LOS ANGELES — What a performance!
19-year-old singer Summer Rios of Brunswick has advanced to the next round of America's Got Talent after her audition wowed all four judges in Tuesday night's episode.
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“I’ve been singing since I was 4, but I haven’t really performed," Rios told the AGT judges before starting her song. "So, trying to make music a thing and try to put myself out there and not have so much anxiety.”
You can watch her full audition in the video below...
Her performance got a standing ovation with big praise from all four judges. Here's what each had to say:
- Howie Mandel: "I feel like we just got a peek at what you can do, and you needed to open this door a crack. You’ve opened it more than a crack to just take off."
- Heidi Klum: I loved it. To me you sounded a little bit like you swallowed Rihanna. You have a beautiful, beautiful tone in your voice. I think it was absolutely incredible.
- Sofia Vergara: Your voice is spectacular. You belong on a stage. Don’t waste more time. Live your best life. Don’t be scared anymore.
- Simon Cowell: Summer, what a great, great choice of song. I think every single person in this room wanted you to do well. Yeah, we all like you.
Rios then raced off the stage with excitement as she shouted, "Yeah! I did that!"
Prior to the episode airing, Rios joined us live at WKYC Studios during the 4 p.m. newscast Monday for an interview where she discussed her ultimate goals.
“Hopefully selling out tours and arenas, traveling like crazy. Doing more stuff like this," Rios told 3News' Matt Rascon and Laura Caso. "I never went to college because music has always been the thing that inspired me the most in life, so not going to college was a huge risk. But if this ends up working out, then it would be an absolute dream.”
Rios also explained where she finds the motivation to write her own songs.
“I write about personal experiences," Rios said. "I think when people write music it’s to connect with other people and tell a story, so I use my personal stuff that goes on in my life and I either say it how it is or I transform it a little bit that way other people are understanding in their own perspective. I write a lot of stuff about mental health, depression, school, society, anything like that.”
We can't wait to watch what happens next!
Rios wasn’t the only Northeast Ohio competitor who appeared on Tuesday night’s episode. See how Canton's Zion Clark also got a yes from all four judges by watching his audition HERE.
America's Got Talent airs new episodes every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. on NBC.
