a complete list of americas got talent winners
A Complete List of America's Got Talent Winners
America's Got Talent is a national reality TV show, which gives amateurs a chance to showcase their talent. In this article, Buzzle enlists the show's former winners.
Did You Know?
![]()
During Season 5 and 6 of America's Got Talent, none of the judges (Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel) were from the United States.
America's Got Talent is an American reality TV show created by Simon Cowell, which is aired on NBC. The show features all kinds of performers like dancers, singers, musicians, magicians, comedians, etc. The show, which was premiered on June 21, 2006, has no restriction on the age of the performer or the act being performed.
The main requirement to get through is for the act to be entertaining. The selection process includes producer's auditions, judges' auditions, judgement week, YouTube auditions, and finally, the live shows. The final results of the competition are decided by audience vote, and the winner gets a prize money of one million dollars and a chance to host their own show in Vegas. Let us see the winners of the show so far.
- Host: Regis Philbin
- Judges: David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan, Brandy Norwood
- Started on: June 21, 2006
- Finalists: At Last, David & Dania - Quick Change, Rappin' Granny, All That, Taylor Ware, Jon & Owen - The Passing Zone, Celtic Spring, Realis, The Millers
- Ended on: August 17, 2006
Winner: Bianca Ryan
★ Born: September 1, 1994 (Philadelphia, Pennslyvania)
★ Talent: Singer, Musician, Songwriter
Bianca Ryan, who originally wanted to be an actress and was a tap dancing champion, discovered her singing talent accidentally on the stage of Star Search at the age of 8. After impressing the judges of Star Search, she then auditioned for America's Got Talent in early 2006. She sang Dreamgirls' And I am Telling you I'm Not Going, and surprised the judges with her powerful voice. After gaining critical reviews from the judges in the semifinals, she chose I am Changing for the finals. On August 17, 2006, she became the first ever winner of the show, merely at the age of 11.
Now a 19-year-old, Bianca is studying in college and has released three albums. She is going to star in an upcoming movie called "We Be Kings".
- Host: Jerry Springer
- Judges: David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne
- Started on: June 5, 2007
- Finalists: Calypso Tumblers, The Duttons, Robert Hatcher, Side Swipe, The Glamazons, Jason Pritchett, Julienne Erwin, Butterscotch, Cas Haley
- Ended on: August 21, 2007
Winner: Terry Fator
★ Born: June 10, 1965 (Dallas, Texas)
★ Talent: Ventriloquist, Impressionist, Comedian, Singer
Fator, a ventriloquist, first started his singing career in 1987 as a lead singer of a band called "Freedom Jam". He soon began to combine his ventriloquism and singing skills, but had little success for various years. In 2007, Fator entered America's Got Talent and performed on the national television for the first time on June 19, 2007. After giving various mind-blowing performances, he went on to win the show's second season on August 21, 2007.
Terry is presently the richest AGT winner till date. He currently hosts a show at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, and recently released a concert DVD of popular rock 'n' roll songs sung by him.
- Host: Jerry Springer
- Judges: David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne
- Started on: June 17, 2008
- Finalists: Paul Salos, Kaitlyn Maher, Jessica Price, Joseph Hall, The Wright Kids, Queen Emily, Donald Braswell II, Nuttin' But Stringz, Eli Mattson
- Ended on: October 1, 2008
Winner: Neal E. Boyd
★ Born: November 18, 1975 (Sikeston, Missouri)
★ Talent: Opera Singer
Neal first started singing operatic music in junior high, after he was inspired by the Three Tenors. He studied music for several years, and also won the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Vocal Collegiate Championship in 2000. He entered America's Got Talent in 2008, and got straight to the Vegas round after singing Nessun dorma from the opera Turandot. He was declared as the winner of season 3 on October 1, 2008.
Neal has now entered politics, and is currently in the running for the Missouri State Representative for District 149. He is simultaneously working on a new album.
