After a two-week break for the Paris Summer Olympics , America’s Got Talent returned on Aug. 13 with the first of four live quarterfinal rounds. Eleven acts took the stage, but it was Peoria, IL, native Liv Warfield who stole the show with her powerful rendition of “The Unexpected,” a song written for her by Prince .
Warfield, who had already made waves with her Golden Buzzer-winning audition, brought an emotional intensity to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium that left the judges in awe. See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Backed by her horn-laden band, she delivered a performance that Simon Cowell described as “unbelievable.” “If this was the Olympics for singing, you would have won the gold medal,” Cowell said.
“It felt to me like all those years you’ve been climbing the ladder to where you want to be, it all came out in those three minutes.” Sofia Vergara was equally impressed, calling Warfield’s performance “Perfection,” and adding, “Your outfit, your voice, the song—it’s amazing to have an artist like you here with us.” Howie Mandel, a self-proclaimed Prince fan, offered his own high praise.
“I’m a huge Prince fan, and he knew what he was doing when he gave you this gem. That was a million-dollar performance. America is crazy if they don’t vote for you, that’s your drop-the-mic moment.
” Warfield’s connection to Prince is both deep and personal. As a former member of his New Power Generation, she.