America has talent the fans have spoken, and it all boils down to this!
As Season 19 of the national talent show wraps up with its semi-final rounds, 10 contestants have made it to the two-part finale, which begins on Tuesday, September 17.
After a jaw-dropping season of gravity-defying stunts and iconic vocal stylings, America voted for the final 10 to compete for the $1 million grand prize.
Below, PEOPLE has an exclusive look at each act making it to the finals.
America has talent It reveals the 44 acts competing in Season 19’s live shows — plus a historic golden buzzer!
AIRFOOTWORKS.
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AIRFOOTWORKS
AIRFOOTWORKS is an aerial dance group from Japan that embodies a unique fusion of dance and street exercise. The group was founded by Takashi Jonishi, who introduced this innovative self-taught dance style while rehabilitating from a lower back injury.
During the Aug. 20 episode of NBC’s hit series, the stakes got even higher as judges Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel jokingly argued over AIRFOOTWORKS’ impressive dance performance and who really had the honor of awarding them the coveted Golden Buzzer.
After the group’s routine left the judges and the audience on their feet, in awe of their mesmerizing rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Celestial,” things took a dramatic turn. Chaos ensued when Simon and Howie simultaneously reached to press the golden buzzer.
In an interview with PEOPLE shortly after the show, AIRFOOTWORKS reacted to the feud, saying, “I was really surprised when we came out and this! It was really amazing.”
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Brent Street.
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Brent Street
Brent Street is a powerful and honest dance floor that represents Sydney, Australia.
Many of the members have been performing since they were 3 years old, leading to nearly two decades of experience.
During the auditions, the group received a standing ovation from the audience and judges Howie, Simon, Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum as they raved about the performance. Then, after a standing ovation and positive feedback from all the judges, the group received Howie’s Golden Buzzer.
“This was a very, very, very, very exciting dance… it was also something we haven’t seen before,” said Heidi, while Sofía declared, “That’s my favorite part of being a judge AGT is to be able to watch the dancers… that must have been the best thing I saw today.”
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Dee Dee Simon.
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Dee Dee Simon
Dee Dee Simon is an inspirational singer from Oakland, California, with an emotional performance style that reflects her lifelong dedication to music and acting. Dee Dee, a proud registered nurse for over nineteen years at San Quentin State Prison, brought down the house at the audition with a powerful performance of “And I’m Telling You”.
In addition to receiving high praise, she also earned a big round of applause from all four judges.
During the live performance, Dee Dee received a Golden Buzzer from Heidi. Speaking to PEOPLE shortly after that moment, she admitted that her performance felt like “a blur.”
“After that sound, I just start jumping. I think I just shook my brain because I can’t wait to watch it again,” she smiled. “It’s so loud in there that I have to go see it again, because sometimes you hear it and sometimes you don’t. But the energy in that room, this is the biggest stage of my life and I’m having fun.”
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Hakuna Matata acrobats.
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Acrobatic group Hakuna Matata
Based in Tanzania, the Hakuna Matata Acrobatic Group was conceived by Winston Ruddle, a Zimbabwean who founded an acrobatic school in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam.
During the August 13 episode of the NBC hit series, Sofía helped Hakuna Matata Acrobatics make series history when she performed her Golden Buzzer for the first time on the live show. This followed their impressive spot, in which the group performed a series of acrobatic tricks — all carefully balanced on bodies and rolling platforms.
“This was perfection!” Sofia, 52, declared after pressing the Golden Buzzer. “Everything, everything!”
America has talent: Sofía Vergara helps 1 Act make series history during Season 19’s first live show
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Learn more Jonas.
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Learn more Jonas
Learn more Jonasi, originally from Chimanimani, Zimbabwe and now living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, performs an engaging comedy performance drawing humor from everyday experiences.
The standup comedian caught the attention of his idol Terry Crews, who received a Golden Buzzer during the series premiere on May 28.
“You were telling me backstage that you take a 14-hour bus ride to go to a five-minute show and then you have to take a 14-hour bus ride home,” he said before hitting the buzzer. “Brother, you’ll never have to come home again because you’re here with us!”
