The Emerald Belles have high-kicked their way through their third performance for “America’s Got Talent.” Now their chances of moving on are up to one of the show’s newest judges: the viewers.
Twelve acts performed on "America's Got Talent" last night on NBC, including Southlake's very own Emerald Belles. The Belles’ segment opened up on their celebration in the Southlake Town Square last month, where Mayor Laura Hill expressed to the dance team how proud she and the city was of them.
“It’s been incredible to see the positive support these girls have received from our entire community, from across America and especially from the "AGT" judges,” Hill expresses during the episode. “Well, everyone except Howie Mandel.”
As the crowd crescendoed into a flurry of boos, Mandel’s comments from the Belles’ last performance re-played on the screen: “It’s not enough to win ‘America’s Got Talent,’ and I don’t even think it’s enough to move on to the next level.”
That didn’t stop the Belles from taking the stage Tuesday with stride and confidence, playing their routine to the tunes of Panic! at the Disco’s “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” and Selena Gomez’s “Me & My Girls.”
After they twirled, danced and high-kicked their way through the bright lights and effects, the crowd’s loud cheers overwhelmed the judges to the point where Gabrielle Union could barely be heard over their applause.
“They say that the best way to silence your critics is to come out and give an amazing performance,” Gabrielle says on the episode. “You guys killed it.”
Judge Julianne Hough echoed similar sentiments, stating they’ve seriously stepped up their game since their audition earlier this season.
“I’ve been a fan from the beginning, but the way that you stepped it up tonight was beyond anything you guys have done,” Julianne says on the episode. “When you guys come together, you’re better together, and I love that.”
Even Howie sang a different tune and had positive things to say about the Belles’ newest performance.
“I’ve been tough on you guys, but with your talent and our production, pyro and those overhead shots, you just blew the roof off of this place,” Howie says to the Belles. “You just made it really tough, cause not everyone can go through. That was spectacular.”
Emerald Belles captain Molly McKinnon began thanking Howie for his support when Simon Cowell quipped off-screen: “What support?”
Out of the 12 contestants that performed last night, only seven would move on to the next round after viewers voted for their favorite acts at home. Viewers could vote up to 10 times for each available act during the show through the Xfinity X1 remote, the “America’s Got Talent” official app and NBC.com. The seven contestants with the highest number of votes will move on to the next round and one step closer towards the one million dollar prize.
The Belles’ will be back on NBC tonight at 7 p.m. to hear Tuesday’s results. Regardless of what happens, Cowell says the Belles put in the hard work, dedication and ambition required to win "America's Got Talent."
“You define what 'America’s Got Talent' is all about,” Cowell says.