KYLIE MAR: "America's Got Talent's" first-ever spoken-word contestant, 27-year-old Stockton poet, educator, and new father Brandon Leake, closed out Tuesday night's episode with a tear-jerking ode to his deceased younger sister. No music, no nothing, just a raw heart beating in front of us. : How did you discover spoken-word poetry? Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, Germaphobe Howie Mandel Talks Wearing Masked Singer Lobster Costume, Stephanie Hsu & Tallie Medel on Their Awards Journey and Meeting Tilda Swinton | SAG Awards 2023, Tyler Henry Connects Celebs With Late Siblings (EMOTIONAL), Jennifer Hudson dishes on talk show success, Black History Month: Denver poet JC Futrell performs poem 'BRICS', Veterans Creative Arts Showcase | Morning Blend, AGT: All-Stars Finale: Winner WONT Receive Prize Money, Kate and Charlie Gibson talk 'The Book Case' podcast and new writers. Although the audience was missing, the talent was not. Public File for KMAX-TV / Good Day Sacramento. And then I just keep my shoulders from getting wet. March 1, 2021 / 6:45 AM Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. The poem touched every single Judge, but . The Modern Family actress then said that Leake's poem reminded her of her late brother. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. Sex Table of Biography [ show] Early Life Brandon Leake was born on May 4, 1992. "My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away," she said. There was another poet who was trying out with me. The only consistent thing about my writing is I write best in the shower. Stream now on Peacock.ALL of Brandon Leake's Performances on Season 15 of AGT! UTA Signs 'America's Got Talent' Winner Brandon Leake. I'm all too familiar with how some family reunions only ever take place on graveyard grass, and a hole can be a safe haven for a soul in this mortal game of hide and go seek. Now I get the chance to be on the forefront and show the world what spoken-word can do. Brandon Leake, the spoken-word poet who won the 2020 edition of America's Got Talent, has signed with UTA for all areas. America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays (8 p.m. The poem touched every single Judge, but particularly Howie Mandel, who awarded Leake with a Golden Buzzer. 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. On June 30, 27-year old Brandon Leake took the stage to perform a spoken-word ode to his late sister, Danielle, and the performance left Sofia visibly shaken. She fell asleep and just didn't wake up," Leake told CBS13. ", "Lines like that are what build the bridge between me and another person, and who would have thought that poetry or spoken word could do that," said Leake. He realised his talent and decided to do a US solo tour, performing his poetry in 12 states over 40 showss. I am so grateful to be in this country. (He even earned a Golden Buzzer.) 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. This is a very difficult thing to me to judge. SOFIA VERGARA: My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away. "But it was very beautiful for me," Vergara said of the poem. The 27-year-old from Stockton stole hearts on the national stage by telling a very personal story about the death of his baby. The 27-year-old from Stockton stole hearts on the national stage by telling a very personal story about the death of his baby. Cowell called his act an "amazing tribute." Brandon Leake, 27, a community college counselor in Stockton, California, wowed the judges with an emotional performance of a poem that paid tribute to his late sister, who died as a baby. ", Klum also said Cowell has been "healing pretty fast," adding, "I think he's doing amazingly.". Brandon's daughter was born just 14 days before hisAGTaudition. Last week, a source told PEOPLE that "Simon's healing has been going well," and "he's recovering at home." It doesn't take away from me. "America, sit quietly, listen and take it in.". Brandon Leakeisa poet from Season 15 of America's Got Talent. There was really nowhere else to go. I shouldn't be judging it. Congratulations to Brandon Leake for WINNING Season 15 of America's Got Talent! 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 bring more about life-experience things that everyday people go through. And once Simon heard Brandon speak, he understood where Brandons childhood anger was coming from and, like Howie, he was totally convinced. His daughter, now 6 months old, is named Aaliyah, but her dad calls her "booboo". His parents are Tyrone and Carla Leake-Gibson. 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. I shouldn't be judging it. Published on July 1, 2020 11:34 AM. In his ode to his sister, he reads, "If I could trade my six feet for yours. Brandon Leake's Semifinals performance in Episode 1517 consisted of reciting a spoken word poem in the form of letters to his dad about how he missed out on many of Brandon's major life moments, eventually making peace. After graduating, Leake joined a slam poetry team in Sacramento. NBC Insider is your all-access pass to some of your favorite NBC shows. But, there is something so different about Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and the countless others," Leake said. / Good Day Sacramento. Poets just have our local coffee shops. Singers can go to The Voice, as well as America's Got Talent. Let's find out#GoldenBuzzer #BrandonLeake . Brandon is the first poet to pass the audition round. Brandon Leake, a 27-year-old college counselor from Stockton, California, shocked the judges with . Brandon was announced as the winner ahead of Broken Roots, Cristina Rae, Roberta Battaglia and Alan Silva, winning $1 million, a new KIA, and the headlining of a show in Las Vegas. Or maybe it was simply due to they hue and in that moment I better understand my Black mother's greatest fear was every time I left her home, on the other side of her phone would no longer be her son, it would be America's most popular hashtag," the father of one said. He received a standing ovation from Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Mandel. Brandon's words were able to take a 64-year-old white guy and put him inside the heart and mind of an African-American mother whose just saying goodbye and fearing for her son's return," he said. ET) on NBC. 