Trae Patton/NBC America's Got TalentjudgeSimon Cowellhas seen it all, or so you would think. Having judged contestants not only on the NBC series but also on shows such asAmerican Idol,The X Factor, and their various international versions, it takes a lot to shock him. But even Cowell was floored Tuesday on the premiere's ofAGT's 20th season when Amadou Diallo took the stage. The 20-year-old resident of Columbus, Ohio, who's originally from Guinea, bent his body in astonishing ways, even popping his ribs and other body parts out of place. He sometimes had the judges feel a certain spot precisely when it was happening. Cindy Ord/NBC "I genuinely have never seen that in my life, ever," Cowell said. "I love the look on your face. It was like:This is just normal. Everyone is gonna be talking about this when they see it. I promise you." His fellow judges were just as stunned as he was. "I don't think anybody has ever seen anything like that before in their entire lives,"Mel Breplied to Cowell. "That was un-freaking-believeable!" JudgesSofia VergaraandHowie Mandelwere also amazed. "I am in shock," Vergara added. "I mean, we've seen a lot of contortionism on this show, but he took it to another level." The contestant's local newspaper,The Columbus Dispatch, reported that he put in a lot of hard work to perfect his act. Since arriving in the U.S. a year ago, he worked two jobs, from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. five days a week, then squeezed in rehearsals afterward. It paid off, as he received four yes votes to remain in the competition. And he wasn't the only contestant to drop jaws. Two acts received a Golden Buzzer, which sends them directly to the live shows later in the season. On an episode in which the judges saw acts including aerialists on roller skates, a David Blaine-inspired magician, and a pickle-juice guzzler (don't ask), Mandel awarded his to a singer: Jourdan Blue, a 23-year-old busker in New Orleans. Blue's take on The Script's hit "Breakeven" was a judges' favorite — and the audience was smitten with it too. "I mean, I'm in love with you," Vergara said. "The hair, the voice, your energy. You're a rock star!" Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Mel B noted that the performance made her feel like she was hearing the song for the first time. Before hitting the buzzer, Mandel said, "You know, this is season 20. I've seen dreams come true right where you're standing. Lives changed right where you're standing. And that stage and that moment can take you anywhere. And this is just the beginning of where you can go." LightWire, a Brazilian act that creates immersive art was Cowell's pick for the honor. The entire space was stunned by the illusion of water gushing and animals moving toward the audience. "Wow, wow, wow," Cowell exclaimed. "You know what? You never, ever, ever know when you're doing a new year, whether you're gonna see something better than you've seen before, and I'm not just saying this, this was one of the most beautiful, stunning acts." America's Got Talentairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
