‘America’s Got Talent’ 2016 Proclaims A Winner
America’s Got Talent 2016 has come to an end, and the finale did not disappoint. To pick a couple of highlights would be impossible. It was one amazing performance to another. Legends Stevie Nicks and Paula Abdul appeared, as did pop opera trio Il Volo. Many were surprised by one of the last two standing as we neared the end of the America’s Got Talent 2016 finale, but the winner was not a big surprise.
Going into the show, Billboard reported that the judges had stated behind the scenes that they thought the final two would be Grace VanderWaal and Jon Dorenbos. America’s Got Talent judge Heidi Klum said,
“I think it’s going to be Jon [Dorenbos] or Grace [VanderWaal]. That’s what I feel in my gut.”
Simon Cowell agreed, saying about Jon,
“By the feeling in the room, that’s what I felt. I don’t know why, but I got very emotional during the performance. And I don’t normally feel that way. There is something about him and what he said that was so genuine and it’s unique. He’s going to go a long way.”
Nick Cannon predicted that Grace would be “the biggest star since a Kelly Clarkson and a Carrie Underwood to come out of a talent show.”
The America’s Got Talent judges were right about one of their predictions.
The final 10 going into tonight’s America’s Got Talent 2016 finale were as follows:
- Sal Valentinetti
- Tape Face
- Jon Dorenbos
- Grace VanderWaal
- Laura Bretan
- Linkin’ Bridge
- Sofie Dossi
- The Clairvoyants
- Brian Justin Crum
- Viktor Kee
At the top of the show, America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon said that the voting for the 2016 winner was the biggest in the show’s history. Then he told us we would see some amazing match-ups of talent in the show. He was right. We were treated to a performance from Sal Valentinetti and the Jersey Boys, Tape Face, and Stevie Nicks among others before we learned who had made it to the final five.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqvD3pz3pCE
The top five competitors for America’s Got Talent 2016 were:
- Sal Valentinetti
- Jon Dorenbos
- Grace VanderWaal
- The Clairvoyants
- Brian Justin Crum
The judges predictions for the final two were still in it. From here, things moved pretty quickly. No more performances, just more eliminations, until we learned the winner of America’s Got Talent 2016.
The list was narrowed to three next. Sal Valentinetti and Brian Justin Crum were eliminated. Both were gracious and expressed gratitude and excitement about the future as they left. Valentinetti’s parting words.
“This is not the end for me, this is the first day of the rest of me life.”
Our final three were Jon Dorenbos, The Clairvoyants, and Grace VanderWaal. Nick Cannon kept things moving and made a shocking announcement when he said that the third place contestant for America’s Got Talent 2016 is Jon Dorenbos. In addition to gratitude and excitement, he took a minute to acknowledge the hardworking people who work behind the scenes of AGT.
So our final two? Grace VanderWaal and The Clairvoyants.
It wasn’t a big surprise to anyone when VanderWaal won. Except maybe the winner herself. She broke into tears as confetti dropped and Nick Cannon congratulated her. Check it out.
The little America’s Got Talent champion was as sweet as ever as she literally jumped for joy when she made it to the Top 5 and cried as she waited for the final verdict. She was everything that made viewers fall in love with her in her lacy dress falling to her knees and crying tears of joy when she learned she had won.
We don’t yet know when the next season of America’s Got Talent will premiere. 2016 was a season packed with great talent for AGT. We’ll look forward to more of the same in their next season.
[Photo by Joe Seer/Shutterstock]
