The judge's older brother, Rafael, was murdered in 1998 at age 27 during a kidnapping attempt in Colombia, and the memories came flooding back when Brandon Leake recited a poem about his sister's death, according to Fox News. It's no exaggeration to say thatAmerica's Got Talentfans had never seen anyone like Brandon Leake. Read More 'AGT': Poet Brandon Leake wins star-studded finale with Duchess Meghan, Blake Shelton. You also don't have to be this overly enthusiastic person who's chasing after everybody's attention. His parents are Tyrone and Carla Leake-Gibson. Mandel applauded Leake'screativity and vulnerability. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive show news, updates, and more! Klum, Vergara and Mandel have all spoken to PEOPLE about Cowell's recovery. Although the audience was missing, the talent was not. After not making it in 2017, I said, Hey, I really want to try this out and get better at it. So I toured, I did a lot of work. Do you have any advice for the Acts competing on AGT Season 17? By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Go behind-the-scenes, stay on top of breaking news, hang with the stars, and much more. [2] Sex Brandon Leake, AGT Season 15 winner: The journey started one of two ways. Everybody has to hear it. I could finally say spoken-word has a place in this artistry world. If you don't understand it and you're not moved by it, then you're not a human being. Brandon Leake POWERFUL Poetry About Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake Brandon Leake Will Make You EMOTIONAL With His Spoken Word - America's Got Talent 2020, Brandon Leake Delivers Emotional Spoken Word to His Daughter - America's Got Talent 2020, Brandon Leake Performs a Moving Spoken Word Piece About AGT - America's Got Talent 2020, THE WINNER IS - America's Got Talent 2020, Brandon Leake's EMOTIONAL Performance Receives a Standing Ovation - AGT- All-Stars 2023. "Tonight's poem is actually an ode to my sister. The last 11 acts to compete for a spot in the semi-finals were roaster Alex Hooper, hand-balancing siblings Bello Sisters, spoken word artist (and Mandel's Golden Buzzer winner) Brandon Leake, singers Broken Roots, cheerleaders C.A. Public File for KMAX-TV / Good Day Sacramento. We are the ones who, as I said, capture history. It's either love or pain, one of the two. There's something very, very special about you. The audition greatly resonated with Vergara, 47, at the judges' panel. This is a very difficult thing to me to judge. I shouldn't be judging it, I just want to compliment you on what you just did because it was extraordinary.". Your poems are so raw. "Kind of," Leake replied. NBC Insider is your all-access pass to some of your favorite NBC shows. 27; 30 While you're trying to score tickets, take a walk down memory lane and catch every single one of Leake'sAGTperformances. "But it was very beautiful for me," Vergara said of the poem. I'm all too familiar with how some family reunions only ever take place on graveyard grass, and a hole can be a safe haven for a soul in this mortal game of hide and go seek. "She's here with me now," he said of Danielle Marie Gibson, who died in 1997 at only 8 months old. I actually didn't think about that at all. Brandon posted on his Instagram after his AGT tribute to her: Love you booboo, I hope that gift will forever remain in your heart. He went on to study at Simpson University in Redding, where as well as writing poetry, he played basketball on Simpson's NCAA Division II team. Brandon Leake, 27, a community college counselor in Stockton, California, wowed the judges with an emotional performance of a poem that paid tribute to his late sister, who died as a baby. Mandel hit the Golden Buzzer as just five pairs of hands clapped, sendingLeake straight to the live final shows. Leake's audition, featuring a deeply personal poem about his late sister, earned him a Golden Buzzer from Judge Howie Mandel, and he was an unstoppable force from there. I've been ground-bound because she left Earth to go back home, amongst the stars right next to God. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. "And here we are.". Exclusive:How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. 15, All-Stars "My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away," she said. "America's Got Talent" returns on NBCJuly 14 for the last audition show of the season. Leake tells his most personal stories to connect with others and inspire people far and wide. Your mother and I love you more than youll ever know., Today fans divided over Jenna's dress as some viewers say it's 'inappropriate', Sister Wives Janelle Brown doesnt approve of Christines new romance, Inside 1000-lb Sisters stars Amy and Michael's secret fights over kids, Today's Savannah Guthrie abruptly leaves show after scary new medical diagnosis, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Brandon Leake is the winner of Americas Got Talent season 15, Leake is a spoken word poet and motivational speaker, Brandon blew away judge Howie Mandel after he performed a piece about the loss of his sister, Brandon met his wife Anna at one of his shows in Stockton, Leake was born on the south side of Stockton, California, Brandon has a daughter of six months named Aaliyah, AGT's Heidi Klum hits the Golden Buzzer pickingCristina Rae for the finals. Its like singing and talking and just being a human a cappella. Leake was born into a single parent home with his mother, Carla on the south side of Stockton, California. Brandon