Lists

Celebrity Breakups Of 2022 So Far

Published

3 mins ago

April 18, 2024

Martha Clifford

After two long years of depressing headlines dominated by coronavirus, recession, and war, some argue that the era of the celebrity is making a comeback. From Pete Davidson tattooing Kim Kardashian’s children’s names on his neck, to Megan Fox confessing that she and Machine Gun Kelly drink each other’s blood for ritual purposes, it seems like celebrity love lives have never been so weirdly enthralling – and although nothing’s set in stone in Hollywood, here’s a roundup of this year’s most interesting A-list breakups so far.

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Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus

In April, Miley Cyrus’ parents announced their third breakup due to “irreconcilable differences”, but following three decades of union. The couple met in the early ‘90s and embarked on a whirlwind romance while the “Achy Breaky Heart” hitmaker was legally married to Cindy Smith, and also in a casual relationship with Kristin Luckey.

Although there’s no exact timeline of Billy’s overlapping relationships, he and Kristin conceived a son, Christopher, who was born in April 1992 – by then, the singer/musician was already dating Tish, and the young lovebirds were expecting Miley, their first daughter. Despite the situation being far from ideal, the couple threw caution to the wind, and married in December 1993 in the living room of their home.

Tish Cyrus reportedly has filed for divorce from Billy Ray Cyrus, making it their third divorce filing in their nearly 30 year marriage. pic.twitter.com/pGxLF9wr2W

— Pop Base (@PopBase) April 12, 2022

After facing a backlash from his music label, and criticism from the general public due to his rumored philandering ways, Billy and his team made a big effort to clean his image up, which is why his first divorce filing in 2010 rocked the world. Interestingly, the artist withdrew his request five months later, and stated in an interview that he wanted to get his family back together.

2010 was a big year for the Cyrus family in general, as Billy also told GQ Magazine that the series “Hannah Montana” – which starred Miley – had destroyed his family and changed his daughter beyond recognition. Thankfully, he and Tish patched things up, and appeared to be stronger than ever… until she filed for divorce citing “personal matters” in 2013.

In July of the same year, the couple released a joint statement saying: “We both woke up and realized that we loved each other and decided that we wanted to stay together.” They also thanked couples counseling for their improved communication and closer relationship. For the next few years, the Cyrus clan managed to stay out of the press for negative reasons, which is why some fans think this third divorce filing is a mere publicity stunt. Don’t hold your breath!

Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa

Lisa and Jason’s relationship has been far from conventional, since they met at a jazz club in 2005, but it’s always worked for them… that is, until they announced their divorce in January. The “Game of Thrones” hunk and the critically acclaimed actress released a flowery joint statement in which they announced: “We share our family news that we are parting ways in marriage… Not because we think it’s newsworthy, but so that as we go about our lives we may do so with dignity and honesty.”

Jason first saw his future wife in 1987, when she was a rising star in the TV series “The Cosby Show” – and married to Lenny Kravitz. Strange twists of fate led to the Hawaiian native meeting his childhood crush in Los Angeles 18 years later; by then, Lisa had divorced Lenny, with whom she shares one daughter.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cais2bnOgPc/

At the time, Jason was living out of a hotel, and convinced Lisa to drive him home. The pair stopped at Hollywood’s 101 Coffee Shop, where Lisa ordered a late-night Guinness and grits. During an interview with Men’s Health, Jason shared his initial reaction: “Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m with a woman who ordered a Guinness. I love her.”

The rest was history, after their unusual first date, which led to the couple welcoming two children – Lola and Nakoa-Wolf – and becoming the poster child for blended celebrity families. Their relationship went from strength to strength, as they also embarked on joint professional ventures such as “Road to Paloma”, a 2014 film produced, directed, and co-written by Jason in which Lisa starred.

https://www.facebook.com/RoadtoPaloma/photos/569685779809066

However, instead of their secret 2017 wedding ceremony being a happy ending, it was merely the prelude to the dynamic couple’s tragic breakup. Although longtime fans still hold out hope, even if Lisa and Jason never rekindle things romantically, the public will fondly remember the epic pop culture moments they’ve given us – such as their joint red carpet appearance in matching pink Fendi outfits in honor of the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfield.

