The 82nd Airborne Division All American Chorus came up short in its bid for the top prize in the “America’s Got Talent” competition show.
The finals were held 9 to 11 tonight on NBC nationally and WRAL Channel 5 locally.
The 16-member Fort Liberty chorus was among 11 finalists who competed in a final round on Tuesday night. The winner was revealed Wednesday night after a nationwide fan vote. In addition to the $1 million, the champion will win a chance to headline a show in Las Vegas.
The show’s celebrity judges had given accolades to the chorus after every performance.
“What you stand for and what you just did just now — that’s what I call a moment,” Simon Cowell said Tuesday, according to WRAL.com.
On a previous show, judge Howie Mandel said the chorus’ performances have highlighted the importance of military service.
“You can’t live in this country and be at home as part of who we are and where we are and not love what you just did,” Mandel said. “We are here because you are here. Without you, we couldn’t do what we’re doing. We wouldn’t have the freedom, we wouldn’t have the peace, we wouldn’t have the safety. I can’t thank you enough – for more than your performance – just for being here.”
For its final performance of the competition, the chorus sang “Brother” by the group Need to Breathe. Previous song choices include “I Am Here,” a hit first recorded by pop singer Pink.
The winner was Adrian Stoica and his show dog, Hurricane.
Other finalists were:
- Putri Ariani, 17, a singer from Indonesia.
- Murmuration, a French dance troupe.
- Mzansi, a South African youth choir.
- Ramadhani Brothers acrobatic stunts.
- Anna Deguzman, a magician.
- Lavender Darcangelo, a blind and autistic vocalist.
- Ahren Belisle, a nonverbal comedian with cerebral palsy.
- Chibi Unity, a fusion dance troupe from Japan.
The 16-member chorus is based at Fort Liberty.