What happened when Simon Cowell interrupted Gina Bellina on America’s Got Talent?

Simon Cowell surprised everyone, including the other judges, during the July 8 premiere of America’s Got Talent Season 20. The shock came during the audition of Gina Bellina, a grandmother who had no idea she was even in the competition until two days before her performance. Turns out, her granddaughter Lilliana secretly signed her up.

Despite her first belief that Lilliana was “crazy,” Gina decided to investigate it. As she took the stage, she performed a song that she had composed herself. But just as she was getting started, Cowell interrupted her in the middle of her performance, in another of those classic Simon manoeuvres.

AGT attracts a wide range of performers vying for a $1 million prize and a headline slot in Vegas. You need at least three “yes” votes to advance, and judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Mel B hear everything from singers to stunt performers.

But this time, Cowell flipped the script. Instead of focusing on Gina’s song, he turned the spotlight to Lilliana, creating a moment that caught everyone off guard and changed the tone of the entire audition.

Why did Simon Cowell stop the performance and what happened after on America’s Got Talent?

Cowell halted Bellina's audition abruptly, saying:

"OK, right, um…Hang on a second."

When Simon Cowell abruptly turned his attention from Gina Bellina to her granddaughter Lilliana, who was seated in the audience, it confused everyone—even the other judges. Lilliana was suddenly asked whether she could sing.

When she replied in the affirmative, Cowell urged her to provide immediate evidence. Gina’s solo audition suddenly became a completely unexpected duet, albeit without the duet section.

Lilliana took the stage and performed the original song that her grandma had composed, and she was amazing. Her strong vocals immediately drew a reaction from the audience.

The judges were obviously impressed. The crowd adored it as well, and three of them gave her a standing ovation. Cowell’s unexpected twist shifted the spotlight to Lilliana, who ended up commanding the stage.

Lilliana had “the better voice” than her grandma, according to Cowell, who commended her for her exceptional vocal skills. He underlined that her presentation style will probably resonate with people.

Sofia Vergara echoed similar sentiments, noting that Lilliana’s beautiful voice would never have been discovered without Cowell’s intervention. She predicted strong audience support for the young performer.

Mel B offered the only dissenting opinion, stating the performance “didn’t quite get there” for her. She cast the sole no vote among the four judges.

Despite Mel B’s rejection, Lilliana advanced to the next round of America’s Got Talent with yes votes from Vergara, Cowell, and Mandel. The majority decision secured her spot in the competition.

What does this mean for the duo?

The interruption led to a memorable moment that emphasized the bond between grandmother and granddaughter on America’s Got Talent. This moment showed how quickly a performance can evolve into something unexpected and memorable. Lilliana’s advancement sets up an intriguing journey as she continues competing with her grandmother’s original compositions.

Trending

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback