Louisville’s D’Corey Johnson had made his debut on the highly acclaimed Season 18 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” on Tuesday, May 30. Before he took the stage to impress the judges and potentially win the $1 million grand prize, let’s delve into the viral video that launched the career of this talented and powerhouse young performer.
Prior to earning a role in the renowned Dionne Warwick’s touring production “Hits the Musical” and captivating audiences with his renditions of the national anthem at prestigious events like the Daytona 500, NFL games, Churchill Downs racetrack, and the opening ceremony of the Louisville Bats, Johnson made a simple request to his principal at Bates Elementary. Little did he know that this request would set his career in motion.
Johonson talking to the The Courier Journal adds, “Miss Dunn let me sing the national anthem and she recorded it,”. “And then she asked my mom for permission to post it, that’s when they just went viral. The rest is history.”
D’Corey Johnson, now 11 years old, captured attention as a talented third grader when a video of him singing was recorded by Dunn during morning announcements. This led to widespread media coverage, including a visit by NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt in Louisville and a feature story on national news.
Since then, Johnson and his family have experienced a whirlwind of excitement, with this achievement of being on the stage of “America’s Got Talent.”
This season of the show which features the return of all four judges from Seasons 16 and 17: Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, and Sofia Vergara. Terry Crews has also resumed his role as the host for the sixth summer in a row.
For those unfamiliar with the highly successful variety show, airing on NBC, here’s a brief overview: Each act is given 90 seconds to showcase their talents in front of the judges. If an act receives at least three “yes” votes from the judges, they selected to the next round.
“I want to show the world my talent,” Johnson said. “I’m a little boy but I’m a little boy who can go high and my (vocal) range is so crazy.”
As expected, D’Corey, who aspires to perform on Broadway, impressed the judges with a stunning rendition of Journey’s “Open Arms.” When Simon requested him to perform without the backing track and showcase his vocals acapella, the young vocalist effortlessly adapted and delivered an outstanding audition. The judges were thoroughly impressed, granting him four enthusiastic “yes” votes.
Check out his performance here: