America’s Got Talent 2025 LIVE SHOWS: Quarterfinals 1 Recap Live Blog
America’s Got Talent season 20 live shows begin tonight (August 19) with the first of four weeks of Quarterfinals. Eleven acts of 44 will perform tonight for YOUR VOTES! THREE acts voted through to the semifinals by viewers will be revealed on Wednesdays (August 20) LIVE RESULTS. Tonight, a judge will chose ONE Golden Buzzer to go straight to the Grand Finale in September. Sofia will choose tonight’s Golden Buzzer!
Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and Mel B. take their seats on the panel. Terry Crews serves as host.
America’s Got Talent 2025: Top 44 Live Show Guide
VOTE for your favorite contestants via the AGT phone app and/or NBC.com.
Lightwire – Light show – Simon Audition Golden Buzzer
Simon’s Golden Buzzer is from Brazil. They worked on the new act up until the very last minute, and hope to upgrade their act this week.
This time, the group’s routine is more colorful than ever, It appears to take place in a rainforest and involves dancing around with a white orb. The tropical animals are rendered beautifully. The story is about the fragile South American ecosystem. Very beautiful.
(My cable keeps freezing. How about you?). Mel B wishes she had the Golden Buzzer tonight. Sofia calls the act “mindblowing.” Howie calls the visuals spectacular. Simon compares them to the World Cup and Olympics. He believes America will vote them through (but he’s biased!)
Charity Lockhart – Singer – Mel B Audition Golden Buzzer
Charity describes being very nervous before her audition. Then Simon pulled out his “sing another song” schtick. It resulted in Mel’s Golden Buzzer. A single mother, her son served in the military and her daughter attended college. She calls AGT a “life changer.”
This time, she sings Elvis Presley’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.” She’s a decent singer who employs interesting phrasing in places. She’s performing this often covered song in a unique way. Charity brings out the big vocals in the second half! She went for a few very high notes. Risky, and it didn’t quite pay off. A few too many bells and whistles got dropped in at the end.
Mel B says “I feel everything that you’re feeling. It made me think of my husband.” The judge recently got married. “I love you to bits.” Simon feels Charity came back as a different person. He can imagine her on Broadway. Howie was not blown away…yet. Sofia disagrees with Howie, she thinks America will fall in love with the singer.
Phobias – Horror clown magic
Simon hates clowns (who doesn’t?). But he found Phobia’s audition too entertaining to pass up.
Ohhh. One of the Phobias disappeared and I could see her feet underneath a fellow Phobia member’s long skirt. Next, they approach the judges table to intimidate Sofia by dumping worms in front of her. Now the chick is cut in half. But again, it’s obvious how the trick is done. I am not impressed. Mel B and Simon are also not impressed, they hit their buzzers.
Simon is NOT happy. He doesn’t like the worms. Sofia admits she kind of likes it. Nobody is going to say the tricks were lame? No they are not. Howie is impressed. Mel B felt the act wasn’t slick enough.
Citilimitz – Vocal group
The trio started their group as tweens. The three are siblings and come from a huge family. “We have been grinding for 8 years,” they claim. They want to sound original and not karaoke.
The brothers do a Boyz II Men type act. This week, they cover Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” and it’s kind of boring. Nice harmonies, but the performance lacks urgency.
Howie calls them lovable and marketable, but he feels they didn’t step up. I agree with him. Mel calls their harmonies “on point.” She adds, “you killed it.” Simon loved their audition, but agrees with Howie. “It feels like somebody is telling you what to do.” And Sofia agrees with Simon. Aw poor kids.
Sirca Marea – Married acrobats
The couple did every gig they could to make ends meet. Sofia really loved their audition. Hm…..
The two start on a small raised platform. Again, if he drops her that could be very bad. He flips her around as he hangs upside down from the short platform. The ladies are always in the most danger. Case in point: The female’s in air double somersaults–a ton of ways that could go wrong. Their first outing was more impressive, but still pretty great this time.
Howie is impressed, he calls them “epic.” Mel B calls it “brilliant” and remarking that they gave her “the fright” of her life. Sofia calls it amazing and sexy. OK. I thought Sofia might use her buzzer here, but she did not. Simon calls them spectacular. Even without the buzzer, they probably will advance.
