"For me, it's my first time and I feel comfortable when he is with us. He received enough votes from the Superfans to enter the Top 3 of the night. Very much she's here with me now, Brandon answered. Most of us don't often walk in other people's shoes. After graduating, Leake joined a slam poetry team in Sacramento. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more! I shouldn't be judging it. This is a very difficult thing for me to judge, I shouldnt be judging it. 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. "I believe that the biggest issue in this world, and I'm not being political, I'm being truthful, we're all in this together. . 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. 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. 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. ET on NBC. Leake was born into a single parent home with his mother, Carla on the south side of Stockton, California. 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 myself, How communal the talent pool became. 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And even in this very direct competition, we were all still rooting for each other. NBC Insider: How did you discover spoken-word poetry? - 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. [2] Hours after the accident, Cowell underwent surgery during which he had a "number of fusions and metal rod" put into his back, a source previously told PEOPLE. What was that experience like? Although the audience was missing, the talent was not. Exclusive:How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. Acclaimed actress and international superstar Sofia Vergara joins as a new judge this season alongside returning judge and global fashion icon Heidi Klum. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. 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. "We are the storytellers of the generation, we are the griots of our time. Brandon is also the founder and CEO of Called to Move, an organization that aids youth in self-actualizing and personally developing through the art of poetry. Season 15 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 Modern Family actress then said that Leake's poem reminded her of her late brother. She was going to watch this live on TV tonight.". On the following Wednesdays, (which will feature celebrity musical acts including BTS on Sept. 16), the finalists will be announced. Singers can go to The Voice, as well as America's Got Talent. 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. "My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away," she said. 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. You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. Brandon Leake, a 27-year-old college counselor from Stockton, California, shocked the judges with an emotionally poetic spoken-word performance, a first on the "AGT" stage. On Tuesday's episode of the competition series, 27-year-old Brandon Leake took . We have to understand each other and be compassionate, have empathy for each other. What an amazing tribute. The 27-year-old from Stockton stole hearts on the national stage by telling a very personal story about the death of his baby. AGT Season 17 premieres Tuesday, May 31 at 8 p.m. Below, NBC Insider chats with Leake about his experience on AGT, where he writes his best poems, and more. When or if Cowell, 60, will return has yet to be determined. Don't go out there chasing anybody else. Brandon Leake (born May 4, 1992) is a spoken word poet, educator and motivational speaker and the winner of the fifteenth season of America's Got Talent. Brandon received enough votes to advance to the Semifinals in Episode 1516 instead of CA Wildcats and Divas & Drummers of Compton. On the night he'd be crowned the winner ofSeason 15, Leake performed a brief, light-hearted spoken word poem aboutAGT. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. There was really nowhere else to go. And then I just keep my shoulders from getting wet. It's my opportunity. The only consistent thing about my writing is I write best in the shower. Brandon Leake has made it clear he's willing to take that leap. It's the time that I don't have anybody pulling on me. "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. You are so amazing. My kids don't bother me when I'm in the shower, my wife doesn't need anything from me when I'm in the shower. I can feel your pain. Sex Brandon Leake "There's something very, very special about you. Poet One of the best days of Brandon's life was when his sister, Danielle Marie Gibson, was born. "From the person who lives in Wyoming in a farm town who can relate to a city kid from Stockton, California. Brandon Leake, the spoken-word poet who won the 2020 edition of America's Got Talent, has signed with UTA for all areas. But it was his first time, I believe, being moved by it the way I do it. Do you have any advice for the Acts competing on AGT Season 17? 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. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. "This is what an audition is actually like," Cowell said. The poem touched every single Judge, but particularly Howie Mandel, who awarded Leake with a Golden Buzzer. Brandon Leake is a poet from Season 15 of America's Got Talent. Brandon blew away judge Howie Mandel in particular after he performed a piece about the loss of his sister. 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. I could finally say spoken-word has a place in this artistry world. HOWIE MANDEL: You're amazing, buddy. Stream now on Peacock.ALL of Brandon Leake's Performances on Season 15 of AGT! After Shevon belted an original ballad that she wrote for Jamie, Through the Good and Bad, and received unanimous yeses, she and Jamie (who is now her husband) elatedly revealed to Terry backstage that they will soon be new parents themselves. I just want to compliment you on what you just did, because it was extraordinary.". Leake was the first spoken word poet to perform on the show. 