She was crowned winner of 2012’s Britain’s Got Talent with her beloved dog Pudsey, who passed away in July 2017.
And Ashleigh Jade Butler proved she’s still got what it takes to wow the judges as she put on a stellar performance with her new dog Sully on Monday’s edition of America’s Got Talent: The Champions, in tribute to her late pooch.
The trainer, 23, was on the brink of tears as she and her partner, five, received a standing ovation for their set, with head judge Simon Cowell branding the pair ‘winners’.
Still get it! 2012 BGT winner Ashleigh Butler put on a stellar performance with her new dog Sully on Monday’s edition of America’s Got Talent: The Champions, in tribute to her late pooch Pudsey
Introducing music mogul Simon, 59, Heidi Klum, 45, Mel B, 43, and Howie Mandel, 63, to Sully for the first time, the TV personality took to the stage on the spin-off show, which features winners, finalists and other successful contestants from previous Got Talent series.
The duo captivated the crowd with their skilled set, which saw the Border Collie cross run in between Ashleigh’s legs and jump up and down on command in a boxing ring.
Leaving the judges in awe, Simon gushed: ‘Who would believe seven years ago we would be doing this again?
Impressed: The trainer, 23, was on the brink of tears as she and her partner, five, received a standing ovation for their set, with head judge Simon Cowell branding the pair ‘winners’
Rise to fame: She was crowned winner of 2012’s Britain’s Got Talent with her beloved dog Pudsey, who passed away in July 2017
‘You are a champion, sully in a champion. I’m absolutely thrilled that you’ve come back.’
Comedian Howie added: ‘I’ve never seen a dog that has been more happy to be someone. I have a feeling you might be in the finals. You’ve raised the bar!’
Grinning from ear-to-ear, Scary Spice said: ‘From start to end, it made me smile and gave me a warm feeling. I can see how much you love each other, I absolutely loved it. Well done.’
Model Heidi also commented: ‘He is so cute, you must put in so many hours to train him and have the best patience in the planet!’
Look at what they can do! The duo captivated the crowd with their skilled set, which saw the Border Collie cross run in between Ashleigh’s legs and jump up and down on command in a boxing ring
Wow: The TV personality took to the stage on the spin-off show, which features winners, finalists and other successful contestants from previous Got Talent series
Reflecting on her rise to fame with beloved dog Pudsey, Ashleigh said: ‘I don’t think you can know when a moment is going to change your life. On my 11th birthday, there was a box with Pudsey inside it. He was definitely an attention-seeker.
‘We set a bar that we had to break through. We were thrown into this world we knew nothing about. About a year after our win, Sully came along.
‘Sully and Pudsey grew to love each other, he learnt everything from Pudsey!’
Sharing details on Pudsey’s passing, she continued: ‘He was 11 at the time – he was tired and didn’t want to eat. The vet confirmed that it might be cancer and there was nothing we can do. He lifted his head a little bit at us but that’s about all he could do.’
Delighted: Leaving the judges in awe, the duo received a standing ovation from judges Simon, 59, Heidi Klum, 45, Mel B, 43, and Howie Mandel, 63
Feedback: Grinning from ear-to-ear, Scary Spice said: ‘I can see how much you love each other, I absolutely loved it’, while Comedian Howie added: ‘You’ve raised the bar!’
Incredible: Model Heidi also commented: ‘He is so cute, you must put in so many hours to train him and have the best patience in the planet!’
Beaming: ‘You are a champion, sully in a champion. I’m absolutely thrilled that you’ve come back’, the X Factor star gushed
‘We set a bar that we had to break through’: The honey-blonde reflected on her rise to fame with beloved dog Pudsey
Breaking down in tears, the honey-blonde star continued: ‘Sully looked up to Pudsey and became protective over me. Pudsey will remain online forever, as he’s one of the most amazing dogs.’
Ashleigh and Pudsey became the first dog trick act to win the British edition seven years ago, beating out classical crossover duo Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli.
She announced Pudsey’s passing back in July 2017, after the dog was diagnosed with leukemia and had to be put to sleep at the age of 11.
Winner: Ashleigh and Pudsey became the first dog trick act to win the British edition seven years ago, beating out classical crossover duo Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli (pictured in April 2012)
‘No wonder Ashleigh won Britain’s Got Talent!’: The pair sent US audiences wild with their performance
Since bursting on the scenes with Sully, the pair have appeared in a number of theatre productions, including Jack and the Beanstalk, and were recently awarded gold in a Crufts agility event.
The pair sent US audiences wild with their performance, as a fan took to Twitter to write: ‘Wow! No wonder Ashleigh won Britain’s Got Talent! That was the most entertaining animal act I’ve seen in a while! Way to go Ashleigh and Sully! #AGT #AmericasGotTalent #AGTChampions @AGT’.
‘Watching #AGTChampions & of course I start crying over Ashleigh’s story with her dog Pudsey when she won Britain’s Got Talent & now going on AGT with her new dog Sully. So cute’, another penned.
‘I’m so proud of Sully’: Ashleigh was overwhelmed by the positive feedback as she took to Twitter following the episode
A third commented: ‘I love the bond between Sully and her owner Ashleigh! They are amazing! I’ve never seen an incredible act like this before. I thought Ashleigh and Sully should be in the finals! Ashleigh is a great trainer! Sully is a talented dog! ☺️ #AGTChampions.’
‘I’m sure Pudsey is looking down and is proud of Sully and Ashleigh right now! #AGTChampions @AGT’, a social media user tweeted.
Overwhelmed by the positive feedback, Ashleigh tweeted: ‘Here it is! Our AGT the champions performance. I am so proud of Sully, he coped so well in a crazy atmosphere and once again made me the proudest person ever.
‘Thank you for everyones lovely comments so far and all of your support! #AGTChampions #AGT’.
America’s Got Talent: The Champions will return next Monday on NBC.
Finals worthy: On last week’s episode, Susan Boyle advanced to the finals after getting a Golden Buzzer