Steve Ray Ladson – Country Singer – Sofia’s Quarterfinal Golden Buzzer (skips the semis)
Steve grew up on a farm in South Carolina. His audition song, “Back of My Truck” hit No 2 on iTunes country.
He sings another original song, accompanying himself on banjo. He does the country thing where he croons over favorite rural topics like beer and trucks. This week he sings about his boots. His audition song was better. The latest tune is lackluster. He also sounds pitchy.
Sofia calls him a superstar, then pulls a Simon saying “I didn’t like the song, I loved it” before hitting the Golden Buzzer. Steve will skip the semifinal and go right to the finals. “I feel like James Brown,” says Steve, “Ready to go down.” I know. Country fans will probably love the song.
Loco Pop Familia – Meow Meow cat act
This act is very silly, but who does not love kitty cats? The act from Tokyo is hoping to finally impress Mel B. who found their audition “annoying.”
Still silly, as they dance around to the 80s hit “Mickey.” No doubt this group has their fans. After prancing around the stage, they end, hands in the air. They know they are ridiculous, which is partly why the group is so fun.
Howie compares them to the latest trendy toy, Labubus. Sofia appreciates their work. “It’s fun to watch.” Simon adds, “How can you NOT like this?” He loves the choreography. “A cat has never won this show.” Mel B loved the song. She still finds them annoying, but they kinda won her over.
Shuler King – Comedian
He wants to be a comedian superstar…and then go embalm people. In other words, Shuler is a funeral director who moonlights as a comic. The family business has been around since 1945.
He drives up to the venue in a black hearse. Hardee har har. On stage, Shuler explains how his dad brought him along to pick up his first dead body. He was only 12! He’s pretty good at making the macabre funny. He’s naturally humorous. Great delivery and timing.
“I love this guy,” gushes Howie who compares him to the late great comic Bernie Mac. Simon finds him hilarious. Mel B. loves him. She hopes America votes for him. Sofia thought he stepped it up this time. She can imagine him starring in a sitcom.
Jourdan Blue – Singer – (Howie Audition Golden Buzzer)
Jourdan was previously homeless. Now living with his grandfather Jourdan unexpectedly became a father, but his son gives him a sense of purpose. Jourdan competed on American Idol season 20 in 2022 making the Top 59. However, his performances did not make it on air.
He sings “Biblical” by Calum Scott. His tone is beautiful, especially his angelic falsetto. His covers are very good, but not singing original songs puts him at a disadvantage.
Howie is on his feet! Simon reveals that Jourdan is sick. He admits he threw up 3 times before coming on stage. And looking at him now, he does not look well. Simon is impressed, and so am I. Howie believes his Golden Buzzer could WIN the show. Mel B compliments his vocals. Sofia calls him a rockstar.
B Unique Crew – Dance crew
The group is from Mumbai India. They live in close quarters back home. The act’s audition impressed the panel…except Simon!
I’m not sure why Simon didn’t like them. Their stage show is creative. The group uses large computer screens to enhance their bone-crushing choreography. This time, they mount a horror themed performance. The contortion is creative, but hard to watch at times.
Mel B is freaked out, “You are so good, putrid, not normal, but it’s absolutely lit.” Simon is finally impressed, calling them original. But he believes they can do even better. Howie disagrees. If he had a Golden Buzzer, he’d give it to them. He thinks they are better than his Golden Buzzer–their rivals Unreal! Mean! Sofia also loved it. Turns out, the group got a call for a Bollywood movie.
Tom Sandoval – Reality star scumbag turned singer
AGT producers are promoting Sandoval, a mediocre cover singer. But can his notoriety propel him to the semis, or do people still hate his guts after the Vanderpump Rules cheating scandal? He’s trying SO hard to rehabilitate!
This time, he covers The Weeknd hit “Blinding Light” and he sucks. His audition was passable, but this performance is simply awful. He’s off key, his vocal is week. His stage moves and outfit are corny. The backing band is non-descript. Simon buzzes him, deservedly.
“It didn’t sound great. That did not sound good.” American Idol era Simon would have been a lot meaner. Sofia says, “I didn’t love the sound.” Mel B likes him,”You make me smile.” Howie grades him on a curve saying he’d be great to play parties and weddings. Tom complains that his inner ears didn’t work. Oh, boo hoo.
Tomorrow night (August 20) RESULTS. Thee acts will advance to the semi-finals based on viewer votes. Plus ancient hair metal band Def Leppard performs.
