Watch this 14-year-old singer’s performance on “AGT” that won her the Golden Buzzer

There were many surprises on Tuesday evening America’s Got Talent Auditions, including some terrible performances, but there were also a few standouts, including 14-year-old Reid Wilsona singer from Alabama who earned a Golden Buzzer and a direct ticket to the live shows.

The young artist was terribly nervous when he entered the stage, but he managed to tell the judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum And Sofia Vergara that he has been singing his whole life, “but in the last year I’ve been working on it more and singing in front of people more and pursuing it because it’s definitely my dream.”

He then added: “I’m definitely nervous, but I’m going to give it my all, sing with all my heart and try not to miss a note.”

Simon gave Reid two minutes to make his dream come true. AGT stage. Reid’s choice of songs was unusual for a 14-year-old. He chose Lesley Gore‘s 1963 hit “You Don’t Own Me”, and when Simon commented that his parents must have good taste in music, Reid said “no”, which drew laughter from the judges and audience.

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Reid’s singing was impressive, prompting Simon to comment, “We weren’t expecting that.”

Then it was time for the reviews.

Heidi said: “I think you’re just incredible. I loved it when you took the microphone off the stand and showed a little more stage presence. Well done.”

And Sofia chimed in: “You were so nervous at the beginning. I thought, ‘He’s not going to be able to get his stuff together,’ but you did it, and you did it incredibly well. From then on, it sounded spectacular.”

Simon then explained that he closed his eyes for a moment just to listen to Reid’s voice, and then, “I opened them again and there was a cute little child.”

But what impressed Howie the most was Reid’s performance.

“I was overwhelmed because I was surprised,” Howie admitted. “I was surprised, especially because you’re a 14-year-old boy from Alabama, so I put myself in your shoes. You were very nervous and you came across as incredibly nervous. That was a surprise. You know what? At this stage, dreams come true. Do you believe in dreams? (Reid said yes). Well, one of them is about to come true.”

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Howie pressed the Golden Buzzer, his second and final of the season, sending Reid straight to the live shows.

As confetti rained down, Reid’s mother came on stage to hug him. Howie, in turn, walked on stage and said to Reid, “Congratulations, buddy, you’re amazing.”

host Terry Crews asked: “How are you feeling?”

Reid managed to say, “I’m so overwhelmed by the fame. Thank you all so much, especially Howie.”

Walking backstage with Reid and his mother, Howie added, “I did it for the sound and who you are was not at all what I expected. You are a great talent.”

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Reid, who said: Aretha Franklin is his favorite artist and hopes to one day become a big name in music like her.

“When I was little, I would just run around the house and scream at the top of my voice,” he said. “I wasn’t good at all. From then on, I started teaching myself to sing. I’m a middle child. The cliches that you get a little forgotten are true, but now I’m not forgotten. I’m on TV. I’d like to be the next superstar. I sing at family gatherings now and then, but nothing big.”

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday nights at 8pm ET/PT on NBC. It streams the next day on Peacock.

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