What I more so thought about was, I felt vindicated from all the people who said spoken-word could never be a mainstream art form. "There was something more, so raw. I'm all too familiar with how some family reunions only ever take place on graveyard grass, and a hole can be a safe haven for a soul in this mortal game of hide and go seek. Everybody has to hear it. Leake tells his most personal stories to connect with others and inspire people far and wide. The then 4-year-old adored being a big brother and couldn't wait for all the fun they'd have together. America's Got Talent Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Creator and Executive Producer Simon Cowell is back at the star-studded judges' table with fan-favorite comedian Howie Mandel. 27; 30 Photo: Trae Patton/NBC. Leake's audition, featuring a deeply personal poem about his late sister, earned him a Golden Buzzer from Judge Howie Mandel, and he was an unstoppable force from there. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The judge's older brother, Rafael, was murdered in 1998 at age 27 during a kidnapping attempt in Colombia, and the memories came flooding back when Brandon Leake recited a poem about his sister's death, according to Fox News. All of the judges and Crews have now used their Golden Buzzers. Season 15 This is a very difficult thing for me to judge, I shouldnt be judging it. Exclusive:How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. Sofia Vergara was emotionally moved by this poetic America's Got Talent audition. How communal the talent pool became. This is a very difficult thing for me to judge. You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. Incredibly, in all of its 15 seasons, Americas Got Talent has never had a spoken-word contestant. Brandon Leake has made it clear he's willing to take that leap. It's just me and my thoughts. Gibson was only 8 months old. However, that didn't seem to affect the emotion in the room. 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. Wildcats, singer Celina, Divas & Drummers of Compton, singer Kenadi Dodds, projection artists Lightwave Theatre Company and dancer Noah Epps. If people missed this show tonight, they need to watch this on YouTube and need to share it. And if you want your story told properly, you have to be yourself. 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. Danielle's presence was definitely felt. 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There was really nowhere else to go. Leake, a former high school English teacher from Stockton, California, had welcomed his first child 14 days prior to shooting the tryout. Following his victory just a year before, Leake returned to theAGTstage for a special guest performance during Season 16. 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. The fourth and final slate of contestants performed in the live quarterfinal rounds of America's Got Talent. Brandon Leakeisa poet from Season 15 of America's Got Talent. 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. 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. There were probably a lot of people who doubted that a poet could win, but Brandon is the real deal. It's either love or pain, one of the two. After reciting his incredibly moving poem, Brandon got a standing ovation from judges Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, while Sofia looked visibly stunned. Leake, who is AGT 's first-ever spoken word poet to compete, was among the standout performances of the night with his moving poem. "We are the storytellers of the generation, we are the griots of our time. As well as his work as a performer, Brandon is also the founder of a youth organization Called to Move, which aids the development of young people through the art of poetry. Brandon Leake is AGT royalty. Read More 'AGT': Poet Brandon Leake wins star-studded finale with Duchess Meghan, Blake Shelton. I'm just trying to hold onto you. Your poems are so raw. Spoken word is the name given to poetry written to be performed, and Leake is the first ever performer of this genre to be featured on AGT. I need you to return home my Pookie, to be your mom.' Below, NBC Insider chats with Leake about his experience on AGT, where he writes his best poems, and more. Winner, Preliminaries me getting the opportunity to have an outlet to share that type of pain. 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. Now, Leake is a poetry maven who tours the country. Brandon Leake has made it clear he's willing to take that leap. 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. "I can feel your pain; I know what this is. 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. "America's Got Talent" returns on NBCJuly 14 for the last audition show of the season. Brandon received enough votes to advance to the Semifinals in Episode 1516 instead of CA Wildcats and Divas & Drummers of Compton. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. Last week, a source told PEOPLE that "Simon's healing has been going well," and "he's recovering at home." 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. His new book of poems, Unraveling, came out in March 2022, showcasing his singular artistry yet again. ET) on NBC. "There was something more raw in the way it's like singing and talking and just being a human a cappella. SOFIA VERGARA: My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away. If you don't understand it and you're not moved by it, then you're not a human being. Brandon Leake, AGT Season 15 winner: The journey started one of two ways. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. With the help of four other spoken word poets, he delivered a piece about his hometown of Stockton, California. Singers can go to The Voice, as well as America's Got Talent. You also don't have to be this overly enthusiastic person who's chasing after everybody's attention. Read on. ", Klum also said Cowell has been "healing pretty fast," adding, "I think he's doing amazingly.". 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. Published on July 1, 2020 11:34 AM. 27-year-old Brandon Leake is a spoken word poet and motivational speaker. You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. 