Dee Dee Simon is in the Top 10 contestants hoping to win America’s Got Talent and take home $1 million. She performed tonight as part of the final showcase before the winner is announced on September 24, and she took to the stage to deliver a stunning new rendition of “Take Me To Church.”
The Golden Buzzer winner earned high praise from the judges. Heidi Klum gushed that she was “bowing down” to Simon’s “strength and power.” Sofia Vergara stated that Simon “keeps getting better and better” after every round. She also noted Simon’s improved confidence in herself and her skills.
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Simon has been considered one of the show’s best singers during her run on America’s Got Talent. While she’s a nurse at San Quentin State Prison by day, her passion for singing has carried her through to the end of the competition. She’s not the only solo singer competing, as she has competition from Richard Goodall, the janitor from Indiana.
[RELATED: How Much Money Does the ‘America’s Got Talent’ Winner Earn? Cash Prize and More Details]
Dee Dee Simon Stuns the Judges With Her Finals Performance, Previously Stunned Them With Prison Riot Story
When she made her America’s Got Talent debut, performing a lively rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls. She wowed the judges not only with her amazing vocals, but with an interesting story from her day job as a prison nurse. She revealed that her singing once caused a prison riot at San Quentin when she was just starting out.
“When I first got there, after I sang a song, a riot broke out,” she told the judges and audience at the time. “Then I had to triage everybody,” she went on, explaining that she had to assess all the inmates for injuries.
“So I waited all these years, and then they asked me again,” she continued. “I just [sang at the prison] two months ago and it was peace.” Maybe the inmates were just so thrilled to hear such a beautiful voice that they started a fight. However, the next time Simon sang for them, they had learned to simply sit and listen.
Now, Dee Dee Simon is in the running to be crowned America’s most talented act. If she wins, she’ll walk away with $1 million and a Las Vegas headlining show, according to reports. Not bad for a television competition show.
Featured Image by Trae Patton/NBC
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