As for what fans can look forward to in the finale, Learnmore told PEOPLE that he plans to “up his game.”
“I have to bring something surprising because comedy is all about surprises, like misdirection,” he explained. “So people are going to be shocked because there’s so much more to me than what you’ve seen so far. So I think I’m going to have to up my game and be more vulnerable.”
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Richard Goodall.
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Richard Goodall
Richard Goodall, affectionately known as the singing janitor, stole America’s hearts with his inspiring rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’,” earning Heidi the coveted Golden Buzzer.
Speaking to PEOPLE after winning the Golden Buzzer, Richard said the song’s title is a perfect representation of his journey to this point.
“I tried to AGT 2009 and didn’t make it past the first round in Chicago… But as the song says, ‘Don’t stop believing!’ How can I tell the kids that without reaching for my dreams myself?” he said. “The songs I like to sing are timeless and give everyone hope. That’s what I really want to do, just give people hope [and encourage them to] never give up.”
Although Richard previously explained that he “didn’t expect” to win, he told PEOPLE that he would “do my best.”
“I am a normal person who does regular things for people. I did my singing mostly every year in our schools. Whenever I was asked to sing, I did,” he added. “To this day, I know how lucky I am. And I don’t take any of this for granted.”
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Roni and Rhythm.
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Roni & Rhythm
Rhythm & Roni bring a unique dog dance point all the way from Israel. Roni has been training dogs to dance since 2019, but performed for the first time with her canine partner, Rhythm, in 2022.
After performing their high-energy semi-final act, Roni told PEOPLE a little more about what fans can expect when it comes to their final performance.
“So next week’s idea would be about my personal story of how working with a dog changed my life and will be about self-love and valuing yourself as a person,” she explained. “And I hope we can show that.”
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Sebastian and Sonia.
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Sebastián & Sonia
Aerial duo Sebastián & Sonia, a couple from Barcelona, Spain, combine high stakes aerial stunts with ethereal dance moves to deliver a magical display of athleticism.
During the September 3 episode of the hit talent show, the couple proved that the show must go on after Sonia injured her hand during rehearsals. Despite being behind, Sebastián performed a solo number to “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes. When he finished his routine, Sonia joined him on stage and the pair shared a kiss before being praised by all four judges.
“A lot of people would give up,” Simon said, before rhetorically asking, “How do you do this two-person one-person act and then make it amazing?”
“Honestly, I think most people would have just said, you know what, we had an accident and therefore we can’t continue, but you did the opposite, you continued,” he added before pressing the Golden Buzzer.
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Elements of the sky.
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Elements of the sky
Based in Texas, Sky Elements came to AGT with an epic drone show experience that transformed the skies and captivated audiences with its innovative storytelling. Their performance so impressed Simon that he awarded the group a second Golden Buzzer, leading to the first rule change to allow more Golden Buzzers this season.
Shortly after the historic change, Simon told PEOPLE, “We’re using more Golden Buzzers this year because there were so many brilliant, amazing auditions. I know right away when I see a Golden Buzzer-worthy performance. Feel it.”
“I love that we were the ‘first’ second,” added Sky Elements’ Preston Ward in an interview with PEOPLE. “We’ve been first in many things, so it’s exciting to add this to our list of firsts!”
AGT: Simon Cowell’s unprecedented move leads to the first series and changes the game for the Golden Buzzers
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Solange Cardinals.
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Solange Cardinals
Hailing from Vila Nova da Barquinha, Portugal, Solange is a professional magician and quick-change artist whose act embodies the power of magic and creativity.
Her performances are unique, packing numerous skills into a short two-minute performance. Her audition stunned the judges and quickly went viral on social media.
Speaking to PEOPLE after her semifinal performance, Solange shared that the judges’ feedback made her feel “special and grateful.” She also added that fans can expect to see “something new” that she lovingly created before joining AGT competition.
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America has talentThe two-part season 19 finale begins Tuesday, September 17 at 8:00 PM ET on NBC, followed by the final results show airing on September 24 at 8:00 PM ET.
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Source: HIS Education