![‘America’s Got Talent’ Has Its First Golden Buzzer Winner Without An Audience](https://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2020/07/Americas-Got-Talent.jpg?w=980&q=75)
‘America’s Got Talent’ Has Its First Golden Buzzer Winner Without An Audience
Season 15 of America's Got Talent has officially resumed on NBC with some major changes due to COVID-19. The biggest adjustment is that the show no longer has a live studio audience, which seems a little weird for a giant talent show.
But despite this, the hosts of AGT still managed to squeeze plenty of fun, feel-good moments for the viewers at home. But the biggest shocker of the evening came when Howie Mandel used his one Golden Buzzer of the season on a contestant with a talent never before seen on the show: Slam poetry.
On a program that celebrates acrobats, dance crews, magicians, and other extravagant acts, it's surprising that such a simple, quiet performance would advance straight to the live shows. But contestant Brandon Leake moved the judges so much, it really was the only option. Check out Leake's audition below:
It doesn't matter that there's no deafening applause at the end of his act. Rather, the lack of an audience only emphasized Leake's reading, allowing it to stand on its own. Plus, with no need to capture the audience's reaction, there's more of a focus on the performance on stage. It will be interesting to watch how this development drives the rest of Season 15. Perhaps it will give the smaller, more unconventional acts a leg up on its flashy competition. We'll have to wait and see.
America's Got Talent airs on NBC Tuesdays at 8pm EST.
Gallery — Addictive Reality Shows on Netflix:
More From WZOZ
![Will Simon Cowell Like Saratoga County Native on National Talent Show Tonight?](http://townsquare.media/site/81/files/2022/06/attachment-WGNA.COM-2022-06-20T181021.037.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Buffalo Bills Player Wows The Judges On America’s Got Talent](http://townsquare.media/site/41/files/2022/06/attachment-GettyImages-13649969531.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘AGT’ Star Nightbirde Dead at 31 Following Cancer Diagnosis](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2022/02/attachment-Nightbirde-obit.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘America’s Got Talent: Extreme’ Contestant Falls 70 Feet After Being Crushed By Two Cars](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2021/10/attachment-americas-got-talent-extreme-stunt-gone-wrong-injury-e1634313409564.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Nightbirde Checks In With ‘AGT’ After Exiting the Show Amid Cancer Battle](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2021/06/who-is-nightbirde.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Nightbirde Explains Why She Withdrew From ‘AGT’](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2021/06/who-is-nightbirde.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘AGT’ Favorite Nightbirde Reveals the Special Moment She Shared With Simon Cowell Backstage (INTERVIEW)](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2021/07/attachment-nightbirde-e1626283391866.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘AGT’ Pranked Sofia Vergara Into Thinking She Shot Simon Cowell With an Arrow](http://townsquare.media/site/252/files/2021/06/attachment-americas-got-talent-simon-cowell-sofia-vergara-prank-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘Night Court’ Sequel Pilot Ordered At NBC](http://townsquare.media/site/442/files/2021/05/Night-Court.jpg?w=980&q=75)