Spoilers ahead for the July 6 episode of America's Got Talent on NBC.
Season 16 of America's Got Talent has showcased some immensely talented acts throughout the auditions stage so far, to the point that all four judges and host Terry Crews had all already used up their golden buzzers by the latest episode. Under normal circumstances, and as has happened in every other season of AGT, that would mean no more golden buzzers to advance contestants straight to the live shows. But young singer Victory Brinker delivered a performance so showstopping that the judges broke the rules and made AGT history again.
After 9-year-old Victory Brinker – who lived up to her name – sang a rendition of "Juliet's Waltz" that wowed the judges, the odds seemed good that she would get a yes from each of the judges, but they didn't make the suspense easy on her before she made AGT history by getting a group golden buzzer from Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Terry Crews. Check out the performance that made the judges break the rules!
Victory Brinker was downright adorable from the moment she stepped on stage, innocently bantering with Simon Cowell about talking about herself, and describing herself as "exnervous" because she was both excited and nervous. Plus, the promise of buying Cowell a "rainbow shirt that has glitter on it" delivered enough of a fun visual that I was ready to give her a golden buzzer before she sang a single note. But once she did sing, everybody (seemingly including the audience if they'd had the option) was ready to hit the golden buzzer for her.
If only she knew that! Victory Brinker looked more nervous than "exnervous" when Simon Cowell called Terry Crews over to the judges' table to have a mysterious whispered conversation, which was barely picked up by the mics for the NBC broadcast and definitely couldn't be heard by the young contestant on stage. Cowell built the suspense by first saying that Brinker wasn't going to be getting one yes from each judge, before breaking the wonderful news that she was getting the first-ever golden buzzer shared by all four judges and the host.
Now, Victory Brinker is headed straight to the live shows as the sixth contestant to be advanced right out of the auditions stage. Several of the other golden buzzers of Season 16 also sent singers ahead, with Howie Mandel hitting the golden buzzer for the Northwell Health Nurse Choir in the Season 16 premiere, Simon Cowell advancing Nightbirde (a.k.a. Jane Marczewski), and Sofia Vergara advancing Jimmie Herrod. Terry Crews' golden buzzer pick was World Taekwondo Demonstration Team, while Heidi Klum sent along quick-change artist Leá Kyle rather than a very different clothes-inspired contestant.
While Victory Brinker and the other golden buzzer winners can rest and prepare for the live shows, the auditions are continuing. Tune in to new episodes of America's Got Talent on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. on NBC.
