Home Q News Entertainment “America’s Got Talent”: Music Acts Rule as the Live Rounds Continue

“America’s Got Talent”: Music Acts Rule as the Live Rounds Continue

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Grace VanderWaal on “America’s Got Talent”; Vivian Zink/NBC(LOS ANGELES) — America’s Got Talent continued its Live Rounds at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater Tuesday night, with the last 12 quarterfinalists relying on fan votes to see which of them would advance to the semifinals. Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B were treated to performances from singers, magicians, comedians and dancers, all introduced by host Nick Cannon.

Music acts ruled the evening, with an openly gay singer who was bullied as a kid, a family band and a 12-year-old singer stealing the show.

Here’s a rundown of some of Tuesday’s highlights:

Ronnee Martin, 62, is trying to prove you’re never too old to chase your dream. Her soulful version of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” brought her a step closer, and three of the judges to their feet. Mel B praised the singer for her “class and inner strength.” Howie declared Ronnee is “a star.”

Kadan Bart Rockett, a 10-year-old magician, had his sister/assistant Brooklyn, 8, hand each of the judges a set of handcuffs and asked them to place them around his wrists. He succeeded in freeing himself from a box on stage before six chainsaws penetrated the box. When a curtain covering the box was removed, Kadan was gone, re-emerging from a locked box placed on a table next to the judges earlier. Simon called the trick “fantastically creepy.”

Edgar, a family band from Los Angeles, wowed the judges with their gospel-tinged version of James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” Noted Heidi, “The family that sings together, wins together.” Simon called the act his favorite of the night. Mel B declared the performance was “spot-on.”

Openly gay singer Brian Justin Crum delivered a haunting version of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” bringing all four judges to their feet. Heidi called it “the best performance of the night.”

Malevo is a dance group consisting of eight men from Buenos Aires, Argentina, who like to consider themselves the “Magic Mikes” of Argentina. Tuesday’s routine led Simon to predict that the act would be headlining their own show in Las Vegas in two years.

Grace VanderWaal, 12, performed an original song she wrote about her sister called “I’ll Hold Your Hand.” Simon noted she didn’t always hit the right notes and her voice tended to be “croaky” at times, but that’s what makes her “perfect.” Howie, who pressed his Golden Buzzer for the tween, declared she was “bigger than Taylor Swift” and predicted she would go on to become the biggest act to ever emerge from the show.

America’s Got Talent returns Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

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