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. 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. 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.. It's amazing to me that on Season 15, its the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word. Meet the Season 17 Finalists of 'America's Got Talent', 'AGT' Star Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski's Family Is 'Devastated by Her Passing': 'Unimaginable Loss', empty audience due to the show's health precautions. 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. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara all gave him standing ovations. ET on NBC. "I'm tired of playing God 'cause I gotta come to terms with the fact that my sister ain't never comin' back.". Just be you. "I can feel your pain. "And here we are.". Leake proceeded to vocalizethe painful processof mourning and accepting the death of his youngersister, Danielle Marie Gibson, who died in 1997, the same year Vergara lost her brother. Danielle's presence was definitely felt. Gibson was only 8 months old. . The fourth and final slate of contestants performed in the live quarterfinal rounds of America's Got Talent. Brandon Leake's Adorable 3-Year-Old Crashed His AGT: All-Stars Audition The Season 15 alum made history with his win in 2020 as the first-ever spoken word poet to compete. Don't go out there trying to be somebody else. Leake actually didn't make it to the AGT stage when he first auditioned back in 2017. "For me, it's my first time and I feel comfortable when he is with us. [1] He was the first spoken word poet to be on America's Got Talent and received the Golden Buzzer award in the first round from Howie Mandel. Information Most of us don't often walk in other people's shoes. After the show, Mandel spoke with PEOPLE and praised Leake on the "imperative and important" message of his poem. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16, Golden Buzzer Brandon Leake Makes AGT History With Powerful Poetry - America's Got Talent 2020. For his audition, Leake presented an emotional piece about mourning his late sister. What was that experience like? "She's here with me now," he said of Danielle Marie Gibson, who died in 1997 at only 8 months old. After reciting his incredibly moving poem, Brandon got a standing ovation from judges Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, while Sofia looked visibly stunned. But I was left here to manufacture wings out of tears and broken dreams, Brandon rapped. "Its amazing to me that on Season 15 its the first time were hearing spoken word," the comedian said. Singers can go to, I would say the writing was always personal, but performing was not always personal. "I did all of this just to give you that. Says Host Terry Crews, 'AGT' 's Simon Cowell Remembers Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski as 'Extraordinary Person' After Her Death, 'AGT' Star Nightbirde Dead at 31 After Cancer Battle: 'We Love You,' Says Terry Crews, 'AGT' Star Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski's Family Is 'Devastated by Her Passing': 'Unimaginable Loss', 'AGT' : Simon Cowell on Nightbirde's Success After Her Exit, His 'Amazing' Frontrunner to Win Season 16, 'AGT' : All Season 16 Finalists Announced as Competition Narrows Down Lineup to 10 Acts. KYLIE MAR: Fans at home were crying, and even Simon Cowell, who was initially skeptical about Brandon's act, was impressed. Aside from crew members and hostTerry Crews, that meant there were only four people inthe audience Tuesday: Cowell,Sofa Vergara,Howie Mandel and guest judgeEric Stonestreet, who filled in for a sick Heidi Klum. "I had a nightmare that I would be 90 years old doing this show and nobody would be watching it, judge Simon Cowell said while looking back to the empty Pasadena Civic Auditorium. We feel your pain, we feel your love.". Or you could say it started in college after the passing of one of my best friends. He went on to study at Simpson University in Redding, where as well as writing poetry, he played basketball on Simpson's NCAA Division II team. I know what this is. There was something more raw, in the way that it's like singing and talking and just being a human, a cappella no music, no nothing, just a raw heart beating in front of us, Howie marveled. The dynamic Terry Crews returns as host. Keep reading for 10 things you didn't know about America's Got Talent season 15 winner . 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. He will be part of the AGT Live residency and has a movie in the works. "Tonight's poem is actually an ode to my sister. "My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away," an emotional Vergara said. Photo: Trae Patton/NBC. But it was his first time, I believe, being moved by it the way I do it. SIMON COWELL: Really-- this is a very difficult thing for me to judge. "A nightmare. Read More 'AGT': Poet Brandon Leake wins star-studded finale with Duchess Meghan, Blake Shelton. One of the best days of Brandon's life was when his sister, Danielle Marie Gibson, was born. ", Mandel added, "I asked Brandon if his mother had heard this and he said no. "Kind of," Leake replied. He received enough votes to enter the Top 5 instead of Archie Williams. Tonight's poem is actually an ode to my sister, Brandon explained. How communal the talent pool became. With the help of four other spoken word poets, he delivered a piece about his hometown of Stockton, California. Brandon has performed in locations such as New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and 36 U.S. states for his Dark Side Tour, which promotes his first-ever published poetry chapbook and his album Deficiencies: A Tale From My Dark Side, which is rooted in transparency and healing. Exclusive:How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. It was a testament to the time I had spent really owning and working on my craft. Leake tells his most personal stories to connect with others and inspire people far and wide. All of the judges and Crews have now used their Golden Buzzers. ), "It's been great to have all those guest judges, but I do miss Simon. (Kelly Clarkson and Kenan Thompson previously served as season 15 guest judges during the live shows. NBC Insider: How did you discover spoken-word poetry? 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