Current:Home > ContactSimon Cowell raves over 10-year-old's heavy metal performance on 'America's Got Talent': Watch -MoneyTrend
Simon Cowell raves over 10-year-old's heavy metal performance on 'America's Got Talent': Watch
Poinbank View
Date:2025-04-10 10:13:41
Simon Cowell had a revelation of the rock ‘n’ roll kind.
During Tuesday’s episode of “America’s Got Talent," the British media mogul was blown away by 10-year-old guitarist Maya Neelakantan.
The Indian musician electrified with her bold instrumental cover of “Last Resort” by Papa Roach. The heavy metal performance prompted immediate cheers from the studio audience and looks of astonishment from “AGT” judges Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel.
In the end, Neelakantan earned rave reviews from the judges with her raucous audition and precocious talent.
“I was about your age when I tried to learn the guitar. It is one of the most difficult instruments in the world, so I gave up,” Cowell said, jokingly adding, “Actually, no, my teacher gave up on me.”
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
'AGT' premiere recap:Beyoncé collaborator earns Simon Cowell's praise
Watch Maya Neelakantan’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ audition
Simon Cowell praises ‘rock goddess’ Maya Neelakantan
Cowell continued to gush about Neelakantan, praising the young guitarist’s commanding stage presence.
"You know what I love about this audition? We just weren't expecting this,” Cowell said. “You were so shy, and you're 10! And then you turned into, like, this rock goddess."
'America's Got Talent':Simon Cowell awards Golden Buzzer to powerhouse singer Liv Warfield
Neelakantan nabbed four yeses from the judges, which takes her to the next round of the “AGT” competition.
“I always say, 'Make noise amongst the noise,' and you just did that,” Cowell said.
veryGood! (13349)
Related
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- 2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
Ranking
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September