The live shows of America’s Got Talent Season 21 have officially begun, and the stakes are higher than ever for the show’s remaining contestants.
This season’s Quarterfinals kicked off on Tuesday, August 18. The first 11 of the top 44 acts took to the stage to impress judges Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Howie Mandel, and Mel B. with their talent. However, it’s up to viewers to decide which acts move on to the next stage of the competition and which will have their AGT journeys come to an end.
“Tonight, your votes will put three acts through to the Semifinal, and one more act will go straight into the Final thanks to the Golden Buzzer,” host Terry Crews stated, noting that Mandel possessed this week’s Golden Buzzer pick.
Voting for Round 1 of the Quarterfinals opens at the end of the episode, and closes on Wednesday, August 19, at 7 a.m. ET. Fans can cast their votes on NBC‘s website, the AGT app, and AGT‘s official TikTok account. The Round 1 results will be announced during Wednesday night’s episode.
Scroll down for a recap of the first live show of AGT Season 21.
The CommUNITY ATL Choir
The Atlanta-based choir kicked off the night with an uplifting rendition of Natasha Bedingfield‘s 2004 hit “Unwritten.” Dressed in light blue outfits and yellow flowers, the singers got the audience and the judges on their feet with their impressive voices.
Vergara called the performance the “perfect way” to start this season’s live shows, and praised the choir for bringing joy to the AGT stage. Though Cowell wasn’t a fan of the song selection, he described the performance as “stunning.”
NBC
James & Marina
For their Quarterfinals act, the mentalist couple turned the judges’ and audience’s thoughts into drawings. Marina accurately illustrated details about audience members, such as their zodiac signs, birthdates, and childhood pets. Halfway through the act, however, Cowell hit his buzzer. The couple pushed through and ended the performance with a drawing of them on stage with Mel B. and a randomly selected audience member.
Mandel admitted he considered hitting his own buzzer during the act because of its length, though Cowell told him not to. The judges were all impressed by their magic, but agreed the presentation wasn’t the most intriguing. Mel B. defended the couple by calling them “amazing.”
NBC
Jesse White Tumbling Team
The tumbling team from Chicago got the AGT crowd cheering with their impressive routine set to “Canned Heat” by Jamiroquai, flipping through the aisles and jumping over their own members.
Vergara loved the group’s energy and how they represent their community on the show. Cowell said their live performance was “better” than their first audition and called them an “inspiration.” They ended the night with more praise from Mandel and Mel B.
NBC
Ashford Sanders
Having overcome health issues in the past, the singer put his heart and soul into his emotional Quarterfinals performance of “All That Really Matters” by Illenium and Teddy Swims.
Mandel didn’t think the performance was worthy of a Golden Buzzer, while Mel B. said she thought the song was a bit of a “risk.” Vergera, meanwhile, thought Sanders “owned” the performance. Cowell thought the track was “mushy,” but appreciated how Sanders connected with the song’s message.
NBC
Sando
For the Quarterfinals, Sando promised to deliver the “biggest production of [his] life.” Joined by a crew of dancers, Sando paid tribute to his fans with a performance full of fun tricks and his viral worm-like dance move.
Cowell called the routine the best act of the night, saying the performance will garner more online views than the night’s other performances. Mel B. admitted that she still didn’t understand Sando’s appeal, but Vergara praised him for translating his viral fame to the AGT stage.
NBC
Hundred Fingers
The magic supergroup that previously scored Mandel’s Golden Buzzer pushed themselves to perform one of their most difficult routines to date. The group wowed the judges and audience by transforming objects like cards, masks, and fans into confetti, and even held flames in their hands, among other mystifying tricks and illusions.
The group once again wowed Mandel, earning his Golden Buzzer of the night, sending them straight to the Finals. “That’s the best thing I’ve seen. One word: magic,” the judge declared while celebrating with Hundred Fingers on stage.
NBC
Brook Lynn
Lynn went from singing in solitude to making waves on the AGT stage. For the Quarterfinals, Lynn performed an original song she wrote inspired by her experience on the show so far.
Vergara loved the Netherlands native’s performance and songwriting skills, while Mel B. gushed over Lynn’s voice. Mandel said he felt “proud” of Lynn being candid about the ups and downs of her reality TV experience. Both Vergara and Cowell said Lynn’s song sounded like it belonged in a James Bond film.
NBC
Royal Lasers
The former backup dancers made their mark during the AGT auditions, earning Crews’ Golden Buzzer. The group amped things up for the Quarterfinals with a performance full of more lasers, more special effects, more dancers, and more fun. The performance even featured a CGI version of Crews that ripped his shirt off.
Cowell said the group proved how far the talent has come on the show over the years, calling the act “breathtaking.” Mel B. said she would take her kids to see a Royal Lasers show, but Mandel said he wasn’t sure if their Quarterfinals performance was better than their audition.
NBC
Olivia Befus
Befus trained dogs for several years before making her AGT debut. The young performer and her adorable pups put on a race car-themed routine full of fun tricks that left the judges smiling.
Mel B. said the “joy” of watching Befus is knowing how much fun the dogs were having. Vergara said Befus’ self-taught skills added authenticity to her act, while Mandel praised her for stepping things up. Cowell dubbed the performance “absolutely fantastic,” and said Befus was just as impressive as her canine sidekicks.
NBC
Updating live…
America’s Got Talent, Season 21, Tuesdays, 8/7c, NBC
