America’s Got Talent Video Preview: The Ben Waites Audition

Competitor “AGT” Ben Waites is a 32 year old southern gospel singer and vocal coach who currently resides in Nashville, TN. During the next episode on Tuesday, July 12, he auditions with the classic track “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper. “The message of the song that I feel is able to speak to people, regardless of age, race, background,” he explains, adding, “It’s able to communicate a message of hope.” Watch NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” preview video above.
The impressive wheelchair-bound singer reveals that the people he coaches at his home have no idea he’s auditioning for TV’s biggest show because when he’s with them, it’s all about them. That’s when Heidi Klum says: “But now it’s all about you and we can’t wait to hear from you! Good luck.”
After a beat, Ben bursts into “True Colors” and his low, operative voice wows the audience. You can hear a pin drop during the performance, as everyone is waiting for his every word. The camera switches to Sofia Vergara, who is openly emotional with tears streaming down her face. If you want to hear what the judges have to say about Ben’s cover of the Grammy-nominated song, be sure to listen to “AGT” on Tuesday nights starting at 8:00 p.m.
Normally, this would be the type of performance that might warrant a Golden Buzzer, but all the buttons have already been pushed in the Season 17 auditions. Terry Crews pushed the buzzer for saxophonist Avery Dixon, Howie Mandel for singer Maddie, Simon Cowell for singer Sarah JamesSofia for dancers Mayyas and Heidi for the singer Lily Meola. Additional Golden Buzzers are sometimes given out during the Judge Cuts round by guest judges, but this has not been the case in recent years.
SEE ‘AGT’ death: Remembering the contestants we lost on ‘America’s Got Talent’
If Ben ends up going all the way and winning the NBC reality show, he would become the eighth singer to win after Bianca Ryan (Season 1), Neal E. Boyd (Season 3), Kevin Skinner (Season 4), Michael Grimm (Season 5), Pram Eugene Murphy Jr. (Season 6), Grace Vander Waal (Season 11) and Kodi Lee (Season 14). See the list of show winners.
Speak up in the comments section to let us know what you think of Ben Waites’ emotional “America’s Got Talent” audition.