Who won 'America's Got Talent' Season 18? Dog act duo Adrian Stoica and Hurricane from Italy bag $1M in NBC show's finale
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA: The announcement of this year's million-dollar act marked the conclusion of the 'America's Got Talent' Season 18 on September 27. On September 26, eleven performers participated in a two-hour program after they made it through the qualifier round based on public voting.
Adrian Stoica and his dog Hurricane were pitted against magician Anna DeGuzman. Adrian and Hurrican eventually won, and they will now feature in a Las Vegas residency, receive a new Kia automobile, and become $1 million wealthier. DeGuzman became the runner-up of the season.
Murmuration, Mzansi Youth Choir, and Avantgardey competed for the last slot in the top five. Murmuration was the only one out of the three groups to advance into the top five, and even made it into the top 3.
Before dismissing Mzansi from the stage, Terry Crews informed them that Coldplay had invited them to go to San Diego on September 28 to perform on stage alongside them at their sold-out event.
Other contestants who advanced to the top five were Putri Ariani and the Ramadhani brothers.
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Where are 'AGT' Season 18 finalist Adrian Stoica and Hurricane from?
Adrian Stoica, 45, is an Italian dog trainer and performer who has dedicated his life to the art of canine training. His love of dogs and frisbee tricks has no boundaries, as seen by his six Disc Dog World Championship victories.
Adrian and his closest friend, Hurricane, have been touring the world for the past eight years. They have captivated spectators with their incredible routines, demonstrating their strong friendship and outstanding talents.
Adrian reached the semi-finals of 'Italia's Got Talent' in 2017, and he competed in 'Romania's Got Talent' in 2018 and 2022. He joined 'AGT' to share his enthusiasm for dogs with the world on the largest platform.
Who were the 'AGT' Season 18 finalists?
Season 18 of 'AGT' began with fifty-five brilliant hopefuls competing for a chance to impress the star-studded panel of judges, which included Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, and Howie Mandel.
During the preliminary rounds, there were magnificent performances, poignant stories, and jaw-dropping feats of talent. However, as the battle heated up, the judges and the viewers were forced to make some difficult decisions, reducing the field to the final eleven.
The following artists had advanced to the AGT Season 18 finals:
Avantgardey
The fan-favorite 20-woman Japanese dancing trio saw their hard work and devotion pay off as they won this season's Instant Save. The group is from Osaka, Japan, and is well-known for its distinctive dancing techniques and facial expressions.
82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus
This season's army group got off to a remarkable start with an audition that touched both the judges' and the fans' hearts. Their energetic rendition of The Temptations' hit 'My Girl' was dedicated to the memory of Spc Elijah Crawford.
Adrian Stoica and Hurricane
The trainer and his loyal border collie, Hurricane, became an instant hit with the audience. The dynamic team, who have performed together all over the world, put on a show of several astounding maneuvers set to Meghan Trainor's 'Better When I'm Dancing' for their audition.
Mzansi Youth Choir
Earlier in the season, the Mzansi Youth Choir created 'AGT' history by receiving the first-ever audience Golden Buzzer. As a memorial to the late singer Nightbirde, who died of cancer in 2022, they sang an acapella rendition of the Season 16 participant's song 'It's Okay' at their audition.
Chibi Unity
The Japanese dance group finished Season 18 tryouts on a high note, receiving the Group Golden Buzzer from all four judges and Terry.
Anna DeGuzman
At her audition, the 25-year-old Filipina magician wowed the judges with her mesmerizing card skills. She went on to become the first female magician to advance to AGT's live show rounds.
Ramadhani Brothers
With their jaw-dropping acrobatic tryout, the Tanzanian brothers astounded the judges. Fadhili Ramadhani and Ibrahim Jobu specialize in head-balancing, with Fadhili balancing on top of his brother's head (and nothing else).
Lavender Darcangelo
When she sang Irene Cara's 'Out Here On My Own' from the 1980 musical film 'Fame' for her audition, the 27-year-old vocalist soon became a fan favorite. Her impassioned performance received a standing ovation from the judges, prompting Heidi to hit her Golden Buzzer.
Putri Ariani
The 17-year-old singer-songwriter made a strong impression during her audition when she sat down at the piano and sang an original song. Not only did she wow the judges with her singing, but she also received Simon's Golden Buzzer.
Ahren Belisle
During his audition, the 28-year-old software engineer turned comic, who has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal, swiftly won over the judges with his sense of humor. The Ontario native's hilarious jokes were delivered by phone.
Murmuration
The 64-person French dance ensemble first impressed spectators with their breathtaking audition, in which they performed synchronized hand-based choreography while blindfolded. Judge Howie pressed his Golden Buzzer, finding the performance "hypnotic."
Will there be 'AGT' Season 19?
The eighteenth season of 'AGT' is about to wrap up, and it appears that a new season has been ordered, as auditions are already open. Potential competitors can sign up for a virtual or video audition on the official 'AGT' auditions website.
One of the most watched shows on American television, reality competition shows have a long history of rewarding seasons and spin-offs that are well-liked by fans. Given its popularity, 'AGT' is returning, although the precise release date is unknown so far. Viewers will have to wait for further information from NBC.
In light of this, audiences may anticipate the debut of 'AGT' Season 19 somewhere in the middle of 2024.