Magician Dustin Tavella was crowned the winner of America’s Got Talent on Wednesday night and took home the $1 million top prize.
Dustin, 35, throughout season 16 of the NBC show wowed the judges and the audience by weaving his moving family stories into his incredible magic tricks.
In addition to the cash prize, he also won the opportunity to be the headline act at AGT’s show at Luxor Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas strip.
Season champion: Magician Dustin Tavella was crowned the winner of America’s Got Talent on Wednesday night and took home the $1 million top prize
‘Thank you guys so much,’ said Dustin after the results were announced on the finale of the hit NBC talent show.
Dustin was so shocked that he just covered his face with his hands and bowled over. He immediately went over and hugged aerialist Aidan Bryant, who was the show’s second-place finisher.
‘Thank you guys so much this is absolutely amazing,’ Dustin told AGT host Terry Crews, 53, when he asked how he felt. ‘I never thought that I would. Thank you guys. Everybody who voted. My family. My wife. My beautiful boys.’
Earlier in the show, Dustin performed an incredible magic trick with another AGT season winner magician Mat Franco.
Magic man: Dustin, 35, throughout season 16 of the NBC show wowed the judges and the audience by weaving his moving family stories into his incredible magic tricks
Season finale: ‘Thank you guys so much,’ said Dustin after the results were announced on the finale of the hit NBC talent show
They brought out Sofia’s co-star from Modern Family actor Rico Rodriguez, 23, to help them and to select teddy bears from a pile. Howie said the phrase ‘be kind’ and then each member of the audience pulled out a bear from under their seat and they all miraculously had the word ‘be kind’ written on their bear’s tag.
Terry started the two-hour live show by telling the audience that this had been the closest vote in the show’s history. Terry also said the top 10 finalists would be performing match ups with famous stars.
TV family: Rico Rodriguez who starred in Modern Family with judge Sofia Vergara was a surprise guest on the two-hour show
AGT finalist Jimmie Herrod, 30, opened the show by performing an amazing duet with Broadway singer Idina Menzel, 50. In the middle of their song, they were joined by another AGT finalist, the Northwell Health Nurse Choir.
Next, aerialist Aidan performed with the World Taekwondo Demonstration Team. While the martial arts crew smashed bricks and Aiden spun from above. Olympic medalist MyKayla Skinner, 24, And Jordan Chiles, 20, lent their athletic abilities and performed back-ups and other aerobatic moves.
Nine-year-old opera singer Victory Brinker sang ‘The Prayer’ with a capella group Pentatonix.
Amazing duet: AGT finalist Jimmie Herrod, 30, opened the show by performing an amazing duet with Broadway singer Idina Menzel, 50
Young singer: Nine-year-old opera singer Victory Brinker sang ‘The Prayer’ with a capella group Pentatonix
‘Sensational,’ said Terry when they were done.
In another show stopping mash up, Scottish-American singer Bishop Briggs, 29, joined AGT contestant Brooke Simpson on stage and performed ‘White Flag.’ After their breathtaking song, Terry told Bishop she was a big success and asked him if she had any advice for Brooke.
‘Zero advice,’ said Bishop to Brooke. ‘You are such a superstar, You are incredible and I wish we could be on tour together. We need to do this every single night. This was so much fun.’
Dynamic duo: In another show stopping mash up, Scottish-American singer Bishop Briggs, 29, joined AGT contestant Brooke Simpson on stage and performed ‘White Flag’
‘I think that sounds like a plan,’ said Brooke.
Comedian Gina Brillon, 41, came out on the stage and was joined by George Lopez, 60, who she said was the reason she started out in stand-up comedy. Gina told him she needed to cut someone’s hair for good luck. George nervously agreed to let her cut his hair on live television.
Besides performances, the AGT finale show featured cute skits with the judges.
Live television: Comedian Gina Brillon, 41, came out on the stage and was joined by George Lopez, 60, who she said was the reason she started out in stand-up comedy
Quick-change artist Léa Kyle helped AGT Judge Heidi Klum, 48, pick what to wear for the finale show with the aid of her quick-change magic.
Comedian Josh Blue sought advice from AGT judge Howie Mandel, 65, but when he left the room he went through Howie’s Rolodex. He then contacted and met up with former AGT contestants Preacher Lawson, Tom Cotter and Piff the Magic Dragon and asked them for advice.
The show also played back blooper backstage moments that included Heidi getting a plunger stuck on Howie’s head. There was also a welcome back party for AGT executive producer and judge Simon Cowell, 61, where they gave him a skeleton with a broken back as a gag gift since he had broken his back last year after a bike accident. They also handed out cupcakes with Simon’s face on them.
Quick outfit: Quick-change artist Léa Kyle helped AGT Judge Heidi Klum, 48, pick what to wear for the finale show with the aid of her quick-change magic
‘You are so unbelievable,’ Simon said when he pulled the broken back skeleton out of a bag.
The judges all posed for a photo with creamed pies covering their faces.
After Simon pranked Sofia during the auditions when they pretended that she had shot him with an arrow, Sofia vowed revenge. For the finale show, Sofia played an elaborate prank on Simon where she had an artist craft a hideous bust of Simon and hired an actress to pretend she was the director of marketing at the Luxor hotel. When they unveiled the bust as part of an art installation, Simon was shocked.
Good one: Howie Mandel played along with the prank on Simon
‘The is the ugliest thing,’ Simon said. All the other judges pretended that they loved their busts, but Simon said this was the worst thing he had ever seen. He told them that he would pay the artist who did this to redo his work because ‘this is not going in the lobby of the Luxor.’
‘Look at it,’ Simon said.
Sofia then got in front of the room at the Luxor and apologized for Simon’s comments saying that they all knew that he was really rude. Simon told the people in the room that he was just kidding. Then Sofia revealed it was all a joke saying ‘that is what he gets for messing with a Colombian.’
Simon couldn’t believe it. He went up to the podium and said ‘Sofia Vergara, I hate you.’
‘But I’m not fired,’ Sofia later asked.
The bust: Simon posed next to the ugly bust of himself that Sofia used during her prank
‘No,’ said Simon but added that ‘revenge is sweet.’
The show also featured other amazing moments, including Idina Menzel performing her original song ‘Dream Girl’ for the crowd.
Terry gifted students at Samuel Gompers Middle School in the Watts area of Los Angeles with musical instruments from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation that gives schools and students extra support and instruments to further their music education.
Original song: The show also featured other amazing moments, including Idina Menzel performing her original song ‘Dream Girl’ for the crowd