Mel B was moved to tears during Kechi Okwuchi’s performance on America’s Got Talent on Tuesday as another round of semi-finalists performed.
Kechi, a plane crash survivor who recovered from severe burns, performed Don’t Worry About Me by Frances after dedicating the song to her mother.
‘All I want to do is hug you…I don’t have words,’ Howie Mandel told the 27-year-old Houston resident after the emotional track.
No words: Mel B fought back teasers while praising the performance of singer Kechi Okwuchi during the semifinals Tuesday on America’s Got Talent
‘Your voice speaks wonders, to so many people…you are incredible,’ sniffed the 42-year-old former Spice Girl.
The emotional outburst comes after it was revealed that Mel B is under investigation for witness tampering by the LAPD in her bitter divorce battle with ex Stephen Belafonte.
The revelation comes on the heels of a revelation that a key witness for Belafonte in the domestic abuse case has filed a report with police after receiving a string of intimidating messages from America’s Got Talent judge.
Rapper Siya Sherman has been interviewed by officers in Van Nuys, near LA and has also been questioned by lawyers representing Belafonte.
Best performance: The plane crash survivor performed Don’t Worry About Me by Frances after dedicating the song to her mother
Nailed it: Kechi nailed her rendition of the song and stunned the audience and judges
Meanwhile Simon Cowell, 57, said of the Kechi’s performance: ‘Your best performance by a clear mile.’
‘You ruled the stage today, like a queen,’ smiled Heidi Klum, 44.
Kechi’s song was part of the AGT semifinals – where eleven acts performed for five spots available in the final, plus the chance to win the $1 million prize.
Standing ovation: Howie Mandel, Mel, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell gave Kechi a standing ovation
High praise: Heidi told Kechie that she ruled the stage ‘like a queen’
The two-hour show opened with nine-year-old Celine Tam, singing How Far I’ll Go from the Disney movie Moana.
‘This was a massive step up,’ said Simon, who praised her ‘control’ and key changes.
Mel B didn’t think the song showcased Celine’s ability adequately, but Heidi called her a ‘shining bright star’.
Young talent: Celine Tam belted out How Far I’ll Go from Moana with a voice that belied her nine years
Next up was Scottish ‘mind reader’ Colin Cloud, who described himself as ‘the evil twin of Neil Patrick Harris’.
He then guessed the audience tweet Heidi had picked, which had an infinitesimally small chance of happening by luck.
He also proved that he could go undercover with the AGT judges without being noticed.
Mind reader: Colin Cloud pulled off an elaborate routine that left the judges amazed
Tweeted words: Heidi confirmed the audience tweet that she picked out included Cheese, Rome and Ellen
Called it: Colin was shown in a video predicting Heidi would pick the tweet with Cheese, Rome and Ellen
‘Are you as freaked out as much as I am right now?’ asked Tyra.
‘You are a sneaky little bugger!’ exclaimed Heidi.
‘I’ve got goosebumps on my goosebumps on my goosebumps,’ said Simon, calling it ‘creepy, spooky and weird’.
Undercover mission: The mind reader went undercover and held up signs with the three words while interacting with the judges
Flipped it: Numbers that were on the stage the whole time were flipped around to read Cheese, Rome, Ellen
Loved it: Mel congratulated Colin for freaking them all out
‘Vote, vote, vote!’ chanted Howie passionately.
Sixteen-year-old Christian Guardino, from New York, sang Marvin Gaye’s 1971 track What’s Going On.
‘That’s my golden buzzer,’ said Howie proudly, calling him ‘beautiful inside and out’.
Teen talent: Christian Guardino took on the 1971 Marvin Gaye song What’s Going On
Golden buzzer: Howie told his Golden Buzzer pick Christian that he loved him
‘I love you young man,’ he added.
‘That is how you kill it on AGT brother!’ yelled Mel.
‘Fantastic,’ agreed Simon.
All-male military a cappella group In the Stairwell sang Castle On The Hill by British pop star Ed Sheeran.
