Sofia Vergara's 'AGT' Golden Buzzer Singer Sounds Like Whitney Houston

There was only one Golden Buzzer left when the America’s Got Talent auditions began on the eighth night of the competition – and Sofia Vergara had it. Sofia had previously said that she was waiting for something to move her to hit the button and it finally happened tonight.

It was another case of don’t judge a book by its cover when 27-year-old Gabriel Henrique from Brazil took the stage. No one expected the beautiful sounds that emerged when he began to sing.

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“This is my first time in the United States, and I am realizing a dream to be here to sing for you,” Gabriel said through an interpreter.

While the audience was waiting for the music to cue, Heidi Klum could be heard saying to Sofia, “I can hear him huffing and puffing all the way over here.”

“He’s nervous,” Sofia replied.

Then Gabriel began to sing Whitney Houston’s “Run to You” and any thoughts of nerves were forgotten as his voice soared.

“If Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey had a baby, it would be Gabriel,” Heidi told Gabriel when he was finished. “It was like Whitney singing and then it was like Mariah singing. You are incredible.”

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“I did not expect that voice to come out of you,” Howie said. “You sound like the best pop diva there ever was. I would imagine if people were watching this now in the other room, they’re going to say, ‘Did you hear that song? Come in and see who sang it.'”

Simon added, “People are going to really like you. You are just so interesting. I can tell you sang in church, and you don’t know how good you are. It was amazing.”

Then it was Sofia’s turn. She said, “I don’t have words. That was so perfect. Spectacular. Your voice is beautiful. Your energy, who you are. It was so perfect. Every time as a judge, [we’re] waiting for that feel and that was the feeling I was waiting for. Something very beautiful and heartfelt. You know what I really want to do? This.” And she hit the Golden Buzzer, putting Gabriel straight through to the live shows.

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

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