12 times Alabama acts wowed the judges on ‘America’s Got Talent’

Alabama’s never had a winner on “America’s Got Talent,” but we might have a shot at the title this year. Two singers with state ties, Reid Wilson of Montgomery and Reyna Roberts, a former Birmingham resident, are competing on the NBC reality series during Season 19. Both impressed the judges during their audition episodes, and Wilson earned a Golden Buzzer from Howie Mandel. (Yes, that’s a very good thing.)

We’re rooting for Wilson and Roberts to make it to the AGT finals, of course. But first, they’ll have to move through live shows that feature deep cuts among the contestants — starting with 55 performers, shrinking the number significantly each week and finally deciding the winner. The live shows start on Aug. 13, according to a post on the NBC website, and viewer votes will decide the victor. Audition episodes are filmed in advance.

And lest we forget, the Alabama singers will be competing against a wide variety of performers on AGT, which has featured acrobats, ventriloquists, dance teams, animal acts, magicians, spoken word poets and more during its 18-year history.

Let’s take a look at 12 times Alabamians have made their marks on “America’s Got Talent,” earning applause and cheers.

Reid Wilson

The 14-year-old singer from Montgomery auditioned this year during Season 19, covering “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore. Wilson impressed all four judges — Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel — and earned a Golden Buzzer from Mandel. It’s the highest seal of approval from a judge on AGT, and allows the contestant to move directly from the auditions to the live shows. Wilson is no stranger to TV; he was in the spotlight in November on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” He comes from a talented family, as the younger brother of Ryley Tate Wilson, a semifinalist on “The Voice” in 2023.

Watch Reid Wilson’s AGT audition here.

Reyna Roberts

Roberts, a former Birmingham resident, showcased her talent as a country singer-songwriter this year during Season 19. She performed an original tune, “Raised Right,” and earned three “yes” votes from judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara. Howie Mandel was the lone holdout, but his “no” vote didn’t stop Roberts from acing her audition. She’s now among the acts eligible to make the live shows, but is not guaranteed a spot there. The judges will create a list of 55 acts from all the successful auditions, and those performers will continue on the show. Roberts, an emerging artist in Nashville, was among the singers featured on Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter,” performing on a version of the Beatles’ “Blackbird.”

Watch Reyna Roberts’ AGT audition here.

Jefferson Davis High School marching band

The marching band from Montgomery auditioned during Season 15 in 2020, performing a mashup of Lizzo songs. The band impressed the judges with its energy and talent, earning “yes” votes from Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara. The band was later eliminated during a round known as the “judge cuts” and never made it to the quarterfinals.

READ: Alabama high school band ends its run on ‘America’s Got Talent’

Lamont Landers

Landers, a Decatur native and funk-pop musician, auditioned for AGT during Season 14 in 2019. Judge Simon Cowell nixed Landers’ initial cover of “Let’s Stay Together” and encouraged him to sing a more challenging song. Landers went backstage, practiced Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” and came back to earn four “yes” votes from Cowell, Howie Mandel, Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough. He was cut during the next round, however, after performing Pink’s “Walk Me Home” and never made it to the live shows.

The HoneyBeez

The HoneyBeez, a dance team from Alabama State University in Montgomery, competed on Season 12 of AGT in 2017. (On the show, the troupe was known as “The Honeybee-z Plus.”) Their initial audition wasn’t televised, but the HoneyBeez received “yes” votes from Mel B, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell, earning a spot in the next round. The team was eliminated during the “judge cuts” after performing a routine to Fifth Harmony’s “Worth It.”

READ: Alabama State’s HoneyBeez plus-size dance team slays crowds

Bram Gygax and Benjamin Hightower

Gygax, from Madison, and Hightower, from Mobile, appeared on AGT during Season 12 in 2017, performing with In the Stairwell, an a cappella group from the U.S. Air Force Academy. The group covered One Direction’s “Drag Me Down” during its audition, earning enthusiastic “yes” votes from judges Mel B, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell. Although Howie Mandel voted “no,” the troupe advanced on the show, acing the rounds known as “judge cuts” and quarterfinals. In the Stairwell was eliminated during the semifinals, after covering Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill.”

Jon Call (Jujimufu)

Call, a Huntsville resident, auditioned for the show as “Jujimufu” during Season 11 in 2016. The acrobat and weightlifter impressed the judges by ripping off his shirt, pressing a huge weight to his chest and doing a split across two chairs. He earned “yes” votes from Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum (who got involved in the act) and Simon Cowell. Call was eliminated during the next round of “judge cuts,” however, and didn’t make the show’s quarterfinals.

Jaycob Curlee

Curlee, a singer from Daphne, competed during Season 9 in 2014. He auditioned with a cover of John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change,” and received four “yes” votes from judges Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel. Curlee made it to the top 24 and the semifinals on the show, but was eliminated after performing Elton John’s “Your Song.”

READ: Jaycob Curlee on ‘America’s Got Talent’ experience: ‘This is winning the show, for me’

The Prancing Elites

The Prancing Elites, a dance team from Mobile, auditioned during Season 9 in 2014. Two judges, Heidi Klum and Mel B, loved their dance routine and voted “yes,” but Howard Stern and Howie Mandel voted “no.” The Elites were eliminated during the audition round. However, the popular team went on to star in its own reality series, “The Prancing Elites Project,” on Oxygen in 2015-2016.

READ: Laughter and hope, as ‘The Prancing Elites Project’ premieres

Taylor Griswold

Griswold, an Auburn University graduate and former “friend of Aubie,” competed on AGT as the director of Hooper & the Flight Crew, a trampoline dunk team linked to the Detroit Pistons. The team’s name on the show was “Flyte Cru,” and they appeared in 2012 during Season 7. The team performed acrobatic dunks and flips to the sounds of “All I Do is Win.” Judges Howard Stern and Sharon Osbourne approved — Howie Mandel voted “no” — and the team made it to the next stage of the competition, then known as the Vegas Round. However, they didn’t appear on AGT again, which means the team was eliminated in the interim or withdrew from the show. (Note: “Friend of Aubie” means Griswold wore the Aubie mascot costume during his time at Auburn, and “as head Aubie in 2003 brought home Auburn’s fifth mascot national championship,” according to The War Eagle Reader.)

Beth Ann Robinson

Robinson, a dancer from Dothan, competed on AGT in 2011 during Season 6. She auditioned via YouTube, performed a graceful and acrobatic routine to “Clubbed to Death,” and made it to the quarterfinals and semifinals. Robinson, who was 14 at the time, danced to “Happy” in the semifinals and was eliminated in that round.

Breena Bell

Bell, an 8-year-old dancer from Lincoln, competed on AGT in 2011 during Season 6. She auditioned via YouTube, performed a acrobatic routine and made it to the quarterfinals. Bell was eliminated during that round.

If you watch: “America’s Got Talent” airs on NBC, with live shows planned for Aug. 13-Sept. 18. Two-hour performance episodes will be broadcast on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. CT; hourlong results episodes are set for Wednesdays at 8 p.m. CT. New episodes stream on Peacock the following day.