Military group: In The Stairwell sang Castle On The Hill by British pop star Ed Sheeran
Flying around: Merrick Hanna added a new dimension to his robot routine by flying around
Robot moves: The 12-year-old dancer bopped out to iRobot by Jon Bellion
‘You really touch me,’ said Mel, noting that she was ‘so glad’ that they’d kept their ‘cheesy, awkward choreography’.
‘I think we’re going to see you in the finals,’ remarked Simon.
‘You should be very proud of yourselves,’ agreed Heidi.
Twelve-year-old robot dancer Merrick Hanna admitted to being ‘robot obsessed’.
Sweet voice: Mandy Harvey sang Release Me and was compared to Adele by Simon
Tender moment: Tyra leaned in as the judges gushed about Mandy’s emotional performance
He bopped out to iRobot by Jon Bellion, with some aerial lifts.
‘You were flying in the sky there,’ exclaimed Tyra, 43.
‘I’m a huge fan of you Merrick,’ said Simon, who called him ‘unique’.
Next was deaf performer Mandy Harvey who performed Release Me.
‘The vocal, the song, the delivery, the performance was about as good as I’ve ever seen or heard on one of these shows’, Simon told the 29-year-old Ohio resident.
Dog act: The Pompeyo Family performed their eskimo-themed dog routine to Katy Perry’s hit song Hot N Cold
‘It was honestly breathtaking…this reminds me of the first time I ever heard Adele sing,’ he told her emphatically.
‘You move us emotionally…you make music more powerful than it is,’ agreed Howie, 61.
‘This was your best performance yet,’ said Heidi.
Dog trainers The Pompeyo Family did an eskimo-themed set to Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold.
Pooch lover: Simon admitted the routine was ‘insane’ but said he would still vote for it
Eye popping: Diavolo danced around a moving stage to Sign Of The Times by Harry Styles
Pooch lover Simon said: ‘The whole thing is insane, but I love animals so I would still give you a vote’.
‘You guys bring joy to my heart, every time,’ beamed Heidi.
‘A little chaotic,’ noted Howie.
‘It was messy, but your dogs are just adorable,’ Mel told the Florida-based family.
Great reviews: Tyra stood by Diavolo as the judges raved about their routine
Paris-born dancer Diavolo and his group performed to Sign Of The Times by Harry Styles.
‘You guys came to win, this is a million dollar act,’ yelled Heidi.
‘My eyes were popping out of my head,’ said Mel, calling it ‘seamless perfection.
Even Simon admitted he was ‘gobsmacked’.
Light show: Light Balance bounced back from technical difficulties
Simply stunning: Tyra’s golden buzzer pick wowed the judges
Tyra’s golden buzzer act Light Balance was hampered by technical difficulties last time.
They redeemed themselves with a powerful explosion of movement in neon.
‘My respect, my congratulations,’ said Simon, calling it ‘stunning’.
‘I want to go to Vegas and see your name up in lights,’ agreed Howie.
Vocal powerhouse: Ten-year-old singer Angelica Hale belted out Without You by David Guetta
Playing favorites: Heidi revealed that Angelica was her ‘personal favorite’
‘Like dancing, rainbow chakras…I didn’t want it to stop,’ said Mel.
Ten-year-old vocal powerhouse Angelica Hale belted out Without You by David Guetta.
‘You owned it, it wasn’t perfect but you definitely owned it,’ said Mel.
‘You are my personal favorite,’ Heidi told her.
Sweet girl: Angelica reacted as Heidi said she was her favorite
‘You are the sweetest little thing,’ said Simon while Howie praised her ‘control’ and ‘range’.
AGT returns Wednesday on NBC and five finalists will be named for next week’s season 12 finale.
Grace VanderWaal, 13, won season eleven in September 2016.
Stunner: Heidi put on a sexy display as she arrived on the red carpet
Sexy: Host Tyra looked scintillating in a figure-hugging sheer gown