America’s Got Talent 2024: The Voice’s Ryley Tate Wilson’s Brother Reid Wilson Stuns with Golden Buzzer Performance
Week 6 of Season 19 America’s Got Talent auditions saw the judges giving out a few more no’s than usual. Much of the night, I spent waiting to feel wowed, and that finally came when Howie Mandel hit his golden buzzer button for Reid Wilson, a young singer whose family has a history on NBC singing shows. Read our Recap.
Host Terry Crews met the 14-year-old Alabama singer and his mom, Kelly as he prepared to go on stage. Reid politely called the interviewer mam, as she told him he didn’t need to do that. Reid explained that he had been singing since he was young, and that he wasn’t good, but taught himself from there. He’s the middle child in his family, so he sometimes feels “forgotten” – this is probably especially true since it’s not mentioned on the broadcast, but his brother is The Voice season 23 semi finalist and Niall Horan team member, Ryley Tate Wilson. The younger brother has mainly sung at family gatherings up until this date.
Reid explained to Simon Cowell when he asked that he has performed all his life, but during this past year he had been “working on it more” when it came to performing in front of people. He sang a very stylized cover of “You Don’t Own Me” by Leslie Gore in the style of the 2015 version by Grace. His control on runs was impeccable. Although he still seemed to be coming into his own as an artist, his range was impressive. Reid’s voice seemed to yet have deepened–it will be interesting to see how he develops. The outstanding rendition features jazzy verses and a gospel/R&B the chorus.
Howie Mandel hits his Golden Buzzer for Reid: “Aretha was in the room”
Simon remarked, “We weren’t expecting that.” Heidi Klum called it “incredible.” Sofia Vergara noted his nerves, saying he put it together. He “did amazingly,” she added. Reid shared that Aretha Franklin inspired him. Simon observed, “Your parents must have great taste in music,” to which Reid responded jokingly, “No.”
Howie chimed in, “You did come off incredibly nervous. That was a surprise.” Then he asked Reid, “Do you believe in dreams?” After Reid answered yes, Howie added, “One of them is about to come true,” as he pressed the Golden Buzzer. Howie joined Reid and his mom on stage as they celebrated. He called Reid “amazing” while Reid said he was starstruck” when asked about how he feels. Howie said “Aretha was in the room.”
Reid was a great standout on a night that was a bit of a mixed bag as quite a few no’s were given out. The other standouts of the night were Helen The Foot Juggler who juggled chairs on her feet, and Super Silva Jr., a trapeze acrobat who performed a stunning routine.