Liam Payne and Maya Henry

Liam has been making news for all the wrong reasons lately, given that furious One Direction fans recently besieged his social media, with negative comments after the crooner claimed to have outsold his former bandmates Harry Styles and Zayn Malik. In May, his fiancée at the time, Maya Henry, discovered that thanks to a photo that began circulating on Instagram, the handsome musician had been spending quality time with another lady.

Image source

Keeping a dignified stance, Maya commented: “Please stop sending me these pictures of my fiancé wrapped around another woman. This is not me, and it’s hard enough knowing this has happened without seeing it.”

Although Maya’s prior dating history is unknown territory, it’s a well-known fact that Liam has always been unlucky in love. In 2016, the 1D heartthrob began dating the model and musician Cheryl Cole – whom he met at the tender age of 14 when she was a judge at his X-Factor audition – and embarked on his most serious relationship to date, until they called things off two years later.

Despite the two moving in together, regularly treating onlookers to very public displays of affection, and welcoming their only son, things didn’t end on the best of notes, after Liam was rumored to be immature and a deadbeat daddy, which ultimately led to the demise of their promising relationship. The singer himself said in his 2019 documentary, that fatherhood was “a difficult thing”, and began dating Maya after “waiting several months out of respect for Cheryl”, as well as celebrating his newfound singledom with a not-so-discreet fling with the supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Maya, who’s been enjoying a lot of girls’ nights out since Liam was caught gallivanting with another woman, has yet to say anything else about her ex-fiancé. Meanwhile, the musician is promoting his fascinating new projects, including a credit card made out of 75% recycled plastic.

Shailene Woodley and Aaron Rodgers

As a couple, Shailene and Aaron were perfect on paper: a gorgeous, critically acclaimed actress and a handsome NFL player worth a cool $200 million. Sadly, the rumors of homosexuality and cheating got to be too much for the lovers, who met in 2020, and began dating in February 2021 after a year of close friendship.

Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley have reportedly called off their engagement. https://t.co/MLgdJ5asEb

— TMZ (@TMZ) February 16, 2022

The former lovebirds called off their engagement in February 2022, with a source in the know claiming that they had a hard time seeing each other, with “busy careers in different industries”. Their short and sweet reunion – emphasis on short – to work things out reportedly turned sour when the “Divergent” star saw that Aaron was stuck in his ways, and nothing would change in the relationship dynamic, thus marking their second and possibly final breakup in April.

Aaron is currently said to be dating the actress and model Eiza Gonzalez. His former flames include Olivia Munn, and he was also rumored to be in a relationship with his personal assistant Kevin Lanflisi, who posted photos of himself wearing Aaron’s Super Bowl ring, and attending red carpet events with the hunky quarterback. As for Shailene, she’s keeping her love life discreet, and focusing on work for the time being.

Chanel Iman and Sterling Shepard

Known for being A$AP Rocky’s ex-boo, and one of the best-paid models of the early 2010s, Chanel met the NFL star Sterling Shepard at Victor Cruz’s birthday party in 2016. From romantic magazine covers to gushing interviews and an engagement proposal all within a year of dating, the sky was the limit as they became Instagram’s favorite couples.

Chanel Iman’s new man >>>>> pic.twitter.com/czkJgMKz23

— mya abraham. (@myabriabe) April 18, 2022

The pair said “I do” at a stunning wedding ceremony in LA’S Beverly Hills Hotel just months later, with famous faces such as Jourdan Dunn and Odell Beckham present. They wasted no time in expanding the family with the births of Cali and Cassie, who were welcomed to the world in August 2018 and December 2019.

