‘AGT’ Season 20 Finale Recap: Who Won the $1 Million Prize?
America’s Got Talent‘s 20th season is officially coming to an end.
After a season full of heartfelt moments, amazing performances, and exciting Golden Buzzers, this season’s Top 10 contestants met their fate during the second half of AGT Season 20’s two-part finale on Wednesday, September 24.
As always, judges Simon Cowell, Mel B., Sofía Vergara, and Howie Mandel gave their thoughts on the night’s acts, but it was ultimately left to America to decide which lucky contestant would take home this season’s $1 million prize — Jessica Sanchez, LightWire, Mama Duke, Sirca Marea, Micah Palace, the Leo High School Choir, Chris Turner, Jourdan Blue, Team Recycled, or Steve Ray Ladson.
The night kicked off with all 10 acts on stage together, singing an energetic Happy 20th Birthday song with musician Eric Lloyd, followed by a recap of the the previous night’s finale performances.
Multi-platinum singer Manuel Turizo kept the fun going with a performance of his song “La Bachata.” Palace joined his fellow artist on stage for a duet of his own track “RINKIKI,” after which Turizo delcared, “He’s gonna win.”
For the second performance of the night, the Leo High School Choir ended their AGT journey with a joint performance of the “The Man” with Grammy nominee Aloe Blacc. The group’s performance went right into Blue’s rendition of The Script’s “Breakeven,” which he sang alongside the band’s frontman, Danny O’Donoghue.
The Leo High School Choir returned to the stage to serve as Ladson’s backup dancers and vocalists for another memorable country track. Following the performances, Blacc encouraged the choir to “dream even bigger dreams” and “never give up.” O’Donoghue loved performing with Blue so much that he offered to take the aspiring singer out on tour with The Script.
LightWire’s latest display of lighting design and dance served as the backdrop for Grammy nominee Leona Lewis‘ performance of her song “Run.”
AGT alums Shin Lim, Mat Franco, and Piff the Magic Dragon later appeared in a prerecorded package promoting the upcoming film Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. The trio answered the call of the film’s stars Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Jesse Eisenberg to pull off a magic trick worthy The Four Horsemen. Joining the judges live in the AGT studio, the magicians cracked open a diamond which contained the name of the night’s winner.
As the night went on, Ciara got the AGT audience cheering with her song “Low” before being joined by finalists Team Recycled for an epic performance of “Level Up.” Sanchez, meanwhile, reprised her Semifinals song choice, “golden hour” by JVKE, as Sirca Marea displayed their acrobatic talents behind her in a joint final performance.
Season 19 winner Richard Goodall also returned to the AGT stage during the finale. Accompanied by Journey founder Neal Schon, the champion paid tribute to his journey on the NBC series with his original song “Long Time Coming.”
For his last freestyle rap on AGT, Turner brought Bozoma Saint John and her fiancé, Keely Watson, on stage to use facts about their love story in her lyrics. For the final contestant performance of the night, Mama Duke sang her hit song “Feels So Good To Be You” with the AGT fan favorite choir Sainted.
NBC
All 10 acts returned to the stage as host Terry Crews announced the first five eliminations of the night. The contestants who did not make it into the Top 5 included Mama Duke, Sirca Marea, Ladson, Palace, and Team Recycled. Before sharing more results, Crews announced that the winner would also receive a complimentary trip to Universal Orlando Resort.
Coming in fifth place on AGT Season 20 was LightWire, followed by the Leo High School Choir in fourth. Cowell didn’t let the latter group go before offering some kind words, stating, “You are gonna inspire so many people, and I really mean that. And I’m so proud of what you’ve achieved.”
Blue ultimately ended the season in third place, leaving Turner and Sanchez as Season 20’s final two contestants. “I think you leveled up your life and your career to the stratosphere,” Mandel said to Blue. “This is not the end. I believe this is the beginning.”
So who won Season 20? Sanchez completed her AGT redemption arc, beating out Turner for the title of this season’s champion and the winner of $1 million. “This is amazing! Thank you so much to America,” she said through tears before being congratulated by the judges her fellow Top 10 acts.
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O
Disappointed! AGT keeps getting less interesting to watch. Turner deserved to win. It was more of a pity win since se didn’t win 20 years ago in my opinion. Singers should go on The Voice
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It is a popularity contest. I supported Jessica Sanchez because I like her. Was she the best? Maybe not.