- Host: Nick Cannon
- Judges: David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne
- Started on: June 23, 2009
- Finalists: Voices of Glory, Hairo Torres, Lawrence Beamen, Bárbara Padilla, Fab Five, The Texas Tenors, Drew Stevyns, Grandma Lee, Recycled Percussion
- Ended on: June 23, 2009
Winner: Kevin Skinner
★ Born: February 25, 1974 (Mayfield, Kentucky)
★ Talent: Country Singer
Kevin acquired his music skills from his father, and started playing the guitar at the age of 12. He has been writing songs, playing guitar, and singing country songs ever since. He first gave a live audition for AGT on August 4, 2009. After singing If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks, he became a favorite of the audience, and went on to be the winner on September 16, 2009. Along with the one million prize, he also got to host a 10-week show at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Vegas.
He has released a CD in 2010, and a live album in 2011. He continues to play gigs in casinos and clubs.
- Host: Nick Cannon
- Judges: Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel
- Started on: June 1, 2010
- Finalists: Studio One Young Beast Society, Christina and Ali, Jeremy VanSchoonhoven, Taylor Mathews, Anna & Patryk, Fighting Gravity, Michael Grasso, Prince Poppycock, Jackie Evancho
- Ended on: September 15, 2010
Winner: Michael Grimm
★ Born: December 30, 1979 (Waveland, Mississippi)
★ Talent: Singer / Songwriter
Grimm began his singing career at the age of 17, when he released a single called "John Wayne and Jesus". He was soon hired as a guitarist and back-up vocalist for "Legends in Concert". In the spring of 2010, Michael auditioned for America's Got Talent. And after he performed "When a Man Loves a Woman", he was voted as the winner of season 5 by the audience. Along with the prize money, he got a chance to perform at the Caesars Palace Casino and Resort in Las Vegas.
After releasing a solo CD and touring the country, Michael is now working on a Christmas and a Gospel album.
- Host: Nick Cannon
- Judges: Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel
- Started on: May 31, 2011
- Finalists: Miami All-Stars, Lys Agnès, Landon Swank, Anna Graceman, Silhouettes, Smage Brothers Riding Shows, POPLYFE, West Springfield Dance Team
- Ended on: September 14, 2011
Winner: Eugene Murphy Jr.
★ Born: August 11, 1974 (Logan County, West Virginia)
★ Talent: Jazz Singer
Before getting into America's Got Talent, Murphy was homeless and was making money by washing cars. He first wooed the judges at the auditions with "I've Got You Under My Skin" by Frank Sinatra. After singing the likes of Cab Calloway and Dean Martin, he won America's heart on September 11, 2011, and was declared the winner of season 6.
Since winning the competition, Murphy has given various live performances, released three albums, and also co-authored an autobiographical book.
- Host: Nick Cannon
- Judges: Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel, Howard Stern
- Started on: May 14, 2012
- Finalists: David Garibaldi and His CMYK's, Tom Cotter, The Untouchables, Joe Castillo, William Close
- Ended on: September 13, 2012
Winner: The Olate Dogs
★ Talent: Dog Act
The Olate Dogs is a fast-paced dog act filled with various tricks by the dogs owned by the Olate family. The act was first envisaged by Richard Olate when he trained a stray dog to perform tricks. He soon adopted more dogs and came up with the act. The dogs performed in various circuses and appeared in several TV commercials and shows. The dogs auditioned for America's Got Talent in 2012 and got a standing ovation by the judges. The judges put them straight into the Top 48. Their final act began with a dog driving a car on stage, and included various other jumping tricks and back flips. It was the first non-solo act to win the competition.
Since their win, the dogs have continued to perform all over the country, and have appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. They also released a holiday album "The Olate Dogs' Christmas" in 2013.
- Host: Nick Cannon
- Judges: Howie Mandel, Howard Stern, Mel B, Heidi Klum
- Started on: June 4, 2013
- Finalists: Jimmy Rose, Cami Bradley, Collins Key, Forte Tenors, Taylor Williamson
- Ended on: September 18, 2013
Winner: Kenichi Ebina
★ Born: January 1, 1974 (Japan)
★ Talent: Dancer
Kenichi taught himself to dance as a kid, and has won the Apollo Amateur Night seven times. He first auditioned for America's Got Talent in Chicago by performing a Matrix-style dance that impressed the judges. During the show, he gave various mind-numbing dance performances which included martial arts and mime routines. After performing two dance routines for the finale, he was voted as the winner of season 6 on September 18, 2013. He was the first dancer to win the show.
Since winning the competition, Kenichi has appeared on several international TV shows, and has announced to release a book in 2014.