All seemed well between the two, despite Sterling raising eyebrows after comparing Chanel to his mother in an interview, but the first divorce rumors began making their rounds online just months later, when Chanel deleted all photos of him off her Instagram page, and was seen out and about sans wedding ring. It has since been confirmed that Sterling filed for divorce in June 2021, with the official announcement coming seven months later.

Billie Eilish and Matthew Tyler Vorce

After almost a year of dating publicly, the lesser-known thespian and writer Matthew Tyler Vorce confirmed that he and musical powerhouse Billie Eilish had broken up. “Nobody cheated on anyone,” he posted on Instagram, quelling the rumors of infidelities on his end. “Relationships end. Creating rumors and LYING on the internet is dangerous.”

? | Billie Eilish pictured with Matthew Tyler Vorce recently. pic.twitter.com/nRbUH1Aj7R

— I? (@Bilmiguee) April 19, 2021

Just a month before the split, Billie and Matthew were spotted cuddling on a coffee date, which is why the news has come as such as shock. The popstar first hinted at the relationship in her Apple TV+ documentary “The World Was a Little Blurry”, when she and Matthew spoke on FaceTime after she won five Grammy awards.

Some fans of the “Bad Guy” hitmaker who have never been fond of Matthew, argue that the relationship was doomed to fail from the very beginning. The obvious age gap – Matthew’s age is listed at 29 by his agency, while Billie just turned 20 a few months ago – and the difference in their bank accounts were what caused the vitriol and skepticism, with Billie’s more vocal followers claiming that she was being used by the actor for 15 minutes of fame.

Although the official reason given for now is that Billie’s hectic work schedule left no time for a relationship, Matthew is still getting bombarded with hate mail, and has lashed out at the singer’s fanbase for their “heinous” comments. Meanwhile, Billie is booked and busy with numerous events lined up, while also juggling the promotion of her fragrance, book, and merchandise.

Shakira and Gerard Piqué

The most recent and perhaps most heartbreaking split of all, Shakira and Gerard officially called things off in June 2022, after the Colombian superstar was reportedly hospitalized following an anxiety attack – which allegedly stemmed from the Barcelona player’s affairs. Although the singer’s PR team worked overtime to change the narrative, the damage was done, with the couple releasing a statement less than two days later.

Addressing the rumors with a brief but impactful message that devastated millions, the superstars said: “We regret to confirm that we are separating. For our children, who are our top priority, we ask for respect for privacy. Thank you for your understanding.”

On the other side of the coin, critics would say that “how you get them is how you lose them”, given that both celebs were in committed long-term relationships when they met in 2010, while Shakira filmed the music video for “Waka Waka”, her iconic FIFA World Cup anthem. Although they didn’t confirm their relationship until May 2011, Gerard later confessed in an interview that their love story began while both were in South Africa, and he wrote to her to ask about the weather.

In September 2012, the pop star confirmed her pregnancy with a sweet snap and the caption: “I could have another 9 months like this!”, thus marking a new chapter and solidifying their union. Despite welcoming their first son, Milan, a few months later, the beautiful blonde publicly confirmed over the years that she had no intentions of walking down the aisle, because she wanted to “keep him on his toes”.

2018 was a rocky year for both, with Shakira being hit with tax evasion charges and rumors of a crisis, but the couple privately worked things out – until now.

Martha Clifford

As an Author at Net Worth Post, I guide a dedicated team in the art of revealing the stories behind the world's most influential personalities. Fueled by a relentless curiosity and a knack for uncovering hidden stories, I immerse myself in the intricacies of our subjects' lives, weaving together accurate data and compelling narratives. My involvement spans the entire editorial process, from the seed of research to the final flourish of publication, ensuring that every article not only educates but also captivates and motivates our audience. At Net Worth Post, we are committed to providing thorough investigations into the net worth and life achievements of innovators across diverse sectors such as technology, culture, and social entrepreneurship. My method merges meticulous research with eloquent storytelling, designed to bridge the gap between our readers and the remarkable individuals who redefine our tomorrow. Through spotlighting their journeys to success, the hurdles they've surmounted, and their contributions to society, we aim to give our readers a deep and inspiring insight into the luminaries who are paving the way for progress and ingenuity in the modern era.

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Lists

Where is Beau Dermott (“Britain’s Got Talent”) today?

Published

54 seconds ago

April 18, 2024

Martha Clifford

Beau Dermott was catapulted to fame during the tenth season of “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2016; just 13 years old at the time, the musical theatre singer enthralled the public with her performance of “Defying Gravity”, and earned a Golden Buzzer from judge Amanda Holden that guaranteed her a spot in the competition’s live round.

Born in Liverpool and raised in the tranquil town of Widnes, Cheshire, Beau attended The Hammond School, and participated in season ten alongside her cousin, the dancer Jack Higgins. Dubbed “the girl with the big voice and big heart”, Beau was a favorite to win but ended up in fifth place, whereas the magician Richard Jones took home the grand prize.

Showing signs of a promising career post-Got Talent, Beau’s voice was insured for £1 million, and the youngster inked a lucrative deal with Decca Records. Her first album, “Brave”, was released in September 2017 and charted moderately well, so it appeared that the blue-eyed blonde was at the peak of her popularity: from performing for Dame Vera Lynn at the London Palladium, to touring numbers of venues around the UK, Beau was considered the girl of the moment… until she wasn’t.

According to her official website, which hasn’t been updated in the last few years, the Liverpool native is a staunch animal lover, and the owner of two dogs and a rescue pony. Amongst her philanthropical pursuits, the adolescent organized a charity concert in aid of Cancer Research UK in October 2017, following her father’s diagnosis.

Final rehearsal for tonight’s show @liverpoolphil with the amazing @barnabytaylor and @Leos_Strings tickets at https://t.co/BO02ctN1R1 pic.twitter.com/pmKSANhD7Y

— Beau Dermott (@BeauDermott) October 12, 2017

Sadly, Beau’s father passed away months after the concert, which took place at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall. Many child performers have an unsurprisingly short shelf life, and it’s believed that Beau’s family willingly withdrew her from the spotlight, so that the then-teenager could focus on her studies, and cope with the loss of her parent. A year passed between her father’s untimely death and her next big public appearance at London’s O2 arena, which drew crowds of thousands, but since then, Beau has kept a pretty low profile.

As of 2022, the young adult is working on small productions with the Mousetrap Theatre Company. Months can go by between Beau’s Instagram posts, but it appears that the talented singer recently enjoyed her 18^th birthday in the company of friends and loved ones, with a small party at home. It’s also believed but not confirmed that the striking blonde has cut ties with Decca Records, as there’s no mention of the music label on her social media.

It’s good to note that Beau’s charitable streak has only strengthened with the years, as the performer is currently a Mane Chance patron. The animal sanctuary aims to rescue and rehabilitate abused, aged, and abandoned horses, and integrate them with the local community, and often organizes events for young children in the area to attend. Other famous patrons include the author Lauren St John, and the comedian Joe Pasquale.

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Success Stories

Dozens of memorable BGT contestants have displayed their arts for the world to admire, but only a handful have stood the test of time, and remained relevant pop culture figures, with the vast majority fading into obscurity when their time on the show was up. Below are just three examples of BGT’s greatest success stories – contestants who, despite not winning, went on to have long and fruitful careers doing what they loved.

Susan Boyle

First on the list is Susan Boyle, who stunned the public and judges with her awesome version of “I Dreamed A Dream”, the “Les Miserables” classic. Despite her homely appearance and awkward demeanor, the Scottish singer became a global sensation and sought-after public figure overnight, with her audition racking up hundreds of millions of views, and ranking as the most-watched YouTube video of the year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq2_rprnuBY/

Her story resonated around the world immediately, with think pieces being churned out across the globe, and Susan stating in an interview with The Washington Post: “Modern society is too quick to judge people on their appearances. There is not much you can do about it… But maybe this could teach them a lesson, or set an example.”

