While the performances can be breathtaking and learning about the contestants’ life stories is fascinating, what the hit reality TV show “America’s Got Talent” does especially well is find diamonds in the rough.
Kevin Skinner is one of those diamonds. He’s a hillbilly and when you hear him speak, you’d swear he came straight from from a cabin deep in the woods. Images of fiddles, feuds, and jugs of moonshine immediately come to mind. The audience and even the judges were laughing at him as soon as he started introducing himself. When Kevin described his career as a chicken catcher — modestly explaining that he’d sometimes catch thousands of them in a single day — everyone was doubled-over. The judges were clearly starting to have some doubts, but they nevertheless encouraged him to begin his performance.
What began as skeptical (and hopefully respectful) silence soon turned into awe once Kevin’s talent as a singer and guitarist became clear. His rendition of “If Tomorrow Never Comes” by Garth Brooks brought down the house, dropping jaws, and leaving everyone, audience and judges, deeply impressed.
Piers Morgan, one of the judges, really hit the nail on the head: “There’s a moment in every season, I can remember them all, when somebody comes on stage dressed like you are; your cap’s on the wrong way around, and you know, we’re all like, ‘This is going to be a total car crash.’ And within about twenty seconds, you have me. And by the end of it, that was one of the most emotional, powerful performances I’ve seen in a long time.” Kevin himself was clearly moved by the judges’ praise and by the warm reception he got from the audience. Perhaps not surprisingly, Kevin went on to be that season’s champion!
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