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. We are the ones who, as I said, capture history. It's either love or pain, one of the two. I bring more about life-experience things that everyday people go through. And once Simon heard Brandon speak, he understood where Brandons childhood anger was coming from and, like Howie, he was totally convinced. The same way the Latino woman from Florida can relate to a young black kid from Cali," said Leake. He is the first novelty act to win the competition. Brandon Leake's auditionin Episode 1506 consisted of recitinga spoken word poem about his late sister. The activist also liaises with Stockton Police Department, advocating for reform of their use-of-force policies to better the relationship between minorities and the police. I shouldn't be judging it. Leake was the first-ever spoken word poet to win America's Got Talent. "It's amazing to me that on Season 15, it's the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word," Mandel said. Below, NBC Insider chats with Leake. During the Quarterfinals, the poet unveiled a timely original poem about the power of a Black mother's love and its tie to police brutality and racial injustice. That's what felt really good: knowing I'd done so much work to get so much better, and that I was finally there. Leake actually didn't make it to the AGT stage when he first auditioned back in 2017. On Tuesday's episode of the competition series, 27-year-old Brandon Leake took . ", "Words seem to move people and myself more than anything, he's got everything," Mandel, 64, said of his Golden Buzzer winner. 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. She did this really sweet poem about her relationship with Jesus. Last week on'AGT': Sofia Vergara falls in her haste to get away from shocking eye-bulging rapper. - America's Got Talent 2020https://youtu.be/SaPXcg7lLfgAmerica's Got Talenthttp://www.youtube.com/user/americasgottalent#AGT #AmericasGotTalent NBC Insider: How did you discover spoken-word poetry? His sister passed away when he was only 4-years-old. She's here with me now," Leake said, leading Mandel to ask if shewas backstage. 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. He was the winner of the competition, claiming the $1,000,000 prize, a new car, and the headlining of a show in Las Vegas. "Kind of," Leake replied. "I'm tired of playing God 'cause I gotta come to terms with the fact that my sister ain't never comin' back.". And I'm like, Sweet, let's do this.. The only consistent thing about my writing is I write best in the shower. This story contains details from the June 30 episode of "America's Got Talent.". HOWIE MANDEL: You're amazing, buddy. Howie and Heidi are amazing, but he's the boss! . "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. Brandon Leake's AGT Golden Buzzer Audition. His parents are Tyrone and Carla Leake-Gibson. SIMON COWELL: What an amazing tribute. Brandon's final performance was an emotional spoken word piece about his new-born daughter. According to Parade, Rafael was fatally shot in an attempted kidnapping in 1998. NBC Insider is your all-access pass to some of your favorite NBC shows. That's the cost of love: caring for someone's so much that you can't imagine living life without them, staring at a grave. AGT Season 17 premieres Tuesday, May 31 at 8 p.m. [2] It's the only consistent part of his process. What an amazing tribute. Position Reached It's my opportunity. We feel your pain. We have to understand each other and be compassionate, have empathy for each other. Go behind-the-scenes, stay on top of breaking news, hang with the stars, and much more. "Its amazing to me that on Season 15 its the first time were hearing spoken word," the comedian said. At present, he is 30 years old and his sun sign is Taurus. : How did you discover spoken-word poetry? Brandon returned as a guest performer in Episode 1610 performing a spoken word piece about his hometown of Stockton. He will be part of the AGT Live residency and has a movie in the works. Anna posted on her Instagram celebrating 3 years with her hubby. Just be you, both on and off stage. 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. Its like singing and talking and just being a human a cappella. March 1, 2021 / 6:45 AM I can feel your pain. Now I get the chance to be on the forefront and show the world what spoken-word can do. He received enough votes from the Superfans to enter the Top 3 of the night. Tune in next week, when the Americas Got Talent auditions once again, without a live audience conclude. Brandon met his wife Anna at one of his shows in Stockton after she turned up with a mutual friend. After the show, Mandel spoke with PEOPLE and praised Leake on the "imperative and important" message of his poem. I know what this is. Now, Leake is a poetry maven who tours the country. 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.. SOFIA VERGARA: Yeah. We feel your love. Brandons audition wasnt Tuesdays only emotional moment. ", She added at the time: "With so many bad things happening, it creates a tough skin. Leake was born into a single parent home with his mother, Carla on the south side of Stockton, California. Mother was like a zombie. Brandon won 'AGT' season 15 in September 2020, taking home $1 million prize money, a new Kia Stinger, and the chance to perform in Luxor Las Vegas. It's amazing to me that on Season 15, its the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word. Or maybe it was simply due to they hue and in that moment I better understand my Black mother's greatest fear was every time I left her home, on the other side of her phone would no longer be her son, it would be America's most popular hashtag," the father of one said. First published on March 1, 2021 / 6:45 AM. She was going to watch this live on TV tonight.". We feel your love and you moved me to do this.". "I'll say in the moment of doing it on the national stage, it wasn't immensely difficult due to the years of practice beforehand," said Leake. I didn't know her, but she was a beautiful young Black girl, probably around 