behind. Or you could say it started in college after the passing of one of my best friendsme getting the opportunity to have an outlet to share that type of pain. Aside from crew members and hostTerry Crews, that meant there were only four people inthe audience Tuesday: Cowell,Sofa Vergara,Howie Mandel and guest judgeEric Stonestreet, who filled in for a sick Heidi Klum. The new dad moved the. To know that an art form that was so underground for so long got the public eye and took a win, that's more than any million-dollar prize could ever be.". One of the best days of Brandon's life was when his sister, Danielle Marie Gibson, was born. 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"This is going to be much harder for them.". You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. SOFIA VERGARA: My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away. 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. ", Mandel added, "I asked Brandon if his mother had heard this and he said no. But I was left here to manufacture wings out of tears and broken dreams, Brandon rapped. 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. 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