Travis Garland brought out something dangerous for his quarterfinals appearance on America’s Got Talent.
NBC’s talent quest is hurtling towards the pointy end of season 21. For the latest live round, which aired Tuesday night (Sept. 8), the axe swung and seven out of 10 hopefuls were eliminated from the competition.
With everything at stake, Garland pumped it up with a fiery cover of Ariana Grande‘s “Dangerous Woman,” a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 2016. Looking confident, and sounding very much on-point, Garland’s version was soulful and stripped down to its drawers, a clever tactic that showcased the depth and range of his vocals.
Mel B went first, and she spoke right from the heart. “Wow, wow, wow, wowza, wow, wow, wow. Oh my god, I’ve said it to you before… you can sing,” she enthused. No, the Spice Girl wouldn’t have chosen that particular song, “but you made it your own. You killed it. Your trills, your everything,” she noted. “Oh. My. God.”
Guest judge Heidi Klum is a fan, too. “I loved everything about you,” the German model acknowledged. “You have an amazing voice, you have great stage presence.” Klum then broke the fourth wall by staring down the camera and telling viewers, “vote for him.”
Sofía Vergara was convinced the singer could go all the way. “Your voice is definitely one of the best voices in this competition. It’s flawless, it’s spectacular,” she remarked. “I think you could have picked any song and it was going to sound amazing. That was breathtaking.”
Howie Mandel went last. “I really truly believe that in season 21, out of any solo singing act, you are by far the best. Your control, your range.” Mandel also looked down the lens and told fans at home to cast their votes.
With all that glowing praise from the judging panel, would Garland cruise through to the semis? Of course he did. He’s joined by comedian and singer Cesar Dias (with a ridiculous performance of “Unchained Melody”) and illusionists Young & Strange, while seven others headed for the exit.
Hailing from Lubbock, TX, Garland’s voice is familiar to superfans of Dancing With the Stars, where he’s mostly behind the scenes as a live vocalist. He shimmied onto the AGT stage during the auditions in July, and made an impact with Aerosmith’s 1970s classic “Dream On.”
Watch Garland’s latest performance and the results of quarterfinals 4 below.
