New Jersey’s Journeyy Belton became a fast favorite on “America’s Got Talent” with his wholly original audition.
Not only did he perform an original song he wrote — “Paradise” — he did it at just 9 years old and with such feeling, verve and style that he was a lock to advance on the show.
And so he did, performing live for the first time on “AGT” Tuesday night.
Jersey City’s Belton, known as Journeyy on the show, sang a cover of “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and the Wailers.
MORE: N.J. singer Journeyy, 9, is performing on ‘America’s Got Talent.’ Just try not to get chills.
The results of tonight’s vote have yet to be revealed — that happens on Wednesday night’s show — but it looks like Journeyy could very well be one of the acts moving from the quarterfinals to the semifinals.
The young singer, who supplies his own piano accompaniment, said he would try to push his vocal range in the performance. That he did, hitting the high notes and assuring everyone that “every little thing is gonna be all right.”
Journeyy smiled at the camera when he was done.
Judge Simon Cowell smiled back.
“Howie (Mandel) just said to me, and he’s right, that’s a moment, and it really is,” Cowell said.
Judge Heidi Klum praised Journeyy for taking on such a famous song.
“I think you’re the best thing tonight,” said another judge, Sofía Vergara. “That was flawless.”
For Mandel, the Jersey talent’s performing was also “the most exciting thing to happen tonight.”
To vote for Journeyy on “AGT,” visit agt.vote.nbc.com — the cutoff is 7 a.m. ET Wednesday, August 28.
The acts making the cut will be announced on the next show, which airs Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, on NBC.
Stories by Amy Kuperinsky
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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.