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. Now, Leake is a poetry maven who tours the country. Brandon Leake's Quarterfinals performance in Episode 1515 consisted of reciting a spoken word poem about mother love and racial injustice. Brandon Leake's ode to his sister turned an audience-free "AGT" into a night to remember. His sister passed away when he was only 4-years-old. 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. 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. On Tuesday, America's Got Talent contestant and 27-year-old Calif. native Brandon Leake made history when he took the stage as the show's first-ever spoken word artist. 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. 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.". Tearing up at the powerful performance, Vergara was speechless immediately after, as judges Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell gave a standing ovation, saying simply, "Wow." 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. It's the only consistent part of his process. It's either love or pain, one of the two. The last 11 acts to compete for a spot in the semi-finals were roaster Alex Hooper, hand-balancing siblings Bello Sisters, spoken word artist (and Mandel's Golden Buzzer winner) Brandon Leake, singers Broken Roots, cheerleaders C.A. He received a standing ovation from Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Mandel. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more! Relive all of Brandon's full performances from the season. Get The America's Got Talent App: http://bit.ly/AGTAppDownload Subscribe for More: http://bit.ly/AGTSub America's Got Talent Tuesdays 8/7c on NBC! Stream on Peacock: https://pck.tv/3cCQGhHAMERICA'S GOT TALENT ON SOCIALLike AGT: https://www.facebook.com/agtFollow AGT: https://twitter.com/agtAGT Instagram: http://instagram.com/agtFind America's Got Talent trailers, full episode highlights, previews, promos, clips, and digital exclusives here.NBC ON SOCIAL:YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/nbcTwitter: http://Twitter.com/NBCFacebook: http://Facebook.com/NBCInstagram: http://instagram.com/nbcABOUT AMERICA'S GOT TALENTAmericas Got Talent,\" NBCs No. Brandon Leake is an award-winning spoken word poet, artistic educator and motivational speaker from . Opera Singer Shocks 'America's Got Talent' Judges with Cline Dion, Ariana Grande Impressions, 'America's Got Talent' 's Heidi Klum Says 'I Might Poop Myself' from Nerves About Season 17, Howie Mandel Calls His Golden Buzzer Act the 'Most Surprising, Jaw-Dropping Moment' He's Seen on 'AGT', 'AGT' Season 17 Starts Production: 'I Could Not Be Any More Excited,' Heidi Klum Says See First Look, 'AGT: Extreme' Crowns Season 1 Champion: 'He Deserves This!' "She was sitting in the car next to me as we were going to pick up my grandpa. 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. His parents are Tyrone and Carla Leake-Gibson. There were probably a lot of people who doubted that a poet could win, but Brandon is the real deal. It's no exaggeration to say thatAmerica's Got Talentfans had never seen anyone like Brandon Leake. Just be you. 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.". WINNER Brandon Leake All Performances on America's Got Talent!Audition - 0:05Quarterfinals - 5:03Semifinals - 10:01Finale - 14:59#AGT #AmericasGotTalent #Tal. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The 27-year-old from Stockton stole hearts on the national stage by telling a very personal story about the death of his baby. Mother was like a zombie. Simon Cowell Is 'Very Happy' to Be Home 1 Week After Breaking His Back and Undergoing Surgery, Sofia Vergara Recalls Brother's Death During Powerful AGT Audition: 'I Can Feel Your Pain', AGT: Watch Archie Williams, Brandon Leake and More Season 15 Finalists Perform for $1M Prize. Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation. Position Reached The fourth and final slate of contestants performed in the live quarterfinal rounds of America's Got Talent. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara all gave him standing ovations. 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. Following his victory just a year before, Leake returned to theAGTstage for a special guest performance during Season 16. Winner, Preliminaries But, there is something so different about Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and the countless others," Leake said. It was a testament to the time I had spent really owning and working on my craft. 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. 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. You deserve the world and more. : The journey started one of two ways. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. For more Brandon Leake AGT content, check out this roundup of his best moments from the show. 27-year-old Brandon Leake is a spoken word poet and motivational speaker. Tonight's poem is actually an ode to my sister, Brandon explained. Anna posted on her Instagram celebrating 3 years with her hubby. Keep reading for 10 things you didn't know about America's Got Talent season 15 winner . 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. I would say the writing was always personal, but performing was not always personal. The Season 15 winner was the show's first-ever spoken word poet to compete. Sofia Vergara was emotionally moved by this poetic America's Got Talent audition. On Tuesday, Vergara tweeted that the emotional performance was "a great way to end the night!!! ", She added at the time: "With so many bad things happening, it creates a tough skin. Brandon was the first ever artist of his genre to feature on the show and has been awarded the $1,000,000 prize, as well as a headline slot at a show in Las Vegas. Love and racial injustice had spent really owning and working on my craft, will return has to... In other people 's shoes votes from brandon leake agt sister cause of death Superfans to enter the Top 3 the... Pain, one of the competition series, 27-year-old Brandon Leake took, because it was his first,! Standing ovations to compliment you on what you just did, because it was extraordinary... 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