For a moment, it seemed like Jimmie Herrod’s chances of success on “America’s Got Talent” were slim to none.
The 30-year-old singer and music teacher from Portland, Oregon, had prepared just one song for his big break. When judge Simon Cowell heard what it was, he didn’t mince words.
Jimmie chose the song “Tomorrow” from the musical “Annie,” and there was no way he could have known that it’s Cowell’s “worst song in the world.”
“You should do another song,” Cowell told him.
Watching his audition, you can see Jimmie’s inner light flicker a bit as the words hit him. When he explains that he hasn’t prepared a second song, the audience holds their breath until he starts to sing. Once he does, they immediately begin to relax because Jimmie has talent to spare!
His voice is undeniably beautiful, and he nails every word of the popular tune. He even adds his own theatrical flair, and as he sings, we can see Cowell’s eyebrows rise in surprise and admiration.
All of the celebrity judges seemed excited by the talent displayed onstage, but Sofia Vergara wasn’t quite as ebullient as the others. When Jimmie finished his performance in a thundering crescendo, the audience roared their approval, and three of the four judges gave him a standing ovation. Only Vergara remained in her seat.
Meanwhile, Cowell was paying Jimmie the ultimate compliment: “It’s not my worst song anymore.”
Longtime fans know how unusual it is to change Cowell’s mind, so this was an especially wonderful compliment to get from him!
Yet when it came time to hear what the other judges had to say, Vergara angered the crowd by confessing, “I must say, I didn’t like it that much.”
The audience started to boo loudly, and Jimmie looked absolutely crushed. Still, we had a hunch she was pulling a fast one on us, and we were right! She wasn’t quite finished yet. “I loved it!” she shouted. That’s when she stood up and hit the Golden Buzzer, sending him straight to the live rounds!
Talk about a wild ride! This audition gave us goosebumps, and it’s always fun to see Cowell caught off guard. We hope Jimmie continues to surprise us all as he moves on to the next level of the competition.
Watch Jimmie blow everyone away in the video below, and be sure to share this amazing version of “Tomorrow.”
