Homeless choir's inspiring story on 'AGT' premiere has viewers feeling emotional

The America’s Got Talent Season 15 premiere got off to an emotional start Tuesday, with the episode cold-opening with a patriotic post-Memorial Day salute to COVID-19 responders set to “America the Beautiful” — along with an explanation that this season’s auditions took place at the Pasadena Convention Center just 17 days before stay-at-home orders were issued in Los Angeles. (Like similar TV talent shows American Idol and The Voice, AGT will now attempt to work within social-distancing restrictions once its competitive episodes commence in the summer.) The two-hour premiere memorably featured one tear-jerking audition, which had already gone viral after being posted to AGT’s YouTube channel over the weekend, of Archie Williams, a man who was exonerated after spending 37 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. But it was another stirring performance, by Voices of Our City Choir, that earned the first Golden Buzzer of the season. With the goal of reconnecting San Diego's homeless community “with hope and possibility through the healing power of music,” the Voices of Our City Choir organization has helped more than 50 homeless people get off the street since it was co-founded by musicians Steph Johnson and Nina Leilani four years ago. “You guys represent so many people who are under-represented or not represented,” marveled AGT host Terry Crews during a backstage interview with the massive choir. “You are going to encourage and inspire so many people today.” As VoOCC members of all backgrounds waited to audition, its eldest singer, a stately and stoic woman named Patricia who revealed that she’d been homeless off and on since age 18, said, “I’ve had a lot of bad experiences out there. Beat up. Robbed. But who is going to listen to me?” As it turned out, many people want to listen to Patricia, as evidenced by the elated crowd reaction to Voices of Our City Choir’s AGT audition. Said, Patricia with a smile. “I thank God for Voices of Our City Choir. Somebody wants to hear from me — and I’ll be singing loud!” In fact, when Voices of Our City Choir performed their funky, ‘70s-style gospel jam “Listen to Sound of the Sidewalk” — an original they’d composed in one of VOCC’s songwriting workshops — Patricia was the star of the show with her wise-woman spoken word/rap vignette. “My favorite part was the talking; I never heard that happen in a choir before. The tone of your voice, it’s just sensational!” head judge Simon Cowell told her. All four judges gave the Voices of Our City Choir a standing ovation and praised them for perseverance and positive message, but it was Crews who sealed the deal by running up to the panel’s desk and shouting, “They have moved me to this point right now!”— before emphatically slamming his hand down on that Golden Buzzer button, thus ensuring the choir’s automatic advancement to the next round. (Side note: Crews is clearly a choir aficionado. He used his one Golden Buzzer of Season 14 on the Detroit Youth Choir!) Tuesday’s premiere was full of heartstring-tugging moments (and some zany ones, like a vomiting sock puppet and a hog-wild animal act called Pork Chop Revue). But while the episode did briefly address the above-mentioned coronavirus-related production issues, it unsurprisingly did not allude to that other big development that nearly derailed this season: the scandal surrounding the controversial 2019 exits of judges Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough. Union's departure allegedly came after she complained about inappropriate/racially insensitive behavior and a general “toxic culture” on the set; the fallout prompted an NBC investigation. Tuesday’s premiere saw the return of former judge Heidi Klum — who’d initially defended the show against Union’s accusations, before backtracking and clarifying her statements — and the debut of new cast member Sofía Vergara. Klum and Vergara, along with regulars Cowell and Howie Mandell, both seemed happy to be sitting behind the business-as-usual AGT desk.

Video Transcript

- This is a very challenging time for the whole world, but the world also needs good news, and they need to be entertained. So go out and do what you were born to do.

- It was an emotional night on the "America's Got Talent" season 15 premiere Tuesday, which kicked off with a patriotic post-Memorial Day salute to COVID-19 responders, as the talent show competition explained that this season's auditions took place just 17 days before stay at home orders were issued in Los Angeles.

However, the two-hour premiere ended on an even more emotional note when the Voices Of Our City Choir, which has helped more than 50 homeless people get off the streets, inspired the whole theater with their story and performance.

- And the mother reassures herself everything will be all right as she steps in rhythm to the sounds of the sidewalk.

- (SINGING) To listen to the sound of the sidewalk.

- The VOCC's sees eldest member, Patricia, who has been homeless off and on since 18 years old, was an immediate fan favorite.

PATRICIA: I've a lot of bad experiences out there. Beat up, robbed. But who is going to listen to me? I thank God for Voices Of Our City choir. Somebody wants to hear from me, and I'll be singing loud.

- Even hard to impress Simon Cowell loved Patricia.

SIMON COWELL: My favorite moment was the talking. I never heard that happen in the choir before.

PATRICIA: Thank you.

SIMON COWELL: The tone of your voice, it's just sensational.

PATRICIA: Thank you.

- But host Terry Crew was the most impressed. In fact, Crews was so moved by the choir that he just couldn't help it send the VOCC straight through to the next round with the golden buzzer, which had viewers on social media all up in the feels.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

- Is the OK?

- She fell down.

- No, she's happy. She's happy.