America's Got Talent Golden Buzzer Videos

America's Got Talent: All 48 Incredible Acts That Earned Golden Buzzers

Jul 25 2019 by Amanda Prahl

The coveted golden buzzer is only awarded a few times per season on America's Got Talent. Beginning in season nine, each judge was given the ability to send one act directly from the audition round to the quarterfinals; the following year, guest judges were also given the ability to use a golden buzzer once each during the judge cuts round. Over the course of the past five seasons, more than 40 acts have received this award, ranging from more "traditional" acts like singers and dancers to quirky performance artists, puppeteers, and more. We've collected every single golden buzzer-winning performance in AGT history below — revisit your favourites now!

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

1. Dustin's Dojo

The first golden buzzer of all time was awarded to Dustin's Dojo, a comedy-martial arts act. Howard Stern awarded them the golden buzzer in season nine, the first season using the concept.

2. The Hudson Brothers

Emmanuel and Phillip Hudson, a comedy rap duo, received Howie Mandel's golden buzzer in season nine.

3. Drew Lynch

The comedian who acknowledged having a speech impediment in season 10 received a golden buzzer from Mandel, sending him to the quarterfinals.

4. Freckled Sky

The season 10 dance duo became the first dance act to receive a golden buzzer, courtesy of Stern.

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5. Sharon Irving

Mel B. awarded her first golden buzzer to singer Irving after being impressed by her soulful rendition of "Take Me To Church."

6. Arielle Baril

11-year-old opera singer Baril impressed Heidi Klum at her audition, moving Klum to send her through to the quarterfinals with her golden buzzer for season 10.

7. Piff the Magic Dragon

Season 10 guest judge Neil Patrick Harris used his golden buzzer to send magic act Piff the Magic Dragon forward — unsurprising, given Harris's penchant for magic himself!

8. The CraigLewis Band

R&B duo The CraigLewis Band snagged a golden buzzer from guest judge Michael Bublé in the judges' cuts round of season 10.

9. Paul Zerdin

Thanks to Marlon Wayans, Zerdin, a ventriloquist, was buzzed through to the next round — and eventually walked away as the victor of season 10!

10. Siro-A

The seven-member dance crew received a golden buzzer from Piers Morgan — his first use of the buzzer.

11. Laura Bretan

The 13-year-old opera singer became the first recipient of a golden buzzer in season 11, when Mel B. sent her to the quarterfinals.

12. Grace VanderWaal

The eventual season 11 champion started out her AGT journey on a high note with a golden buzzer from Howie Mandel.

13. Sal Valentinetti

Valentinetti's rendition of the Frank Sinatra standard "My Way" earned him a golden buzzer from Klum in season 11.

14. Calysta Bevier

Bevier won her golden buzzer in season 11 from the famously hard-to-please Simon Cowell with a cover of "Fight Song."

15. Dorothy Williams

It doesn't get much quirkier than Williams, the 90-year-old burlesque dancer whose sheer audacity earned her a golden buzzer from Mandel.

16. Jon Dorenbos

Magician Dorenbos earned his golden buzzer in the judges' cuts round of season 11, courtesy of guest judge Ne-Yo.

17. Sofie Dossi

A contortionist and a counry singer might seem like a mismatch, but that's exactly what happened when country singer Reba McEntire awarded a golden buzzer to gymanst/contortionist Dossi!

18. Malevo

The group brought Malembo — a style of dancing and percussion — to the AGT stage, impressing guest judge George Lopez enough to earn a golden buzzer.

19. Jayna Brown

With a powerful cover of "Rise Up," Brown earned season 11's final golden buzzer, this time from guest judge Louis Tomlinson.

20. Darci Lynn Farmer

Farmer would go on to win season 12, but the young ventriloquist's journey began with her first routine getting a golden buzzer from Mel B.

21. Mandy Harvey

Singer Harvey had a unique backstory: her impressive singing is even more so, given that she is deaf. Her audition earned her an immediate golden buzzer from Cowell.

22. Christian Guardino

Guardino's impressive vocals — only at the age of sixteen! — earned him a golden buzzer from judge Mandel in early season 12.

23. Light Balance

All of the acts that received golden buzzers in season 12 were singers — except this dance group, who impressed Tyra Banks in their audition and were sent straight to the quarterfinals.

24. Angelina Green

Only thirteen years old, Green impressed Klum with her cover of "I'll Stand By You" to jump ahead with a golden buzzer.

25. Angelica Hale

When Hale returned for the "Champions" season, she became the first contestant in AGT history to win two golden buzzers when Mandel awarded her his use of the golden buzzer.

26. Chase Goehring

Singer-songwriter Goehring performed one of his original songs to snag a golden buzzer from DJ Khaled.

27. Celine Tam

When Laverne Cox awarded Tam a golden buzzer, she became the youngest contestant ever to receive that award — at the age of nine!

28. Johnny Manuel

Seal gave season 12's final golden buzzer to Manuel, a singer who found success with a cover of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing."

29. Zurcaroh

The acrobat group Zurcaroh earned season 13's first golden buzzer, thanks to Tyra Banks.

30. Michael Ketterer

Ketterer's first audition, a cover of the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody," earned a golden buzzer from judge Cowell.

31. Courtney Hadwin

At the age of thirteen, Hadwin became the youngest recepient of a goldne buzzer in season 13 when Mandel buzzed her through directly to the quarterfinals.

32. Amanda Mena

Singer Mena won the golden buzzer from Mel B thanks to her epic rendition of "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman."

33. Makayla Phillips

Klum awarded her season 13 golden buzzer to singer Phillips in the audition round.

34. Voices of Hope Children's Choir

With a heartwarming version of "How Far I'll Go" from Moana, the choir earned a golden buzzer from guest judge Ken Jeong.

35. Angel City Chorale

After making it past their audition to the Judge Cuts round, the chorus finally nabbed a golden buzzer from actress Olivia Munn.

36. Flau'jae

14-year-old rapper Flau'jae earned the final golden buzzer of season 13, courtesy of Chris Hardwick.

37. Susan Boyle

In her return for the "Champions" season, Boyle got a golden buzzer with her performance of "Wild Horses."

38. Deadly Games

Deadly Games, a knife-throwing daredevil duo won their golden buzzer from Klum after their heart-stopping audition.

39. Angelica Hale

Guest judge Chris Hardwick was seriously blown away by the young singer, who would ultimately finish season 12 as the runner-up.

40. Kechi

Kechi's performance of "You Are The Reason" earned her a golden buzzer from Cowell during the "Champions" season.

41. Kseniya Simonova

With her emotional and intricate sand art, Simonova earned a golden buzzer from Terry Crews in the "Champions" audition round.

42. Quin and Misha

71-year-old dancer Quin and her partner Misha teamed up to be one of the top dance teams in the world and earned a golden buzzer from Martina McBride.

43. Luke Islam

The 12-year-old from New York participated in the show's final round of auditions, singing "She Used to Be Mine" from the musical Waitress. It impressed Julianne Hough and the audience so much, his performance was greeted with a standing ovation and a golden buzzer!

44. Tyler Butler-Figueroa

The 11-year-old North Carolina native was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 4, and began playing the violin as he got older as a way to cope with bullying in school. Fortunately Tyler's performance was just as awe-inspiring as his story, and earned a a golden buzzer from Simon Cowell.

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