15 or 16. ET) on NBC. He finished ahead of Josh Blue but behind Kodi Lee, eliminating him from the competition. On June 30, 27-year old Brandon Leake took the stage to perform a spoken-word ode to his late sister, Danielle, and the performance left Sofia visibly shaken. NBC Insider is your all-access pass to some of your favorite NBC shows. Since then, Leake has worked as an English teacher at Edison High School and an academic advisor at Delta College in Stockton. "And we won. There was really nowhere else to go. Just a raw heart beating in front of us. Sex What surprised you most about your AGT experience? "For me, it's my first time and I feel comfortable when he is with us. : The journey started one of two ways. A Poet Makes Golden Buzzer History On 'America's Got Talent' . Your season was filmed in 2020, in the thick of the global pandemic, so you didn't have a rapturous audience every week. KYLIE MAR: But Howie Mandel was most moved by Brandon's audition, as the judge ultimately decided to give him his Golden Buzzer. I know what this is. Brandon's sister, who was four years younger than him, died at just 8 months old. Tears also flowed for singer Shevon Nieto, a two-time Olympic runner who quit training for her third Summer Games after her boyfriend Jamie, also an Olympic athlete, was paralyzed from the chest down in a 2016 high-jumping accident. Brandon Leake is an award-winning spoken word poet, artistic educator and motivational speaker from Stockton, California. She fell asleep and just didn't wake up," Leake told CBS13. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more! When Howie asked if Brandons sister, Danielle (a girl with a smile as wide as the universe and eyes that glimmer like the stars), was backstage, Brandon just vaguely answered, Kind of. Danielles presence was definitely felt. 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. 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. 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. The dynamic Terry Crews returns as host. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. I am so grateful to be in this country. Congratulations to Brandon Leake for WINNING Season 15 of America's Got Talent! After his win, Brandon said: "For an art form that has not been on the mainstream ever to have a chance to win Americas Got Talent is bigger than anything. Most of us don't often walk in other people's shoes. I just want to compliment you on what you just did, because it was extraordinary.". 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.". That being said, if an audience had been present during this taping, its likely that all spectators would have been rendered stunned and pindrop-silent by Brandons words. / Good Day Sacramento. In my early stages of doing spoken-word, there might've been five, 10 people in the crowd, but theres a level of professionalism you have to have. "This is what an audition is actually like," Cowell said. By McKenzie. (He even earned a Golden Buzzer.) Brandon Leake, 27, a community college counselor in Stockton, California, wowed the judges with an emotional performance of a poem that paid tribute to his late sister, who died as a baby. Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation. But if this pain and these memories are all that I got left of you, I won't never regret these scars. Brandon Leake's ode to his sister turned an audience-free "AGT" into a night to remember. [1] He was the first spoken word poet to be on America's Got Talent and received the Golden Buzzer award in the first round from Howie Mandel. Burt Bacharach, Legendary Composer Of Pop Songs, Dies At 94 . In 2011, Vergara opened up about the death of her older brother Rafael in a Parade cover story, telling the magazine about how the tragedy affected her family members. ", Mandel added, "I asked Brandon if his mother had heard this and he said no. first episode of Season 15 impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts, Sofia Vergara falls in her haste to get away from shocking eye-bulging rapper, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Go behind-the-scenes, stay on top of breaking news, hang with the stars, and much more. 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. What was that experience like? I shouldn't be judging it. Don't go out there trying to be somebody else. And I'm tired of playing God, because Ive got to come to terms with the fact that my sister ain't never coming back. - America's Got Talent 2020 America's Got Talent 945K views 2 years ago Jayy Honors Her Parents Who Were Murdered In Front of Her. And sometimes it designs these alternate realities where she is still here, still alive, and all the things I wish we could have done are played again and again and again, Brandon continued, as his voice began to quaver. He was the winner of the competition, claiming the $1,000,000 prize, a new car, and the headlining of a show in Las Vegas. I would say the writing was always personal, but performing was not always personal. "Still alive, and all the things I wish we could have done are played again and again and again," he continued. Brandon met his biological father for the very first time on August 31, 2017 and he married Anna on September 2, 2017. Brandon Leake's Preliminary performance in Episode AS06 consisted of performing a spoken word poem about a homeless man he met on the street with a moral of not judging a book by its cover. I handicapped myself for years because I was too concerned with how people looked at me, how people perceived me. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories, "What an amazing tribute," said Cowell. What made you decide to audition for America's Got Talent? "And here we are.". But I was left here to manufacture wings out of tears and broken dreams, Brandon rapped. If his mother had heard this and he said no very difficult thing for me to do this sex surprised! Artists Lightwave Theatre Company and dancer Noah Epps # x27 ; s willing to take that leap in 2017 I. 31, 2017 permission to cryto do brandon leake agt sister cause of death, in all of its seasons! 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