Despite being a clear favorite to win, Susan came in second to Diversity, a multicultural street-dance troupe. Nevertheless, her debut album – “I Dreamed a Dream” – went soaring up the charts around the world and, according to the Official Charts Company, broke records for first-week sales. In her first year of fame, Susan earned millions of dollars from her project and its lead-off singles, including “Wild Horses”.

2010 brought with it Susan’s sophomore project, “The Gift”. Becoming the third act in history to top the US and UK album charts twice in the same year, the talented performer – who was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum with an above average IQ shortly afterwards – went on a hugely popular tour.

Such was Susan’s success that a stage musical of her life unsurprisingly entitled “I Dreamed a Dream” was planned, with the singer appearing as herself. It was later decided that she would be portrayed by Elaine C. Smith, with Susan joining the cast for a cameo appearance. The musical premiered in late March 2012 at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal, and was swarmed by fans all over the world with positive reviews, and spent the rest of the year touring the UK and Ireland.

https://www.facebook.com/Susan-Boyle-Fans-International-Inc-557956557686959/photos/2143716722444260

Initially, Susan disliked the idea of the show due to potentially sensitive details of her life becoming public domain. However, she later changed her mind, and deemed it “clever and amusing”. Fox Searchlight bought life rights to Susan and rights of the musical, with plans of developing a film version, but the project was quietly shelved.

Susan’s other studio albums are “Someone to Watch Over Me”, “Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs from the Stage”, “Home for Christmas”, “Hope”, “A Wonderful World”, and “Ten”. To date, the Scottish native has sold over 24 million albums worldwide, been nominated for two Grammy awards, and retains millions of fans despite having slowed down professionally.

Calum Scott

Calum Scott is another former contestant whose career has been full of professional triumphs, despite not winning BGT. Born and raised in Yorkshire, the singer-songwriter’s parents divorced when he was just two years old, with his father moving to Canada. With no paternal figure in his life, Calum formed a close bond with his sister Jade, who encouraged him to sing.

You know how grateful I am and what a life changing year 2018 was so I simply just want to do more of this in 2019… laugh, smile and enjoy life to its fullest and hopefully bring that to you lot too. I love you all, beyond words and you know it. ?
Happy New Year everyone! X pic.twitter.com/45kPp4vcov

— Calum Scott (@calumscott) December 31, 2018

Although he wouldn’t become nationally known until 2015, Calum won a talent competition organized by Hull Daily Mail in August 2013, and joined the Maroon 5 tribute band which toured around the UK. A year later, he formed an electronic duo with friend John McIntyre named The Experiment, performing their only single – “Girl (You’re Beautiful)” – on BBC Look North and Good Morning Britain before they split due to artistic differences.

Going back to his day job in human resources, Calum auditioned for the ninth series of BGT. His sister auditioned just before him, but things went disastrously when she received four “No” votes from the judges, and was stopped mid-song by Simon Cowell not once but twice. In a bittersweet moment, Calum went on stage to perform a cover of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” and received a standing ovation from the judges, and a Golden Buzzer from Simon.

Explaining his decision, Simon said: “I’ve never ever in all the years I’ve done this show heard a guy with the talent you’ve got. And the version was sensational, and that shows to me that you’re more than a singer, you’re an artist, and that’s why you got that.”

Following his audition, Scott received an outpouring of support from celebrities and regular people alike, gaining over 25,000 Twitter followers and racking up millions of YouTube views of his video. Winning the semi-final with 25.6% of the votes after performing Jermaine Stewart’s “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off”, Scott went straight to the final stage of the competition, and was expected to win by many.

Sadly, when the big day came, Scott came in sixth out of 12 contestants with just 8.2% of the vote. Taking the loss in his stride, the singer-songwriter toured the UK, and performed at festivals of all sizes including Gibraltar Summer Nights and Dartford Festival. April 2016 marked the independent release of his first single, a cover of “Dancing on My Own”, which became a sleeper hit and slowly climbed into the top 40, despite receiving almost no radio airplay. Four months later, the single was certified platinum, having sold over 600,000 copies – and Calum also signed a deal with Capitol Records.

Just a month later, Calum teamed up with the Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo for the promotional single “Transformar”, which became the 2016 Summer Paralympics’ official song, and was performed at the closing ceremony. In 2017, the attractive musician embarked on an ambitious US tour, and began working on his debut album, “Only Human”, which was released in March 2018 and spawned four singles.

Brasil, foi incrível! Te amo! @ivetesangalo ?? ❤️ #ClosingCeremony #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/9coFbEt6vg

— Calum Scott (@calumscott) September 19, 2016

To date, Calum’s extensive discography includes an acoustic EP of songs from his debut album, another EP, and a second album. The singer has also collaborated with Leona Lewis and other big names and earns money from the occasional endorsement deal, although his thriving career remains his main focus.

Connie Talbot

Connie Talbot is another unforgettable name for BGT fans. In 2007 at just six years of age, the cute blonde auditioned for the first series despite never having taken singing classes, and was described as “pure magic” by Simon Cowell, who also promised that he could help her earn over a million that year alone.

On the night of the final, Connie sang “Over the Rainbow”, but lost out to Paul Potts. The young singer’s future was looking uncertain when Sony BMG, Simon’s label, pulled out of a potential record deal after recording two songs with the youngster in London. According to Connie’s mother, her daughter was “too young” and the family was told to look for a more age-appropriate company.

Nevertheless, Connie signed a six-figure deal with Rainbow Recording Company – an offshoot of the record label Rhythm Riders made specifically for the singer – in October 2007. The Birmingham native’s debut album was released in late November of the same year, with experts describing her as “the next Charlotte Church”. Only 50,000 copies of the album were initially pressed, but with an additional 120,000 being made when it sold out in just days.

From performing in Birmingham’s Centenary Square and headlining Christmas festivals, to appearing on Channel 5 News and GMTV, Connie was seen just about everywhere, and even received offers for film roles. This caused some controversy when her mother said: “Connie’s a singer, not an actress, so we’ll see what happens,”, with disgruntled netizens calling Sharon an opportunist, and insinuating that she was overworking her daughter.

Connie’s album was re-released in June 2008 after a two-month promotional tour in Asia, making stops in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea. The US version was released in October of the same year, and saw Connie appear in “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and other daytime programs to drum up publicity.

The prolific youngster released her second project, “Connie Talbot’s Christmas Album”, in November 2008 after months of non-stop work. The festive album contained a mix of old classics and more modern tunes, and came with its own documentary, “Christmas with Connie”, in which fans saw footage of Connie’s journey to the US and a concert she held at her primary school. After going on yet another promotional tour around the world, which included stops in Germany and Korea, Connie took a short break.

Connie’s third album, “Connie Talbot’s Holiday Magic”, was released in the UK almost exactly a year later. Her career slowed down considerably from 2010 onwards, as fans struggled to relate to the pre-adolescent who was no longer the cute little six-year-old they’d seen on BGT, but nevertheless, the talented singer still puts out the occasional single, and is said to be worth millions thanks to all the albums she sold in her heyday.

Lists

What is Kodi Lee from “America’s Got Talent” doing now?

Published

59 seconds ago

April 18, 2024

Martha Clifford

Capturing the hearts of millions of viewers and making history as the first blind and autistic contestant to receive the coveted golden buzzer on “America’s Got Talent”, Kodi Lee’s inspiring life story turned him into a worldwide sensation in 2019. The Korean-American singer-songwriter, who is also a gifted pianist, dazzled judges with his heartfelt rendition of Leon Russell’s “A Song For You”.

