“America’s Got Talent” is getting ready to name is 2022 champion.
Here’s a look at all of the acts in the running for $1 million and a headlining show in Las Vegas. The show will reveal the winner in a two-hour episode airing Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. MT on NBC.
Who made the ‘AGT’ 2022 finale?
Mayyas reaches the ‘AGT’ 2022 finale
On Sept. 7, “AGT” revealed that the Lebanese dance group Mayyas made it through to the finale. The act has been a strong contender from the start, earning the golden buzzer from “AGT” judge Sofia Vergara during its audition, which has nearly 17 million views on YouTube.
“We want to show the world that we’re able to stand on our own two feet as really strong and powerful women,” one of the dancers said during a clip that aired before their audition.
“It was the most beautiful, creative dancing I’ve ever seen,” Vergara told the women after their routine, before ultimately going on to hit the golden buzzer for the group, immediately advancing the act to the show’s live round.
The group — who was the champion of “Arabs Got Talent” in 2019 — continued to wow the “AGT” audiences and judges during the semifinal round.
“It think that by far, for me personally, it is probably the most impressive, wonderful act I have seen in my years on this show,” judge Howie Mandel told People. “It’s not like anything you can describe. It was amazing. It was just beautiful and mesmerizing and hypnotizing and powerful. Then take into account where they’re from and what the culture is, and what they’re up against and what women are up against anyhow, all over the world. They need to be the poster people for female empowerment.”
For the “AGT” finale on Sept. 13, the dance group raised the bar even more with a synchronized dance involving lights and feathers. The response from the crowd nearly drowned out the judges’ feedback, the Deseret News reported.
“This is what a million dollar act looks like,” “AGT” judge Heidi Klum exclaimed, per USA Today. “Tonight it was A+.”
Howie Mandel added that this was his “favorite act ever on ‘AGT,’” while Simon Cowell said he believed the dance group would find success beyond the show.
Kristy Sellars reaches the ‘AGT’ 2022 finale
On Sept. 7, “AGT” revealed that Kristy Sellars, a pole dancer from Australia, also made it to the “AGT” finale.
Sellars wowed the “AGT” judges and audience with her unique blend of dancing and digital media effects during her audition, which has nearly 5 million views on YouTube. During the semifinal round, Simon Cowell praised her talent and creativity.
“This was unbelievable,” he said, per USA Today. “One of the most astonishingly brilliant, creative acts we’ve seen on the live show. You might be the one who’s gonna surprise us all at the end of this year.”
Cowell had even more praise for Sellars following her performance for the finale Tuesday night.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before — ever,” he said, per USA Today. “You were great when we first saw you, then you went to incredible, and now you’ve gone to amazing. This is what this final is all about. I really believe we have the best of the best.”
Metaphysic makes the ‘AGT’ 2022 finale
On Aug. 31, “AGT’ revealed that the AI company Metaphysic received the most viewer votes and made it through to the finale with its unique blend of technology and music. The company is the first AI act to reach the “AGT” finale.
“Metaphysic is pioneering the future of hyperreal, AI-generated content through mainstream entertainment,” Forbes reported.
For the semifinal round, Metaphysic put on a performance of the operatic classic “Nessun Dorma,” using AI projections of “AGT” judges Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, and host Terry Crews.
Cowell called the performance “the best act of the series,” according to USA Today.
“Beautiful singing, the opera was amazing,” “AGT” judge Heidi Klum added, per USA Today. “And then when you swap the faces live right here, the whole thing is epic.”
For the finale, Metaphysic switched up genres and put on a medley of Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” and “You’re the Devil in Disguise,” using AI projections of “AGT” judges Klum and Vergara as backup singers/dancers.
“You’re so creative,” Cowell said after the performance, according to USA Today. “You’re gonna have your own show on Vegas. There’s no question.”
Metaphysic’s audition for “AGT” has 20 million views on YouTube.
“Metaphysic’s history-making run on ‘America’s Got Talent’ has allowed us to showcase the application of AI on one of the most-watched stages in the world,” Graham said, per the software company Nvidia’s blog. “Metaphysic’s ‘AGT’ performances provide a front-row seat into how this technology could impact the future of everything, from the internet to entertainment to education.”
