Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC Pictured: (l-r) Howie Mandel, Terry Crews, Gabrielle Union, Simon Cowell, Julianne Hough
America’s Got Talent aired its latest round of auditions on Tuesday night. While many were eager to see which performer would land the hallowed Golden Buzzer, the panel of judges decided to hold off. There was no Golden Buzzer recipient tonight.
That said, there almost was. Ben Trigger, the last performer of the night, shocked everyone when he stripped down to pasties and a leotard and began dancing. He took his dance routine to the judges’ table, where he accidentally laid down on the button for the Golden Buzzer! Howie Mandel calls the accidental Golden Buzzer his favorite ever. Simon Cowell revoked the buzzer, but he agrees to send Trigger through to the next round.
Ben Trigger Accidentally Laid on the Golden Buzzer But It was Revoked
For those keeping track, Julianne Hough is the only judge who has yet to use her Golden Buzzer option. While there were stellar performances from the likes of dancing duo Izzy and Easton, and soul singer Lamont Landers, nobody wowed Hough enough for her to hit the Golden Buzzer! Needless to say, all eyes will be on her when the show resumes next week.
Last week saw the Golden Buzzer awarded to Tyler Butler-Figueroa, a violinist who overcame a leukemia diagnosis at age 4. Tyler gave an electrifying performance alongside a track of Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger.” The judges rose to their feet to give the 11-year-old a standing ovation. “I just want to commend you in taking something that has probably been the hardest things that you will ever have to go through and turning it around and finding something that brings you joy,” Hough said.
Violinist Tyler Butler-Figueroa Was Awarded the Golden Buzzer Last Episode
As soon as he finished speaking Cowell slammed down the Golden Buzzer and sent confetti raining down on Tyler, who collapsed into a joyful crying fit. After the shock wore off, Tyler talked to about his experience and how surreal it all felt. “When the gold was falling it just felt like it was in slow motion,” he recalled. “I was just crying. I gave my mom a hug. It just feels like a dream come true.”
In a separate interview, Cowell once again praised Tyler and said that he gave him the Golden Buzzer because of because he gave an “extraordinary” performance. “We hear too many stories about people being bullied and I can tell you one thing: most people are bullied because they’re better than the people who bully them,” he said. “I think [he has] such an amazing talent, such a personality.”
Host Terry Crews Can Also Give a Lucky Contestant a Free Pass to the Finals
Tyler joins an impressive roster of performers who have been awarded the Golden Buzzer. In the season premiere, the honor was given to autistic pianist Kodi Lee after his emotional performance, and episode two saw an entirely different Golden Buzzer performance in the guise of singer and songwriter Joseph Allen.
Gabrielle Union and Howie Mandel used their respective Golden Buzzers on Lee and Allen, which leaves Hough as the only remaining judge who can give them out.