An very young boy named D’Corey Johnson from Louisville, Kentucky, made an appearance on the premiere episode of Season 18 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent on May 30. At that time, he just turned 11 years old. What makes many wonder that how an 11-year-old could land on AGT. In D’Corey’s case, it began with a viral video, showcasing his background and considerable experience.
In this video, D’Corey, wearing a light gray suit, introduced himself and started singing “Open Arms” by Journey. At the start, his voice was sweet, typical of a talented 11-year-old singer. However, when he reached the chorus, everything changed. His rich vocal tone belted out the chorus, getting the entire audience on their feet.
When the video was uploaded on YouTube, it got over 4.1 millions views – a considerable attention. Both judges and the audience in the room were surprised by his vocal range.
When it came to his song choice, D’Corey explained: “I really love Don’t Stop Believing by Journey but I didn’t know Open Arms or any of the words at all. That song was the AGT producer’s suggestion. I only had five days to learn it.”
After his performance, Simon Cowell requested the young singer to sing a cappella without the backing track. Surprisingly, his isolated vocals were even better, earning him a standing ovation from Simon.
The video also received positive comments, praising a young talent. One wrote, “Natural talent can sing with or without music or filters, he’s got what it takes, great voice, good stage presence and confidence.”
Another continued, “When Simon told him to go Acapella, best decision ever and this lil guy killed it. Beautifully done, absolute chills.” Many other viewers admitted that they got goosebumps whenever listening to this song.