Born with optic nerve hypoplasia, and diagnosed with Addison’s disease at a young age, Kodi is considered a musical savant, or “someone with abilities that would be considered extraordinary even in a person who is not autistic.” Within two weeks of his audition, Kodi had racked up 50 million views on YouTube, and become the talk of the country as he progressed in “Got Talent”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jS07j4mL-0

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“America’s Got Talent”

Kodi auditioned for the TV talent show in May 2019, and received a standing ovation from judges Gabrielle Union, Julianne Hough, Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell after his performance, as well as a golden buzzer from Gabrielle which sent him to the program’s live shows. With Kodi already amassing a loyal fanbase within days of the audition airing, NBC and other news outlets began reporting on every detail of his life, thus making him a more relatable figure.

In the quarter-finals, Kodi received yet another standing ovation after his version of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water”, and passed to the semi-finals with flying colors. Despite there being plenty of competition at that stage, Kodi was announced as one of the season’s ten finalists, after his rendition of Calum Scott’s “You Are the Reason”.

You did it @Kodileerocks!!!!!!! From the first note you sang, I knew you were something special and that you were here to change the world. I am SO proud of you my #goldenbuzzer. This is just the beginning. #agt pic.twitter.com/rLpq62HOcv

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) September 19, 2019

In the series finale that aired in September 2019, Kodi was the star of the night, as he performed “You Are the Reason” for the second time, alongside special guest Leona Lewis. Kodi was announced as the winner by a landslide at the end of the show, thus becoming the first developmentally disabled person to win “America’s Got Talent”.

2022

As recently as January 2022, Kodi fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams by becoming a Las Vegas headliner in the cast of “America’s Got Talent: Live”. No costs were spared for the star-studded show, a production partnership of Syco Entertainment, The Works Entertainment Company, MGM Resorts International, and Fremantle with a multimillion-dollar budget.

When asked in an interview if he ever imagined that he’d be performing in front of thousands of fans on the Las Vegas Strip, Kodi enthusiastically replied: “Heck, yeah. I have never given up on my dream. I love being able to share my music with the world.” His proud mother Tina, confessed that she never imagined her son would win Got Talent, and that her biggest goal was simply landing an audition for her talented offspring, so that he could show the world his abilities.

Despite his varied interests including tapdancing and technology, Kodi remains a humble person, and loves spending time with his family the most. The pianist is also planning his debut album, which will include both covers and original songs, and has shared that he’d love to work with Alicia Keys and Elton John. Other career highlights since winning Got Talent include performing a duet with the musician H.E.R., and making appearances on the latest seasons of the show.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CD-JWJXHUFm/

Where Are They Now?

It goes without saying that the less successful Got Talent acts who never reached their full potential also deserve their own mention. Despite winning the first season at the tender age of 11, with her powerful renditions of Broadway hits, Bianca Ryan’s career stalled in 2007, as she chose to focus on her education. Sadly, from 2010 to 2014, the Philadelphia native’s health issues also impacted her professional trajectory and she could only release one original single, and a cover of John Legend’s “All of Me”.

After undergoing various surgeries, Bianca came back with a bang in May 2017 to premiere her new single “One Day”. Sadly, the buzz surrounding her career had more than died down, and the music scene was full of fresh, young faces to occupy her spot. From being hailed by Simon Cowell as one of the best singers the judges had ever heard, to fading into obscurity, Bianca was forced to become a YouTube musician to make ends meet, and sporadically releases music to this day.