Mike E. Winfield makes the ‘AGT’ 2022 finale
Mike E. Winfield, a stand-up comedian from Baltimore, Maryland, also officially made it through to the finale on Aug. 31.
During his routine for the semifinal round, Winfield impressed the “AGT” judges so much that Mandel ended up offering the comedian the chance to open for him at his upcoming show, People reported.
“No matter what, I want to see more of you,” Mandel said, per People. “I either want to see you in the final or I’d love to share a stage with you. That’s what it is.”
During night one of the “AGT” finale, which aired Sept. 13, Winfield did a routine about his newfound fame since competing on the show. Cowell said he was impressed that the comedian could be so funny while being so casual at the same time, the Deseret News reported.
Mandel, who has been vocal in his support for Winfield, said the comedian is “like a superstar” and that he hopes Winfield takes home the $1 million prize, according to the reality competition site Gold Derby.
According to Winfield’s website, the comedian has appeared on “The Late Show With David Letterman,” and appeared a few times in the sitcom “The Office” as a warehouse guy.
Avery Dixon reaches ‘AGT’ finale
During the first live show, which aired Aug. 9, saxophonist Avery Dixon was one of two acts that viewers voted through to the finale.
Dixon revealed during his audition — which has more than 6 million views on YouTube — that he was bullied for his voice and his appearance when he was younger and ultimately found the saxophone to be an outlet for him to escape all of the negativity.
The 21-year-old musician from Atlanta got the thousands of people in attendance — and the “AGT” judges — on their feet as he performed a rousing rendition of Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness” on the sax.
“You need to be here, you’re supposed to be here,” “AGT” judge Howie Mandel said after Dixon’s performance. “And you will change the world.”
“When you play with your instrument, you play with your heart, and we feel it,” Klum added.
“AGT” host Terry Crews went on to give Dixon the Golden Buzzer, immediately advancing the saxophone player to the live shows, where he performed Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” and proceeded to earn enough audience votes to land a spot in the finale.
For the finale, Dixon performed Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody.”
“I saw you last week, and I saw how excited you were to be ready for the final, and I saw this look in your eye,” Cowell said after the performance, per USA Today. “You’ve really, really nailed it.”
In performing the saxophone on “AGT,” Dixon is carrying on the legacy of his great-grandfather, R&B saxophonist Maxwell Davis, who worked with artists like Etta James and B.B. King, the Deseret News reported.
Drake Milligan reaches ‘AGT’ finale
Singer Drake Milligan also reached the “AGT” finale, thanks to votes from the show’s millions of viewers.
During Milligan’s audition — which has more than 6 million views on YouTube — Mandel claimed that the singer was “the new Elvis of country” with his original song “Sounds Like Something I’d Do.”
“I think that song’s a hit,” the “AGT” judge said. “And I think that you’re a hit. You’re like the new Elvis of country. I think you’re going to break out from this particular song, this particular moment, on this particular night.”
The singer from Fort Worth, Texas — who has been an Elvis fan since he was 7 — performed another original song, “Kiss Goodbye All Night,” for the live show that aired Aug. 9. For night one of the finale on Sept. 13, Milligan brought back his hit song “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” — much to the delight of the judges and audience.
“I already want to buy a ticket to your concert,” Vergara said, according to USA Today, with Mandel adding that he believes the competition is down to Milligan and the Mayyas.
The 24-year-old singer is releasing his debut album on Sept. 15 — a day after the two-part “AGT” finale, according to a news release sent to the Deseret News.
Chapel Hart makes the ‘AGT’ finale
On Aug. 17, “AGT” revealed that the country trio Chapel Hart had earned enough audience votes to advance to the finale.
The trio from Mississippi earned a Golden Buzzer from all of the “AGT” judges and host Terry Crews — something that’s only happened one other time on the show, the Deseret News previously reported.
For Chapel Hart’s audition, which has more than 7 million views on YouTube, the group performed its original song “You Can Have Him, Jolene,” a sequel of sorts to the 1973 Dolly Parton classic “Jolene.” For the semifinal round, the group performed another original song, “The Girls Are Back In Town.”
