“America’s Got Talent” has a new champion.
Kodi Lee was crowned the Season 14 winner during Wednesday’s live, two-hour season finale following what Simon Cowell dubbed “the best final I have ever sat in on in my life” on Tuesday.
Lee, who is blind and has autism, has been the front-runner of the NBC talent show since earning a Golden Buzzer during the auditions round from Gabrielle Union. Lee not only pulled at the judges’ heartstrings, but America’s, winning the most viewer votes.
“I feel so amazing. … Unbelievable,” Lee said as he jumped for joy with his mother, Tina Lee, under a sea of confetti and pyrotechnics.
Lee beat out nine finalists, including five other Golden Buzzer winners, and walked away with a $1 million prize and headliner status for an “AGT” show in Las Vegas.
Detroit Youth Choir finished second; comedian Ryan Niemiller finished third; acrobatic dance group V. Unbeatable finished fourth, and the Voices of Service quartet finished fifth.
Earlier in the night, five acts were eliminated: singer Benicio Bryant; opera singer Emanne Beasha; Ndlovu Youth Choir; light-up dance group Light Balance Kids and violinist Tyler Butler-Figueroa.
The two-hour season finale felt like a concert, with more than a dozen mash-ups and duets featuring the Top 10 contestants, star-studded musical guests and past “AGT” competitors.
Kygo kicked off the show with “Higher Love” featuring the Ndlovu Youth Choir. Macklemore came out of the audience soon after with a high-energy performance of “Can’t Hold Us” with Detroit Youth Choir, the same song the schoolchildren sang Tuesday in an attempt to win it all.
Butler-Figueroa and fellow violinist Brian King Joseph, a Season 13 finalist, lit up the stage with a duet of Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings.” Light Balance Kids kept the energy going with a flashy dance routine to Bruno Mars’ “Treasure” that included surprise dancer Paula Abdul.
The votes are in!
Your new #AGT winner is… pic.twitter.com/DI8mnBjliI
— America’s Got Talent (@AGT) September 19, 2019
The finale wouldn’t be complete without the icon Cher, who brought the 1970s to Dolby Theatre with a psychedelic rendition of ABBA’s “Waterloo,” ahead of her Here We Go Again Tour.
Lee joined Leona Lewis for a breathtaking duet of her and Calum Scott’s “You Are The Reason.” Lee played on an angelic white piano and sang as Leona stood over in a stunning silver dress.
The performance alone could have won Lee another $1 million. As for what Lee plans to spend his winnings on? “I would buy lots of grand pianos in every colour,” he said.