received enough votes to advance to the Finals in Episode 1518 instead of Thomas Day. As passionate fans of these shows, we provide news, analysis and fan engagement on Americas Got Talent, Britains Got Talent, The Voice, The X Factor, American Idol, The Four, The Masked Singer, The Worlds Best and its contestants.America's Got Talent 2020https://goo.gl/e12UJ8America's Got Talent News \u0026 Recapshttps://goo.gl/e12UJ8 ", Klum also said Cowell has been "healing pretty fast," adding, "I think he's doing amazingly.". After the final five acts are determined for the live semifinals, next week will be the first of two rounds, with 10 acts competing each Tuesday (Sept. 8 and Sept. 15) at the Universal Studios Hollywood lots. What I more so thought about was, I felt vindicated from all the people who said spoken-word could never be a mainstream art form. That's what felt really good: knowing I'd done so much work to get so much better, and that I was finally there. Go behind-the-scenes, stay on top of breaking news, hang with the stars, and much more. "There's something very, very special about you. After the show, Mandel spoke with PEOPLE and praised Leake on the "imperative and important" message of his poem. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories, "What an amazing tribute," said Cowell. We have to understand each other and be compassionate, have empathy for each other. For the finale in Episode 1522, Brandon Leake performed a short spoken word piece prior to the results about Season 15. : How did you discover spoken-word poetry? No music, no nothing. It's the only consistent part of his process. Says Host Terry Crews, 'AGT' 's Simon Cowell Remembers Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski as 'Extraordinary Person' After Her Death, 'AGT' Star Nightbirde Dead at 31 After Cancer Battle: 'We Love You,' Says Terry Crews, 'AGT' Star Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski's Family Is 'Devastated by Her Passing': 'Unimaginable Loss', 'AGT' : Simon Cowell on Nightbirde's Success After Her Exit, His 'Amazing' Frontrunner to Win Season 16, 'AGT' : All Season 16 Finalists Announced as Competition Narrows Down Lineup to 10 Acts. At present, he is 30 years old and his sun sign is Taurus. Brandon's words were able to take a 64-year-old white guy and put him inside the heart and mind of an African-American mother whose just saying goodbye and fearing for her son's return," he said. Congratulations to Brandon Leake for WINNING Season 15 of America's Got Talent! I just want to compliment you on what you just did because it was extraordinary. His new book of poems, Unraveling, came out in March 2022, showcasing his singular artistry yet again. Never give up on this dream. I could tell my producer, it wasn't the first time he had heard spoken-word. On Tuesday, Vergara tweeted that the emotional performance was "a great way to end the night!!! However, that didn't seem to affect the emotion in the room. Leake proceeded to vocalizethe painful processof mourning and accepting the death of his youngersister, Danielle Marie Gibson, who died in 1997, the same year Vergara lost her brother. His words captured the judges and drew a standing ovation. The poem touched every single Judge, but particularly Howie Mandel, who awarded Leake with a Golden Buzzer. No music, no nothing, just a raw heart beating in front of us. Brandon met his biological father for the very first time on August 31, 2017 and he married Anna on September 2, 2017. To let it all hang loose on stage and leave nothing behind. In addition to the $1 million grand prize and a newKia Stinger, Leake is currently a headliner atAGT's live Las Vegas show at the Luxor. He continued: "There is something very, very special about you. Were you the first poet that producers had seen? KYLIE MAR: Fans at home were crying, and even Simon Cowell, who was initially skeptical about Brandon's act, was impressed. Brandon's sister, who was four years younger than him, died at just 8 months old. "I can feel your pain. We feel your pain. The Stockton, California, native spoke about his mother's "greatest fear" about her son living in America as a Black man and honored the lives of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake. "From the person who lives in Wyoming in a farm town who can relate to a city kid from Stockton, California. SPOKEN word performer and civil rights activist Brandon Leake is the winner of Americas Got Talent season 15. Watch thousands of hours of hit movies and shows, plus daily news, sports, and pop culture updates. Below, NBC Insider chats with Leake. I bring more about life-experience things that everyday people go through. And once Simon heard Brandon speak, he understood where Brandons childhood anger was coming from and, like Howie, he was totally convinced. America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays (8 p.m. "This is going to be much harder for them.". 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16, Golden Buzzer Brandon Leake Makes AGT History With Powerful Poetry - America's Got Talent 2020. Spoken word is the name given to poetry written to be performed, and Leake is the first ever performer of this genre to be featured on AGT. If people missed this show tonight, they need to watch this on YouTube and need to share it. ET) on NBC. He returned for America's Got Talent: All-Stars where he finished in 2nd place in his Preliminary week. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He will be part of the AGT Live residency and has a movie in the works. I shouldn't be judging it. Brandon Leake's Preliminary performance in Episode AS06 consisted of performing a spoken word poem about a homeless man he met on the street with a moral of not judging a book by its cover. ", She added at the time: "With so many bad things happening, it creates a tough skin. "I believe that the biggest issue in this world, and I'm not being political, I'm being truthful, we're all in this together. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing.". There's really no other place to find a mainstream home. A Poet Makes Golden Buzzer History On 'America's Got Talent' . I know what this is. You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. Mandel gave Brandon his golden buzzer, and he went from strength to strength throughout the competition addressing topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement and his estranged father. As Brandon began to recite his piece, he told the gut-punching story of his sister, who was four years younger than him, dying at just 8 months old.. I need you to return home my Pookie, to be your mom.' And I'm like, Sweet, let's do this.. "America's Got Talent" headed into uncharted territory Tuesday. The Stockton, California, native spoke about his mother's . This pursuit led to Brandon leading workshops around the world with several curricula he developed himself. Creator and Executive Producer Simon Cowell is back at the star-studded judges' table with fan-favorite comedian Howie Mandel. Aside from crew members and hostTerry Crews, that meant there were only four people inthe audience Tuesday: Cowell,Sofa Vergara,Howie Mandel and guest judgeEric Stonestreet, who filled in for a sick Heidi Klum. Brandon Leake is an African-American spoken word poet, educator, and motivational speaker. When Howie asked if Brandons sister, Danielle (a girl with a smile as wide as the universe and eyes that glimmer like the stars), was backstage, Brandon just vaguely answered, Kind of. Danielles presence was definitely felt. But if this pain and these memories are all that I got left of you, I won't never regret these scars. He was the winner of the competition, claiming the $1,000,000 prize, a new car, and the headlining of a show in Las Vegas. He's a young man from Stockton who's transcending boundaries and breaking down barriers for generations to come. But while other auditioners of the episode, notably the magicians and comedians, suffered from not being able to play to a roaring crowd, the intimacy of this unique situation actually made Brandons performance all the more intense and impactful. In his performance, Leake recalled the death of his sister in the late 90s, and his grief in the wake of her passing. She was going to watch this live on TV tonight.". This show is about talent as much as it is about story. The 27-year-old from Stockton stole hearts on the national stage by telling a very personal story about the death of his baby. Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, Germaphobe Howie Mandel Talks Wearing Masked Singer Lobster Costume, Stephanie Hsu & Tallie Medel on Their Awards Journey and Meeting Tilda Swinton | SAG Awards 2023, Tyler Henry Connects Celebs With Late Siblings (EMOTIONAL), Jennifer Hudson dishes on talk show success, Black History Month: Denver poet JC Futrell performs poem 'BRICS', Veterans Creative Arts Showcase | Morning Blend, AGT: All-Stars Finale: Winner WONT Receive Prize Money, Kate and Charlie Gibson talk 'The Book Case' podcast and new writers. Brandon blew away judge Howie Mandel in particular after he performed a piece about the loss of his sister. Judge Sofia Vergara, whose older brother Rafael was murdered the same year that Danielle passed away, was in tears, telling Brandon, I can feel your pain. Since then, Leake has worked as an English teacher at Edison High School and an academic advisor at Delta College in Stockton. "This is what an audition is actually like," Cowell said. He finished ahead of Josh Blue but behind Kodi Lee, eliminating him from the competition. He received enough votes to enter the Top 5 instead of Archie Williams. She's here with me now," Leake said, leading Mandel to ask if shewas backstage. I didn't know her, but she was a beautiful young Black girl, probably around 15 or 16. After graduating, Leake joined a slam poetry team in Sacramento. Most of us don't often walk in other people's shoes. And if you want your story told properly, you have to be yourself. "This right here is genuinely a moment in which spoken word got a chance to be on the forefront of the American conscious," he said to People following his victory. We feel your pain, we feel your love.". According to Parade, Rafael was fatally shot in an attempted kidnapping in 1998. For more Brandon Leake AGT content, check out this roundup of his best moments from the show. After Shevon belted an original ballad that she wrote for Jamie, Through the Good and Bad, and received unanimous yeses, she and Jamie (who is now her husband) elatedly revealed to Terry backstage that they will soon be new parents themselves. As Brandon began to recite his piece, he told the gut-punching story of his sister, who was four years younger than him, dying at just 8 months old. Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation. Brandon Leake is a poet from Season 15 of America's Got Talent. There was another poet who was trying out with me. 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