Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC Judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell are pictured here during the 2017 auditions at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
America’s Got Talent has finished its auditions and now has moved on to the judges’ cuts. With the help of celebrity guest judges each episode, the competition will be narrowed down gradually over the course of four shows. The contestants will return to perform again and each guest judge has the opportunity to grant a single act a golden buzzer award, which sends them straight to the live shows. Performers who have received golden buzzers thus far include singer Angelina Green, singer Christian Guardino, singing ventriloquist Darci Lynne Farmer, dance crew Light Balance and singer Mandy Harvey.
The official judges, who have returned once again this season to make up the judging panel, include Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, Mel B and Howie Mandel. Now let’s get into the four guest judges who are appearing on the show.
Chris Hardwick
Chris Hardwick is the first guest judge on the show this season. Hardwick is a TV personality, comedian, show host and actor, who is a veteran in the entertainment industry. He is currently married to the beautiful heiress, model and actress Lydia Hearst. Hearst is the heiress to the publishing empire established by her great-grandfather, William Randolph Hearst. Currently, Hardwick is set to host the Extraordinary: Stan Lee tribute event on August 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
DJ Khaled
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DJ Khaled has been making the rounds on reality competition shows, as he appeared on the most recent season of The Voice as an adviser. Khaled also recently joined the 2017 lineup of the iHeartRadio Music Festival. Others on board for the festival include Harry Styles, The Weeknd, Coldplay, Chris Stapleton, P!nk, and Thirty Seconds to Mars. Songs you may recognize of Khaled’s include “All I Do Is Win” and “I’m the One.”
Laverne Cox
©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. Credit: Steve Wilkie/FOX
Actress and singer Laverne Cox is on board as a guest judge this season. Cox made a name for herself as part of the cast of Orange Is the New Black and she also played the lead role in the FOX musical version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Currently, Cox plays the role of a transgender series regular on as the character Cameron Wirth on the TV show Doubt. In addition to entertainment, Laverne Cox is an advocate for the LGBTQ community.
Seal
Seal is an iconic singer, best known for his classic hit song “Kiss From a Rose,” but he is also known as the ex-husband of Heidi Klum. So, it looks like Klum and Seal manage to maintain a good relationship with one another even though they are long divorced. Both Seal and Klum have moved on in romantic relationships as well. Recently, Seal has been appearing as a coach on The Voice Australia.