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America's Got Talent Winning Performances

Relive the 13 Winning Performances From America's Got Talent

Winning America's Got Talent isn't quite like winning other reality competition shows. Not only do the winners take home a pretty big cash prize, but they also typically find themselves with a slew of offers in their specialties. Of course, that specialty can vary widely, since AGT is, at its heart, a really glitzy, scaled-up version of your elementary school talent show, where anything truly goes.

Over the years, the winners of AGT have definitely proved that to be true, as singers have taken home the title alongside ventriloquists, magicians, and other novelty acts. Before the latest season, America's Got Talent: The Champions, crowns an all-star winner, take a look back at the wacky, remarkable, and just plain talented acts that have nabbed the top spot over the past several years.

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

1. Bianca Ryan Sings "I Am Changing"

Way back in 2006, eleven-year-old Ryan became the first-ever winner of AGT. She belted out the anthem "I Am Changing" from the musical Dreamgirls en route to her victory.

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

2. Terry Fator Performs "You've Got a Friend" With Muppets

AGT has always prided itself on being a true talent show, rather than just a singing competition, and Fator's win cemented that reputation. The ventriloquist and comedian won the show's second season with a quirky performance of "You've Got A Friend" that featured Kermit the Frog and the rest of the Muppets.

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

3. Neal E. Boyd Sings "Nessun Dorma"

With his rendition of the aria "Nessun Dorma" by Giacomo Puccini, Boyd proved that opera has a place in modern pop culture too. The aria was actually the same song he had auditioned with at the very beginning, bringing his AGT journey full circle.

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

4. Kevin Skinner Sings "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing"

Skinner was the second singer in a row to win AGT, but with his own country spin. His cover of Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" secured him the title in 2009.

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

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5. Michael Grimm Sings "When a Man Loves a Woman"

Singer-songwriter Grimm took the top spot in the fifth season with a performance of "When a Man Loves a Woman." He cited his longtime girlfriend Lucie Zolcerova as his inspiration for the performance, and proposed to her on Ellen the day after his victory!

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

6. Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. Sings "My Way"

Murphy brought some classic jazz to the AGT stage with a series of performances of mid-century standards originally popularized by Frank Sinatra, Ethel Merman, and more. It's fitting, then, that his winning performance was to Sinatra's "My Way."

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

7. Olate Dogs' Final Routine

Olate Dogs broke a four-season streak of singers winning AGT with talent and charm. The father-and-son duo (and their adorable dogs!) won the seventh season in 2012 with a quirky, fun routine.

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

8. Kenichi Ebina's Dance Medley

The Japanese performance artist was unlike anything ever seen on the AGT stage. Combining dance, martial arts, acting, visual storytelling, and more, Ebina created a unique visual style. His finale performance was an epic remix of his "greatest hits" from the season so far.

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

9. Mat Franco's "Human Deck of Cards" Trick

Franco, a stage magician, conjured himself a win in the ninth season back in 2014. His winning performance featured a "human deck of cards" consisting of 52 audience members who he brought onstage to assist him in one final, epic illusion.

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

10. Paul Zerdin's "Sam and Grandpa" Routine

For the first time since season two, a ventriloquist won AGT — and not even an American one! British ventriloquist and comedian Zerdin won the tenth season with a "conversation" between his standard character, Sam, and Sam's "grandpa."

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

11. Grace VanderWaal Sings "Clay"

The season 11 champion became the first singer in five seasons to claim victory. VanderWaal, at the young age of 12, wowed viewers with her original songs, culminating in her finale performance to "Clay," a song she wrote about bullying.

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

12. Darci Lynne Farmer's Puppets Sing "With A Little Help From My Friends"

Season 12's winner was another ventriloquist — but she was only thirteen when she won! Her puppet characters often belted out classic tunes, and her final competitive performance saw her and two of her characters singing "With A Little Help From My Friends."

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

13. Shin Lim's Final Trick

By combining close-up magic with a unique musical soundtrack, Lim became the latest AGT winner in 2018. For his winning performance, Lim not only showed off his trademark sleight-of-hand, but also showed off some of his pianist training.

Image Source: Getty / NBC / Trae Patton

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