'AGT': Howie Mandel tells Brandon Leake 'you matter' after powerful poem on racism

"America's Got Talent" is three weeks away from crowning a winner.

After being in a "negative" mood much of Tuesday, judge Howie Mandel acknowledged that Wednesday's results would be the "toughest decision for America" to narrow the field from 11 to five acts.

But Sofia Vergara may give the contestants a run for their money with her own ventriloquy talent. Well, kind of.

Vergara and her puppet, Mr. Grumpy, showcased their skills to singing ventriloquist Darci Lynne Farmer, the winner of Season 12 "AGT" and the runner-up of "America's Got Talent: The Champions."

"This is something we have in common and something that we are both good at," Vergara told Farmer. "I have done this for eleven years. Can’t you tell?"

Farmer deadpanned to the camera.

Last night on 'AGT': Sofía Vergara nicknames 'negative Howie' Mandel after endless harsh critiques

Here's what happened during Wednesday's episode:

The fans' picks

The three acts that received the most votes automatically advanced.

Singer Kenadi Dodds was the first act to move forward. Donning glittery cowboy boots, Dodds said she "can't believe this. Thank you so much for your votes."

"I knew America would see that sparkle in you," Heidi Klum said. "Howie was wrong and you were right by singing a song that you wrote."

Last night, Mandel said Kenadi Dodds' original song "Dancing Through The Stars" – which she wrote in honor of her younger sister Alexis, who suffers from an eye disease that gradually deteriorates her retina – "didn’t do it for me personally."

America clearly disagreed.

Broken Roots – the singing duo that was originally eliminated in Judge Cuts, but got a second chance after another act dropped out – joined Dodds in the safe zone.

The duo was overcome with emotion: "There's God. There’s faith. There’s love. There’s America." Vergara added, "That tells you that you should never lose hope."

Spoken-word poet Brandon Leake, Mandel's Golden Buzzer winner, also advanced. He promised his next routine will be "far better."

"I've never been more moved in my life on this show by any other act," Mandel said. "We need you on this show. We need in this world… You matter."

Leake gave a "powerful" spoken word performance about his Black mother’s fear of him becoming "America's next most popular hashtag" every time he leaves home amid protests against police brutality and racism.

The face-off

Bello Sisters (acrobatic trio), Celina Graves (singer) and Resound (vocal trio) finished in the middle of the pack and were on the brink of elimination.

"I'm actually surprised," Mandel said. "Each of you… were all a part of the show when it turned around for me personally. And I loved all three of you… it's going to be the toughest night for the Dunkin' Save."

The three acts went head-to-head in a live voting round for the "Dunkin' Save," where fans had the opportunity to rescue only one performer. Whoever received the most votes in a 30-minute flash round would move on.

In the end, viewers saved Graves. "I can’t wait to perform for you again. I feel so blessed," Graves said.

But the results weren't over just yet. The judges, who are down to three in Simon Cowell's absence as he recovers from an electric-bike accident, had the chance to save either Bello Sisters or Resound.

Klum opted to keep Resound, but both Klum and Mandel voted to save Bello Sisters.

Eliminated

The five acts with the fewest votes – Noah Epps (dancer); Lightwave Theatre Company (puppeteers); Alex Hooper (comedian); C.A. Wildcats (cheerleading group); and Divas & Drummers of Compton (dance group) – were eliminated.

Resound was also sent packing.

Next week

"America's Got Talent" will return Sept. 8 for the first round of semifinals (NBC, 8 EDT/PDT), when 10 acts will try to blow America away to advance to the finals.

The first round of semifinalists include Shaquira McGrath (singer); Malik Dope (drummer); Archie Williams (singer); Alan Silva (acrobat); Broken Roots (singing duo); Spyros Brothers (diabolo duo); Double Dragon (singing duo); Mandel's Golden Buzzer winner, Brandon Leake (spoken-word poet); and Vergara's Golden Buzzer winner, Roberta Battaglia (singer).

There will also be a wildcard act.

'AGT': New judge Sofia Vergara hits her first Golden Buzzer for 10-year-old's powerhouse 'Shallow'

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'AGT': Semifinalists revealed in 'surprising' elimination