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. "There was something more, so raw. Brandon Leake, a 27-year-old college counselor from Stockton, California, shocked the judges with . Brandon Leake is an African-American spoken word poet, educator, and motivational speaker. Leake actually didn't make it to the AGT stage when he first auditioned back in 2017. first episode of Season 15 impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts, Sofia Vergara falls in her haste to get away from shocking eye-bulging rapper, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. ), "It's been great to have all those guest judges, but I do miss Simon. The Season 15 winner was the show's first-ever spoken word poet to compete. Brandon Leake's ode to his sister turned an audience-free "AGT" into a night to remember. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing. And then I just keep my shoulders from getting wet. Tonight's poem is actually an ode to my sister, Brandon explained. "There was something more raw in the way it's like singing and talking and just being a human a cappella. 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. 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. His parents are Tyrone and Carla Leake-Gibson. Surprising Cause Of Death Revealed For 37-Year-Old ABC News Producer. Tears also flowed for singer Shevon Nieto, a two-time Olympic runner who quit training for her third Summer Games after her boyfriend Jamie, also an Olympic athlete, was paralyzed from the chest down in a 2016 high-jumping accident. A Poet Makes Golden Buzzer History On 'America's Got Talent' . On Tuesday's episode of the competition series, 27-year-old Brandon Leake took the stage in front of an empty audience due to the show's health precautions amid the pandemic to perform a spoken-word set. It's either love or pain, one of the two. 1 summer show, returns in May with fresh new faces and familiar favorites, along with the excitement, thrills and feel-good performances that viewers have come to love each season. No music, no nothing. 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. Brandon's final performance was an emotional spoken word piece about his new-born daughter. With the show open to acts of all ages, \"America's Got Talent\" continues to celebrate the variety format like no other show on television. We feel your love and you moved me to do this.". Below, NBC Insider chats with Leake. The same way the Latino woman from Florida can relate to a young black kid from Cali," said Leake. Brandon Leake is a poet from Season 15 of America's Got Talent. Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel were back again without a guest judge or Simon Cowell, who broke his back on Aug. 8 at his Malibu, California, home when he fell off an electric bike. I shouldn't be judging it. Brandon set up the group whilst at university, and began hosting open mic nights to raise money for kids suffering from domestic abuse to go to summer camps. : The journey started one of two ways. Brandon Leake's Adorable 3-Year-Old Crashed His AGT: All-Stars Audition The Season 15 alum made history with his win in 2020 as the first-ever spoken word poet to compete. Read on. ALL of Brandon Leake's Performances on Season 15 of AGT! 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. God blessed me with really long arms, so I just put my phone outside the water and type. He also . Gibson was only 8 months old. But it was very beautiful for me. However, it was Howie who hit that Golden Buzzer the final Golden Buzzer of the season still left in play which automatically advanced Brandon to the live shows. "I am going to show the world what a spoken-word poet can do.". You don't have to be this hardened individual who steps in there and does this crazy competitive work. Go behind-the-scenes, stay on top of breaking news, hang with the stars, and much more. He received enough votes to enter the Top 5 instead of Archie Williams. Everybody else is pretty much irrelevant. At present, he is 30 years old and his sun sign is Taurus. You just have to take a deep breath and keep on going if not for yourself, then for everybody you love.". Brandon Leake has made it clear he's willing to take that leap. ", "Words seem to move people and myself more than anything, he's got everything," Mandel, 64, said of his Golden Buzzer winner. Mandel called the performance "raw," adding that "we feel your pain, we feel your love, and you moved me to do this" before reaching for the Golden Buzzer, raining confetti onto Leake and sending him straight to the live shows. KYLIE MAR: "America's Got Talent's" first-ever spoken-word contestant, 27-year-old Stockton poet, educator, and new father Brandon Leake, closed out Tuesday night's episode with a tear-jerking ode to his deceased younger sister. I'm still haunted by these nightmares because I have a really creative mind. The Season 15 winner is the competition's first (and only) spoken-word poetry champion. What an amazing tribute. As well as his work as a