[Image credit: Americas Got Talent]
Archie Williams (age 59) stuns us all with this moving performance of “Love’s In Need of Love Today” by Stevie Wonder during the Quarterfinals round of America’s Got Talent 2020 (Season 15).
Before his performance, a pre-taped video showing Williams reading a dated letter which he wrote while still in prison was played. Williams was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for 37 years at the Louisiana State Penitentiary and was freed in 2019 after DNA testing exonerated him.
Williams’ heartfelt rendition of Stevie Wonder’s song earned a standing ovation from the judges. They all think that Williams deserve to go through the next round of the competition.
A total of 44 quarterfinalists will vie for a spot in the semi-finals, with 11 acts performing per live show.
Season: AGT 2020 (Season 15)
Contestant: Archie Williams
Age: 59
Act: Singer
Song: “Love’s In Need of Love Today”
Archie Williams Sings a Stevie Wonder Classic – America’s Got Talent 2020
Archie Williams AGT 2020 Quarterfinals
Judges’ Comments:
Sofia Vergara said Williams deserves this more than anyone and hopes that people will vote for him.
Heidi Klum said she can feel all the pain that Williams has gone through and said the words of the song could not be more perfect at this time. “We need more love, less hate. It couldn’t be more perfect, and thank you for that. Thank you for being here.”
Kelly Clarkson thanked Williams for “such a beautiful performance.” She said his story is an incredible powerful testimony, but she does not want that to overshadow the beautiful gift that he has. “Your tone is so cool, and it was just a blessing to be able to hear such a storyteller.”
Howie Mandel commented, “You don’t sing to us, it’s like you preach to us…Your words mean so much more than even the lyrics in the way you sing it. And to have endured what you do, you know you’re an inspiration. I think you deserve the fact that the first freedom that you had you decided to share on our stage, we can’t thank you enough.” Howie said only five are going through and Archie deserves it more than anybody.
America’s Got Talent (AGT) Season 15 premiered in the United States on May 26, 2020, on NBC. For this season, AGT judges are Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, returning Heidi Klum, and newcomer Sofia Vergara.
This season is most notable for its production being affected by the COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic in 2020, which impacted audition sessions. The program initially moved to filming without an audience present at auditions, before ultimately suspending production. Auditions were later allowed to continue, but via online applications from those quarantined in their homes.
The production staff decided to push through with the broadcast as planned and premiere on May 26.
Production resumed the week of June 22, 2020, filming on a film backlot in Simi Valley, decorated to look like a drive-in movie theater. Everyone, including the judges and host Terry Crews, wore masks when not on camera. The Judge Cuts round was reduced from four episodes to one, and the acts were reduced from 72 to 60. The live shows will feature 44 acts over four weeks, compared to 36 acts appearing over three weeks last season.
Producers decided to include a virtual audience for the Live Shows and Universal Studios Hollywood was chosen as the venue for performances to take place.
Prior to the first quarter-final’s live broadcast, Cowell became involved in an electric bike accident that left him with a severe back injury. Cowell had surgery to repair the damage, and the production staff recruited Kelly Clarkson to stand in for him until doctors would allow him to return to AGT.
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