The group brought a new original song, “American Pride,” to the finale, but in the eyes of the judges, it wasn’t the trio’s best performance on the show. Both Mandel and Cowell noted that the vocals were a little off, and said it likely had to do with the nerves and pressure of competing in the finals.
In 2021, Chapel Hart was inducted into CMT’s Next Women of Country, which has helped rising female country artists like Kelsea Ballerini and Gabby Barrett, according to its website.
Yu Hojin makes the ‘AGT’ finale
Although “AGT” judge Simon Cowell gave Yu Hojin a “no” during the audition round, the 29-year-old magician from South Korea received enough viewer votes to advance to the finale.
Hojin’s audition, which featured him doing tricks with a feather, has more than 2 million views on YouTube. For the semifinal round, the magician appeared to transform a piece of paper into items ranging from a Rubik’s cube to a crayon, USA Today reported.
“You have such a calm but elegant presence,” Heidi Klum said after the routine, per USA Today. ”Did you hypnotize us?”
Vergara added that Hojin made her “believe in magic.”
For his finale performance, Hojin made objects disappear and transform as he recreated his journey on “AGT” and told a story of making his dreams come true. It was somewhat of a redemptive moment for the magician, as Cowell revealed why he initially gave Hojin a “no” during the audition round.
“I sort of said no on purpose because in my mind I envisioned you in the final, and you’re here,” Cowell said, according to USA Today. “You are a brilliant showman. You’re very classy. You’re such a gentleman, and, more importantly, you’re a fighter.”
Sara James reaches the ‘AGT’ finale
Sara James, a 14-year-old singer from Poland, was Simon Cowell’s pick for the golden buzzer this season after she auditioned for the show with a powerful rendition of Billie Eilish’s “Lovely.”
“We’ve heard a lot of singers over the years, but wow,” Cowell said during the audition, which has more than 17 million views on YouTube. “You have a real star glow about you.”
Following her performance of Elton John’s “Rocket Man” during the semifinals, James received enough votes to advance to the finale. For the final round, the singer performed a haunting rendition of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” which has recently seen a massive resurgence in popularity due to its role in the most recent season of “Stranger Things,” the Deseret News reported.
“You have this freshness, this newness about you,” Klum told the singer, according to USA Today. ”You already look like a superstar.”
Although she’s only 14, “AGT” is not the singer’s first time competing in a major television competition. James was the Season 4 winner of Poland’s “The Voice Kids,” and also competed in the 2021 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, where she finished second behind Armenia, the Deseret News reported.
Nicolas Ribs reaches the ‘AGT’ finale
Magician Nicolas Ribs also earned enough viewer votes to reach the finale. During his audition for the show, Ribs revealed he left his job in audiology to pursue a career in magic. For his audition and the semifinals, Ribs appeared to make a variety of 3D objects come out of a flat, digital screen.
“AGT” judge Howie Mandel recently predicted that the magician has “a really good chance of winning this whole thing,” USA Today reported. For the finale, Ribs focused on the theme of family, recreating a drawing his daughter drew for him by making objects appear out of a flat screen.
Although most of the judges had praise for the magician, Cowell said he believed it didn’t raise the bar and was a letdown from Ribs’ previous performances.
Celia Munoz reaches the ‘AGT’ finale
Ventriloquist Celia Munoz was the wildcard of the “AGT” season, getting to return to the finale after being eliminated. Her routine for the finale did not disappoint.
For her final act, Munoz, a trained opera singer from Spain, pretended to be a medium communing with opera star Maria Callas.
Cowell called the act “clever, frightening, funny, creative,” per USA Today.
“You’re like a classic vaudeville performer that we haven’t seen for years,” Mandel added.
Munoz initially learned about ventriloquism after watching former “AGT” acts like Terry Fator and Darci Lynne Farmer, who both won the competition. Munoz recently met Farmer, who reportedly told her she had to “take a risk” if she wanted to succeed on the show, per the reality competition site Gold Derby.
Munoz won Season 6 of “Spain’s Got Talent” in 2021.