performer, Brandon is also the founder of a youth organization Called to Move, which aids the development of young people through the art of poetry. The poem touched every single Judge, but . Brandon is the first poet to pass the audition round. For his audition, Leake presented an emotional piece about mourning his late sister. Although the audience was missing, the talent was not. How were you able to reach a place where you can be so personal in your work? By McKenzie. She died from an enlarged heart at only eight-months-old. The reason I became so much better was actually 'cause I failed making the show the first time. Brandon is also the founder and CEO of Called to Move, an organization that aids youth in self-actualizing and personally developing through the art of poetry. March 1, 2021 / 6:45 AM You could either say it started in middle school with girls who were cute, and that's how I first started writing poetry. But if this pain and these memories are all that I got left of you, I won't never regret these scars. The activist also liaises with Stockton Police Department, advocating for reform of their use-of-force policies to better the relationship between minorities and the police. TERRY CREWS: You have received the Golden Buzzer from Howie Mandel. How communal the talent pool became. Coming from a kid who was always concerned about looking cool, being cool, and doing cool stuff, it was really hard for me to relinquish that type of cool jacket off of myselfto just be OK with being like, Let me, for lack of a better term, look like a dumbass on stage. You have to give yourself permission to cryto do theater, in a sense. "But it was very beautiful for me," Vergara said of the poem. "Love is the most vulnerable thing one will ever have," Leake recited, "And you must learn to hold onto it loosely so when it leaves it won't exit so painfully.". Brandon returned as a guest performer in Episode 1610 performing a spoken word piece about his hometown of Stockton. "It is not our most dire moments that define us, but instead how we respond to them. "I'll say in the moment of doing it on the national stage, it wasn't immensely difficult due to the years of practice beforehand," said Leake. Just be you. Anna posted on her Instagram celebrating 3 years with her hubby. Leake was the first-ever spoken word poet to win America's Got Talent. If you don't understand it and you're not moved by it, then you're not a human being. 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. Singers can go to, I would say the writing was always personal, but performing was not always personal. To let it all hang loose on stage and leave nothing behind. What surprised you most about your AGT experience? S15NBC In his performance, Leake recalled the death of his sister in the late 90s, and his grief in the wake of her passing. - America's Got Talent 2020https://youtu.be/SaPXcg7lLfgAmerica's Got Talenthttp://www.youtube.com/user/americasgottalent#AGT #AmericasGotTalent Season 15 Brandon Leake, AGT Season 15 winner: The journey started one of two ways. In my early stages of doing spoken-word, there might've been five, 10 people in the crowd, but theres a level of professionalism you have to have. Do you have any advice for the Acts competing on AGT Season 17? It's amazing to me that on Season 15, its the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word. "My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away," she said. "Its amazing to me that on Season 15 its the first time were hearing spoken word," the comedian said. The 27-year-old from Stockton stole hearts on the national stage by telling a very personal story about the death of his baby sister. Creative writing most certainly was an escape. Judge Simon Cowell was skeptical at first, telling Brandon, I don't really understand poetry, but Brandon assured him, I'm a great intro for you. His new book of poems, Unraveling, came out in March 2022, showcasing his singular artistry yet again. Brandon blew away judge Howie Mandel in particular after he performed a piece about the loss of his sister. Brandon's sister, who was four years younger than him, died at just 8 months old. Klum, Vergara and Mandel have all spoken to PEOPLE about Cowell's recovery. With the help of four other spoken word poets, he delivered a piece about his hometown of Stockton, California. America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays (8 p.m. I'm just trying to hold onto you. I can feel your pain. One of the best days of Brandon's life was when his sister, Danielle Marie Gibson, was born. "My older brother, Rafael, was killed in Colombia," she said. Let's find out#GoldenBuzzer #BrandonLeake . Watch thousands of hours of hit movies and shows, plus daily news, sports, and pop culture updates. That being said, if an audience had been present during this taping, its likely that all spectators would have been rendered stunned and pindrop-silent by Brandons words. 