Tom Ball.Photo: Trae Patton/NBC
TheAmerica’s Got Talentextension series returned for its latest episode Monday, featuring the next group of 10 acts competing for one of two spots in the finale.
Taking the stage was singer Peter Rosalita (AGTseason 16), comedian Axel Blake (BGTwinner 2022), singer Mandy Harvey (AGTseason 12 Golden Buzzer), variety act Yumbo Dump (Asia’s Got TalentandAGTseason 13), magician Mervant Vera (AGTseason 17), singer Tom Ball (BGT2022), variety act World Taekwondo Demonstration Team (AGTseason 16), magician Jasper Cherry (BGT2021), ventriloquist Ana Maria Mărgean (Romania’s Got Talentwinner 2021) and singer Archie Williams (AGTseason 15).
The schoolteacher blew the crowd away and ultimately prompted judgesSimon Cowell,Howie MandelandHeidi Klum, as well as hostTerry Crews, to hit their Group Golden Buzzer.
“I was absolutely over the moon!” Ball exclusively tells PEOPLE via email after earning the Golden Buzzer. “It didn’t hit me properly until I got off stage and called my soon-to-be wife [Hannah].”
“Being my first time in America, I feel massively welcomed and honored to be here and make it to the final,” he adds. “I really hope the superfans and the American public will enjoy my next performance!”
Tom Ball.Trae Patton/NBC
Prior to his audition, Ball revealed to Crews that his wedding was just five days away. Because of that, Hannah was unable to attend hisAll-Starsaudition — and the pair were later forced to keep his exciting Golden Buzzer moment a secret from their wedding guests.
“I was very fortunate to have a fantastic soon-to-be wife who had done most of the planning, which meant that I had time to prepare for this amazing opportunity, knowing the wedding was in safe hands,” he explains. “[But] it was incredibly hard to keep it all a secret [at the wedding]. The only people who knew were my wife and immediate family. It was a real sense of achievement, but I tried to keep the day focused around Hannah as much as possible.”
Making things even more intense was the fact that Ball was going up against fellowBGTstar, comedian Axel Blake, who ultimately won the season he competed on. “I am a massive fan of Axel both on and off stage, but of course, I was striving to do better than I did inBGT,” Ball says of competing against Blake once again.
With the Group Golden Buzzer secured, Ball is excited to see how his students react, especially after they nearly lost their minds the first time he was onBGT.
“I think their excitement will be uncontrollable! To continue this journey will be a massive shock to them all, I can’t wait to see their reactions,” he says, noting that while he loves teaching, he hopes to win the competition and pursue singing as a full-time career.
“Teaching will always be a big part of my life, but I do have a dream to tour the world and pursue my passion for singing,” he shares. “Hopefully, I will end up recording some songs to release in the future… I would love to collaborate with Gregory Porter, his music has a large influence on my life.”
Elsewhere in the episode, ventriloquist Ana Maria Mărgean took the stage.
Ahead of her act, she revealed that she picked up ventriloquism during the COVID lockdown after watchingAGTwinnerTerry Fatorperform online. She was eventually inspired to audition forRomania’s Got Talent, which she ultimately won in 2021.
“No wonder you won, you are incredible!” Klum said after her performance.
Ana Maria Mărgean.Trae Patton/NBC
Another memorable moment came near the end of Monday’s episode whenAGTseason 15 fan favoriteArchie Williamsreturned to the stage.
As fans may remember, Williams was convicted of aggravated rape and attempted murder in 1983 when he was 22 years old. Fingerprint evidence did not match his own, and witnesses testified that he was at his own home the night of the incident. However, Williams was sentenced to life in prison at Louisiana State Penitentiary without the possibility of parole.
At the 12-year mark of his prison sentence, Williams reached out to theInnocence Projectwith a request for the organization to exonerate him. Thanks to the Innocence Project’s years of hard work and new fingerprint-matching technology, Williams' case was overturned due to the fingerprints found at the scene of the crime matching a serial rapist.
After being incarcerated for more than 36 years, Williams was released from prison in March 2019.
Archie Williams.Trae Patton/NBC
He added that Williams has “everything it takes to make it on the stage,” while Klum described his performance as “honest” and “raw”.
Cowell also told Williams he’s “come back better,” and noted that it was “the best vocal performance you’ve done ever since you’ve been on our show.”
Despite wowing the judges, Williams sadly did not make it through to the next round. Mărgean ultimately nabbed the superfan vote after edging fellow Top 3 acts, singers Mandy Harvey and Peter Rosalita.
Ball and Mărgean will now compete in the finals against magicianAidan McCann(Britain’s Got Talent2020), aerialists Power Duo (Philippines Got Talent2016 winner), saxophonistAvery Dixon(AGTseason 17), comedianMike E. Winfield(AGTseason 17), aerialist Aidan Bryant (AGTseason 16 runner-up), choirDetroit Youth Choir(AGTseason 14 runner-up), dance group Light Balance Kids (AGTseason 14) and hand balancing act the Bello Sisters (AGTseason 15).
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America’s Got Talent: All-Starsairs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
source: people.com
