America's Got Talenthas given audiences dozens—if not hundreds—of thrilling moments, but theAGTGolden Buzzer moments take the competition to the next level.
How to Watch
Watch America’s Got Talent Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peaco*ck.
From the golden confetti and cheering applause to the tear-jerking response from the talented Acts,Golden Buzzer Auditions are always a special treat. But what is the meaning of theAGTGolden Buzzer? Introduced in Season 10, theAGTGolden Buzzer is hit by an impressedAGTJudge, allowing an Act to progress directly to the Live Shows. If a Judge hits their Golden Buzzer, the Act moves forward despite whatever red buzzers are pressed. There is a lot ofpower in the Golden Buzzer, and it's safe to say that everyAGTAct's dream is getting one.
Golden Buzzers are not to be taken lightly: They mark some of the show's most captivating performances. Read on to learn the meaning of theAGTGolden Buzzer.
What happens when you get the Golden Buzzer?
TalentedAGTActs that earn a Golden Buzzerhave the honor of progressing straight to theAGTLive Shows, which can be a huge game-changer. Typically, an Act will need to earn at least three "Yes" votes from the Judges to move forward and escape elimination. The Golden Buzzer is essentially a shiny gold exception to thetypicalAGTAudition process.
How many times can you press the Golden Buzzer?
TheAGTJudges and Host canpress their Golden Buzzeronceduring the Auditions phase of the competition, so it can get pretty competitive. The only exception is the Group Golden Buzzer, introduced in Season 16. The Group Golden Buzzer is pressed once per season byallthe Judges and Host for an Act they feel is particularly sensational. That means only six Golden Buzzers happen each season: One for each Judge, one for the Host, and the Group Golden Buzzer.
Has Simon Cowell ever hit the Golden Buzzer?
Of course he has! He's a Judge!
Cowell has hit his Golden Buzzer for Calysta Bevier, Mandy Harvey, Michael Ketterer, Kechi, Tyler Butler-Figueroa, WAFFLE Dance Crew, Jane "Nightbirde" Marczewski, and Sara James.
Which Acts on AGT have received the Golden Buzzer?
Drew Lynch
Season 10 Auditions
Freckled Sky
Season 10 Auditions
Sharon Irving
Season 10 Auditions
Arielle Baril
Season 10 Auditions
Piff the Magic Dragon and Mr. Piffles' Surprise Spellbinding Performance | NBC's AGT 2022
Piff The Magic Dragon
Season 10 Judge Cuts
The Craig Lewis Band
Season 10 Judge Cuts
Paul Zerdin
Season 10 Judge Cuts
Siro-A
Season 10 Judge Cuts
Laura Bretan
Season 11 Auditions
Grace VanderWaal
Season 11 Auditions
Sal Valentinetti
Season 11 Auditions
Calysta Bevier
Season 11 Auditions
Dorothy Williams
Season 11 Auditions
Jon Dorenbos
Season 11 Judge Cuts
Sofie Dossi
Season 11 Judge Cuts
Malevo
Season 11 Judge Cuts
Jayna Brown
Season 11 Judge Cuts
Darci Lynne | Simon Cowell's Favorite Golden Buzzer Moments | NBC's AGT
Darci Lynne Farmer
Season 12 Auditions
Mandy Harvey
Season 12 Auditions
Christian Guardino
Season 12 Auditions
Light Balance
Season 12 Auditions
Angelina Green
Season 12 Auditions
Angelica Hale
Season 12 Judge Cuts
Chase Goehring
Season 12 Judge Cuts
Celine Tam
Season 12 Judge Cuts
Johnny Manuel
Season 12 Judge Cuts
Zurcaroh
Season 13 Auditions
Michael Ketterer
Season 13 Auditions
Courtney Hadwin
Season 13 Auditions
Amanda Mena
Season 13 Auditions
Makayla Phillips
Season 13 Auditions
Voices of Hope
Season 13 Judge Cuts
Angel City Chorale
Season 13 Judge Cuts
Quin and Misha
Season 13 Judge Cuts
Flau’jae
Season 13 Judge Cuts
Kodi Lee | Simon Cowell's Favorite Golden Buzzer Moments | NBC's AGT
Kodi Lee
Season 14 Auditions
Joseph Allen
Season 14 Auditions
Tyler Butler-Figueroa
Season 14 Auditions
Season 14 Auditions
Luke Islam
Season 14 Auditions
Sophie Pecora
Season 14 Judge Cuts
V.Unbeatable
Season 14 Judge Cuts
Light Balance Kids
Season 14 Judge Cuts
Emanne Beasha
Season 14 Judge Cuts
Voices of Our City Choir
Season 15 Auditions
Roberta Battaglia
Season 15 Auditions
Cristina Rae
Season 15 Auditions
WAFFLE Crew
Season 15 Auditions
Brandon Leake
Season 15 Auditions
Northwell Nurse Choir
Season 16 Auditions
Nightbirde
Season 16 Auditions
World Taekwondo Demonstration Team SURPRISES the Judges - America's Got Talent 2021
World Taekwondo Demonstration Team
Season 16 Auditions
Jimmie Herrod
Season 16 Auditions
Lea Kyle
Season 16 Auditions
Victory Brinker
Season 16 Group Golden Buzzer
Avery Dixon
Season 17 Auditions
Maddie
Season 17 Auditions
Sara James
Season 17 Auditions
Mayyas Surprises The Crowd With Amazing Dance | NBC's AGT 2022
Mayyas
Season 17 Auditions
Season 17 Auditions
Chapel Hart
Season 17 Group Golden Buzzer
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FAQs
When it debuted in Season 9, the Golden Buzzer's initial purpose was sending the recipient act to the next round regardless of the other judges' votes; its main purpose was to break ties. In Season 10, the Golden Buzzer was upgraded to it's current status of sending an act straight to the live shows.
