--- title: America's Got Talent: Teenage Christian Guardino Wows Judges description: The 16-year-old singer Christian Guardino brought the judges — and the audience — to their feet with his rousing performance. canonical: https://time.com/4818057/christian-guardino-americas-got-talent/ author: Raisa Bruner article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-06-14T15:52:11.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:47:30.460Z og:title: Unassuming Teen Blows Away the 'America's Got Talent' Judges og:description: The 16-year-old formerly blind singer received a standing ovation og:url: https://time.com/4818057/christian-guardino-americas-got-talent/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Unassuming Teen Blows Away the 'America's Got Talent' Judges twitter:description: The 16-year-old formerly blind singer received a standing ovation twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # Watch This Unassuming Teen Blow Away the _America's Got Talent_ Judges > Sponsored content. 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Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=6d805967-02e5-4980-ac19-120e770ded50&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Tyra Banks Is Replacing Nick Cannon as the New Host of 'America's Got Talent' [Watch (HLS stream): Tyra Banks Is Replacing Nick Cannon as the New Host of 'America's Got Talent'](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/RE6FxWUg.m3u8) (1:20)  _Published 2017-03-13. Former "America's Got Talent" Host Nick Cannon wishes Tyra Banks the best of luck with her new hosting gig_  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Jun 14, 2017 3:52 PM UTC  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Jun 14, 2017 3:52 PM UTC Sixteen-year-old Christian Guardino has been in the media spotlight before: four years ago, the formerly blind young singer was profiled in [_National Geographic_](http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/09/blindness-treatment-medical-science-cures/) after a medical treatment gave him back his eyesight. But now he’s surprising audiences in a whole new way, thanks to an uplifting vocal performance on Tuesday night’s _America’s Got Talent_ that left [judge Simon Cowell](http://time.com/4362496/simon-cowell-grace-vanderwaal-americas-got-talent/) speechless. The Patchogue, N.Y.-based teen started off onstage admitting right off the bat that he was nervous. But Cowell helped calm him down, suggesting he had a “good feeling” about Guardino’s potential. And true to [Cowell’s instinct](http://time.com/money/4281354/american-idol-stars-most-money/item/simon-cowell-2/), Guardino quickly dispensed with his anxieties when he launched into a rousing rendition of the Jackson 5’s “Who’s Lovin’ You.” As he belted out the soulful tune, judge [Howie Mandel](http://time.com/4699325/tyra-banks-replacing-nick-cannon-americas-got-talent-host/) rose to his feet almost immediately. The audience (and the rest of the judges) soon followed suit. “I mean, what just happened?” shouted excited fellow judge Mel B. after he had finished the song. Guardino got the Golden Buzzer from Mandel thanks to his impressive voice, which catapults him into the live round of the show. In the meantime, he’s been receiving messages of support from both Mandel and fellow Golden Buzzer recipient and _Talent_ contestant Mandy Harvey, [who wowed crowds last week.](http://time.com/4808965/mandy-harvey-americas-got-talent/) > [](https://twitter.com/mandyharvey/status/874812522318180352) > [](https://twitter.com/howiemandel/status/874807226052993024) > [](https://twitter.com/tyrabanks/status/874808055669563392) ## Transcript Looks like there is a new host in town. Tyra Banks will be taking over the hosting duties of Nick Cannon for the upcoming season of America's Got Talent. The show made the announcement official with social media posts welcoming Tyra to the team. Tyra seems super excited about the news. She tweeted out. Surprise! TyTy is the new host of America's Got Talent. Can't wait to work with the new fam, tagging all the AGT judges. Former host Nick Cannon made sure to wish the best of luck to Tyra. He replied to her tweet, saying, Salute Queen! Congrats. I know you'll be amazing! Wonderful choice. America's Got Talent judge, Howie Mandel, wasted no time welcoming Tyra to the team. Check out the video he posted on his Instagram. Okay, everybody, really excited about the news. Our new host on America's Got Talent, Tyra Banks. So [ LAUGH ] that's Now a few of us models all working together. It's good to be back with the team. Who is it? Tyra Banks. Awesome. Yeah, so us people in fashion and modeling seem to stick together, work together. I can just feel the glue already drying. Yeah, and that wasn't all from Howie. He tweeted to the agency account saying this, please tell TyTy that I don't shake hands. But I do shake my booty. You know that and love that about Howie. Also replied directly to Tyra's tweet by saying, hi, TyTy. I'm HowHow. Teach me how to smize, kween @ tyrabanks! Which got Tyra to reply, HowHow, I WillWill. 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