When Celia Munoz tells the America’s Got Talent panel that she’s from Spain, and Simon Cowell responds “I KNEW IT” like he’s some sort of genius. Well, consider that the opera singer turned ventriloquist nabbed the Golden Buzzer and WON Spain’s Got Talent season 6 in 2021. So yeah. He knows! (Check out her finals performance HERE.)
America’s Got Talent season 17 kicks off on Tuesday (May 31) with a batch of new talent. The judges are back–Simon, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara. Terry Crews returns as host.
In a new preview from Tuesday’s premiere, 36 year old Celia explains that she was a happy opera singer when she saw a Youtube video of season 2 winner, Terry Fator, doing his thing. She was instantly intrigued. “Wow! What is that!” she recounted to the panel. “I’m going to try this!” She learned ventriloquism in only two years.
America’s Got Talent 2022 MEGA Contestant List (Photos, Videos)
Her act is unusual in that it does not involve a puppet, but a small radio, which she tunes into songs and voices that are all coming from her. It sounds very real! She sits in front of a vanity mirror flossing and brushing her teeth, putting on makeup, all the while throwing her voice. She can stop and start voices on a dime. At one point, the phone rings, and she smoothly transitions from a singing voice to a person on the other side of a telephone conversation.
Good ventriloquists can throw their voices while eating, drinking etc. But it’s her agile, smooth and lightning quick transitions that are truly impressive. Celia receives a standing ovation afterward, while Sofia shouts “Bravo!”
America’s Got Talent season 17 premiers on NBC Tuesday May 31 at 8 pm ET/PT.
Watch Celia Munoz’s impressive ventriloquism act below
The AGT judges behind the scenes antics
First Look