What does the golden buzzer do on America's Got Talent? ›
Acts that get the Golden Buzzer will move forward to live shows. So if you saw the June 4 show, or the recaps, you saw that the emotion was palpable.
What do you win if you get the golden buzzer? ›
The Golden Buzzer was first introduced during Season 10 and it allows a talent act to move straight to the Live Shows. In the years since the Golden Buzzer was implemented, countless performers have earned the downpour of gold confetti that accompanies the special button.
What happens if you got the golden buzzer? ›
A Golden Buzzer is a special feature on America's Got Talent that allows judges to send an act directly to the live shows, bypassing lower levels of the competition. In past seasons, each judge and host received one chance to use the Golden Buzzer per season.
How many golden buzzers are allowed? ›
The Golden Buzzer is a buzzer on the Judges' Panel which, when pressed, automatically grants an act a place in the Semi-Finals. The Judges, and hosts Ant & Dec, each have one opportunity per series to press it for any act they decide.
Does golden buzzer mean you won? ›
According to NBC Insider, the Golden Buzzer was introduced on America's Got Talent back in season 10. The purpose of the Golden Buzzer was that when one of the judges (or the host) was extremely impressed by a competitor's talent, this allowed the contestant to immediately move on the live shows.
What is the prize money for AGT Golden Buzzer? ›
The Golden Buzzer allows a contestant to skip all the rounds of the competition and advance to the live shows round, which takes place right before the finale. With their win, Richard and Learnmore got several steps closer to the America's Got Talent trophy and the $1 million prize.
Has a golden buzzer ever won? ›
Trivia. Since the upgraded format was introduced in Season 10, six out of eight winners, Paul Zerdin, Grace VanderWaal, Darci Lynne, Kodi Lee, Brandon Leake and Mayyas had received golden buzzers, with Mayyas, Brandon, Kodi, Darci, and Grace receiving it in the Auditions, and Paul receiving it in the Judge Cuts.
How much is Simon Cowell worth? ›
He was also named one of the wealthiest people in the UK by the Sunday Times Rich List, Cowell was worth £385 million in 2019. In 2020, Cowell announced he would be writing a seven-book series titled Wishfits with his son.
What happens to Golden buzzer winners? ›
During auditions, each judge is allowed to use the Golden Buzzer to send an act automatically into the live shows, regardless of the opinion of the other judges. When it was initially used, the buzzer simply saved an act from elimination.
If an act is awarded the golden buzzer at the end of their audition, it grants them a place in one of the live semi-finals of the show.
How important is a golden buzzer? ›
It allows judges or the host to send a contestant directly to the live shows if they are exceptionally impressed by the performance. This means even if other judges hit the red buzzer, the Golden Buzzer winner advances, giving them a huge advantage.
What is the golden buzzer rule? ›
The famous Golden Buzzer can be pressed by a judge or host when they want a particular act to go straight through to the live shows, meaning they skip past the boot camp stage of the competition, automatically giving them a head start.
What happens when a judge presses the golden buzzer? ›
Normally, an act would need to earn at least three “Yes” votes from the judges to move forward in the competition. With the Golden Buzzer, however, judges and hosts can overrule any “No” votes and provide their favorite contestants with an automatic spot in the finale, complete with a downpour of golden confetti.
Why did Amanda press the golden buzzer twice? ›
Amanda previously pressed her Golden Buzzer after Sydnie Christmas wowed judges with her singing. "I know we only get one, but I got that feeling where I absolutely had to press the Golden Buzzer," explained Amanda after Nabe left the stage. Britain's Got Talent airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
What is the point of the golden buzzer on BGT? ›
The Golden Buzzer is pressed by a judge or host when they decide they want a particular audition to go straight through to the live shows. This year, judge Amanda, 53, has teased that the "rule book has definitely gone out of the window", revealing that there are nine Golden Buzzers in total.
Who is the most famous person to win America's got talent? ›
Terry Fator has been one of the most successful winners in “AGT” history, with his singing ventriloquist impressions act finding great popularity in Las Vegas. In 2008 he signed a five-year deal with the Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip, where he performed on a nightly basis.
What about Simon Cowell's son? ›
Who is Simon Cowell's son, Eric Cowell? Cowell and Silverman welcomed their son, Eric Philip Cowell, on February 14, 2014. Eric was named after Cowell's late father, People reported, and is a nod to the close father-son bond Cowell enjoyed growing up, a relationship he hopes to foster with his own kid.