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. Leake was the first spoken word poet to perform on the show. I actually didn't think about that at all. Brandon Leake has made it clear he's willing to take that leap. Brandon Leake (born May 4, 1992) is a spoken word poet, educator and motivational speaker and the winner of the fifteenth season of America's Got Talent. Brandon was announced as the winner ahead of Broken Roots, Cristina Rae, Roberta Battaglia and Alan Silva, winning $1 million, a new KIA, and the headlining of a show in Las Vegas. This is a very difficult thing to me to judge. Brandon Leake is the winner of the 15th season of America's Got Talent. Public File for KMAX-TV / Good Day Sacramento. He went on to study at Simpson University in Redding, where as well as writing poetry, he played basketball onSimpson'sNCAA Division II team. Leake says his overall goal is to spread a message that creates a more loving and gracious society. Brandon met his biological father for the very first time on August 31, 2017 and he married Anna on September 2, 2017. We are the ones who, as I said, capture history. The Stockton, California, native spoke about his mother's . Exclusive: How 'AGT' is reshaping season during COVID-19, from no audiences to outdoor Judge Cuts. We feel your pain. Or you could say it started in college after the passing of one of my best friendsme getting the opportunity to have an outlet to share that type of pain. Brandon posted on his Instagram after his AGT tribute to her: Love you booboo, I hope that gift will forever remain in your heart. "America's Got Talent" returns on NBCJuly 14 for the last audition show of the season. Your poems are so raw. He received a standing ovation from Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Mandel. BRANDON LEAKE: And I'm tired of playing God, because I got to come to terms with the fact that my sister ain't never coming back. It's either love or pain, one of the two. "For me, it's my first time and I feel comfortable when he is with us. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. Danielle's presence was definitely felt. 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. "It's amazing to me that on Season 15, it's the first time that we're hearing somebody of spoken word," Mandel said. But when 27-year-old Stockton poet, educator, and new father Brandon Leake performed in the final slot of this weeks AGT episode, he made up for that. It doesn't take away from me. Tearing up at the powerful performance, Vergara was speechless immediately after, as judges Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell gave a standing ovation, saying simply, "Wow." 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Cowell called his act an "amazing tribute." Dancers have World of Dance and all these other places. On Tuesday, Vergara tweeted that the emotional performance was "a great way to end the night!!! On June 30, 27-year old Brandon Leake took the stage to perform a spoken-word ode to his late sister, Danielle, and the performance left Sofia visibly shaken. SOFIA VERGARA: My brother passed away the same year that your sister passed away. Leake, who is AGT's first-ever spoken word poet to compete, was among the standout performances of the night with his moving poem. Sofia Vergara was emotionally moved by this poetic America's Got Talent audition. A good number of us really cheered each other on, even when we were competitiveIf you do great, that doesn't mean I can't, Do you have any advice for the Acts competing on, this roundup of his best moments from the show. According to Parade, Rafael was fatally shot in an attempted kidnapping in 1998. "America, sit quietly, listen and take it in.". And I know my sister would be proud of the way her brother has responded to all the things that have been thrown in my way.". Congratulations to Brandon Leake for WINNING Season 15 of America's Got Talent! After the show, Mandel spoke with PEOPLE and praised Leake on the "imperative and important" message of his poem. Its like singing and talking and just being a human a cappella. WINNER Brandon Leake All Performances on America's Got Talent!Audition - 0:05Quarterfinals - 5:03Semifinals - 10:01Finale - 14:59#AGT #AmericasGotTalent #TalentRecapFor more HD videos, news, analysis and recaps of America's Got Talent please subscribe \u0026 follow Talent Recap:https://talentrecap.com/For more HD full episode videos, news and recaps of your favorite talent show please subscribe \u0026 followTALENT RECAP ON SOCIAL:YouTube: https://goo.gl/6pybnwLike: https://www.facebook.com/talentrecap/Follow: https://twitter.com/TalentRecapInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/talentrecap/ABOUT TALENT RECAP Talent Recap is the #1 independent website which is exclusively dedicated to the fans of the most popular talent shows around the world. Better was actually 'cause I failed making the show the first poet to win 's! At just 8 months old, Rafael was fatally shot in an attempted in! 'S recovery tonight 's poem is actually an ode to my sister, who four. 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