America Got Talent 2023: America’s Got Talent’s season 18 opening included a victorious debut by an 11-year-old Louisville vocalist.
After singing the National Anthem during the morning announcements, D’Corey Johnson gained notoriety in Louisville and proceeded on a three-month tour to perform around the country.
He arranged for a talent agent in September and said he was relocating to California to pursue his aspiration to become successful.
Johnson sang a rendition of Journey’s 1982 song Open Arms during Tuesday’s show’s first episode.
Johnson didn’t think twice when Sofa Vergara, an AGT judge, asked him whether he wanted to be a singer when he grew up.
“Yes!” he said. “I want to be in Hamilton and Wicked, as well as on Broadway and in the movies.”
America’s Got Talent has long been a favorite of Johnson’s.
“I watch AGT almost every day,” he said. Like my mother, Simon, you are my favorite because you are honest.
After his performance, the 11-year-old singing prodigy was overcome with emotion.
An AGT judge, Simon Cowell, was impressed and requested Johnson to sing the chorus without the accompaniment.
Cowell eventually gave Johnson a standing ovation.
And to top it all off, Johnson scored a yes from each of the four judges, moving on to the next round.
Good work, D’Corey!