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G
I've been saying this forever - singers and chlldren should be on another show
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B
They had to many useless golden buzzers. Mama Duke is not good, and that banjo guy. They had an agenda I do not care for
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Good for the winner but this one feels off.
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G
Sorry this is the last year I’m watching I was very sorry they never acknowledge the murder of charle kirk
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P
Stupid take. Its a talent show and not political. Step away from FoxNews and touch some grass.
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Seriously, so sick of hearing about how Charlie Kirk was such a great man!
Charlie Kirk was racist.
Charlie Kirk was full of hate.
Charlie Kirk was Islamophobic.
Charlie Kirk was antisemitic.
Charlie Kirk was sexist.
Charlie Kirk was homophobic.
Charlie Kirk was transphobic.
But hey—what a “hero,” right? A man who built his brand on division, lies, and cruelty. So MAGA's, IF THAT'S YOUR DEFINITION OF GREATNESS, YOUR MORAL COMPASS IS COMPLETELY BROKEN.
He didn’t deserve to die, but let’s cut the nonsense: Charlie Kirk was no hero, no martyr, no saint. He was a salesman for hate—and dressing that up as “courage” is pathetic.
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Thank Susan! Perfect response!
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Apparently, you never really listened to Charlie Kirk. He was not racist, was not full of hate, etc. I'm not upset that he wasn't mentioned on AGT. He was honored a lot of other places because of all he accomplished!
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Charlie Kirk was a great man and was not any of the things you accused him of. You apparently never really listened to him.
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G
Charlie Kirk was all those things, except maybe the "full of hate" one. If you don't recognize it, that's on you.
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I'd like to add that Chris is an absolute genius but his act is to take suggestions from the audience and that doesn't sell music. He'd be great at a Vegas residency and don't worry everyone he's going to get one. And he still has to split the profits with Simon, but in the end he will be very wealthy, and he will be admired for his true talent and genius. I'm sure this will change his life forever.
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I completely agree and funny enough I was sitting next to his parents and he doesn’t care about the money he is just happy he made it this far that’s why he wasn’t too disappointed!
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Watch Austin Brown's YouTube videos from his years with Home Free! He is very talented and deserved better comments from the judges. Mel warned Micah Palace to treat backstage workers better. Unfair to publicly call him out, IF it was even true. I'm getting tired of the whole show! Terry and the judges having to yell to be heard over the audience, producers coaching the audience, etc.
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Its always singers and not always the best. I wish singing would be eliminated and let this be talent show without it.
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P
I agree 100%, let the singers go on American Idol or The Voice! I'm getting really tired of singers winning when there are so many more interesting acts!
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Rebecca Hammeljust now
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I started to view Tonights show as a big middle finger to Donald Trump. I know there’s people out there who were going to say where are all the white people? This is America.. why aren’t there any white people in the final? And I just love it that there were so many people of all different ethnicities because that is the backbone of our country. I think they push the agenda maybe a little too far?? But America and Donald Trump’s version of America is not about rich pristine white people. And I’m a 59-year-old white female. As far as who should have won? The reason why they’re picking so many singers is because Simon gets part of their contract for the next 5 to 10 years? I don’t know… But if he picks the singer then he gets album rights, concert rights, Vegas rights etc etc if he picks the light show which would be amazing in a Vegas act, but they’re not going to get the residuals from album sales. So that is the money realization. As far as last year’s winner? I saw part of that, and I’m sure Simon is steaming because he didn’t get anything out of that.. they show that he does very little as far as becoming a superstar. And that’s why you saw them pushing all the Vegas residencies that they’ve landed in previous years with all the musicians and magicians… They were bragging on that a lot and pushing it a lot and I don’t think Simon was going to allow another year to go by where he didn’t profit massively off the winner.
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President Trump is NOT a racist and neither am I. I voted for him THREE TIMES and am thankful that he is cleaning up our government!
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O
What a stupid comment.
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G
This one felt almost as rigged as the poet who had bad iambic timing and couldn't even rhyme.
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O
She had a nice voice, but in my opinion the other 4 acts in the top 5 were better. I think she got the sympathy vote, returning for season 20 and being pregnant. Chris or jourdan should have won.
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Austin Brown should have won.
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Am so glad she won! This was not a sympathy thing, guys. Haters gunna hate,but that girl gave me chills.
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#christuckergotrobbed
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