Neal E. Boyd became yet another inspirational story, after overcoming his bleak upbringing in conditions of poverty, earning a degree in music, and entering the third season of Got Talent to stun the judges and public with his version of Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma”. Having developed a passion for opera music, thanks to the Three Tenors and other groups, Neal was a fan favorite from the beginning, and was hailed as a hero after taking home the $1 million prize.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159035923885084&set=pb.657195083.-2207520000..&type=3

Neal was also a generous soul who donated to charitable causes, and created a legacy at Southeast Missouri State University, his alma mater. Celebrating his experience at the university and with the aim of supporting future students, he created the Neal E. Boyd Endowed Scholarship in Performing Arts, which is awarded annually to a student in financial need who meets a GPA requirement and other targets.

Tragically, Neal never became a mainstream musical act, because he died of complications stemming from liver disease. In a statement, Got Talent said: “We are very saddened to hear that one of our AGT family members has passed away. Our hearts are with Neal’s loved ones during this difficult time.”

BAMA/FSU FANS! Make plans for ATL this Friday. Pregame party with us & @RileyGreenMusic at Buckhead Theatre the night before the game! pic.twitter.com/4ZXb9Q1qfl

— Muscadine Bloodline (@MuscadineBLine) August 30, 2017

As for Kevin Skinner, who we mentioned earlier, the season four winner is perhaps one of Got Talent’s most tragic stories of unrealized potential. A humble chicken skinner born in the Dublin community of Graves County, Kentucky, Kevin began playing the guitar aged 12, and learned how to sing and compose music from his musician father, Joe.

With his ruggedly handsome appearance and lively personality, Kevin enamored fans with his performance of Garth Brooks’ “If Tomorrow Never Comes”, with three judges voting ‘yes’ and sending him directly to the Vegas Round. Despite not performing in said round, Kevin’s audition was good enough for the judges to send him to the quarter-finals, where he sang Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” while playing the guitar.

In the semi-finals, Kevin’s rendition of Brenda Lee’s “Always On My Mind” was good enough to earn a standing ovation from Piers. The famously picky judge boldly claimed that Kevin was able to move an audience in a way that he’d never seen before on the show, and added that the Kentucky native was one of his favorites to win.

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Despite missing the odd note in his next performance, Piers called Kevin a diamond in the rough, and Sharon compared him to Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger – other musicians who didn’t need a perfect voice to become successful. Once again, Kevin received a standing ovation, and received enough votes in the finale to be placed in the Top 5.

Upon receiving the seven-figure prize, which was put into an annuity to be paid out over 40 years, Kevin headlined a show in Las Vegas, performed in “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, and began working on his eagerly awaited debut album. His debut CD, “Long Ride”, was released on Saint Patrick’s Day 2010, with the album coming six months later.

Shockingly, the album failed to chart despite Kevin’s best efforts. After releasing an equally unsuccessful follow-up, “Kevin Skinner: Live and Unplugged”, in 2011, the musician gave up on his dreams and went back to his day job – he’s shown no interest in performing or reviving his career since.

An honorable mention goes to Grace VanderWaal, one of the only winners to break the Got Talent ‘curse’ and keep her name in the media spotlight. The singer-songwriter and actress, whose Golden Buzzer audition has the second-highest number of views in AGT history, became the youngest performer to win since Bianca at just 12 years old. The vivacious adolescent began her musical career on YouTube, and performing at local open mic nights, making sure to stand out from other contestants by singing her original material.

Just three months after winning season eleven of AGT, Grace released her first EP – “Perfectly Imperfect”, via Columbia Records. Less than a year later, she delighted fans with her first full-length album entitled “Just the Beginning”, and by then had already showcased her stage presence with performances at Madison Square Garden, the opening and closing of the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games, and various benefit concerts.

Some accolades Grace has earned through sheer hard work include the Radio Disney Music Award for Best New Artist, a Teen Choice Award, and a coveted spot in Billboard magazine’s 21 Under 21 list of young music stars with promise. The New York native has also signed with IMG models, and starred in the Disney+ adaptation of Jerry Spinelli’s “Stargirl”; she currently boasts over four million Instagram followers.