America’s Got Talent came to an exciting close with the Live Finale on Wednesday, September 27.
After a slew of phenomenal performances, the Top 11 awaited the results to see who won the $1 million prize and coveted Vegas residency. No one, not even Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, and Sofia Vergara, and Terry Crews, knew the winner. It was anyone’s game!
Throughout the night, NBC Insider offered Live Updates and spoilers from the finale. Read, below, the full recap.
10:59 p.m. ET- The winner is announced: Adrian Stoica & Hurricane, putting Anna DeGuzman in second place.
10:51 p.m. ET- Third place is announced: Murmuration.
“Your Act, in my heart, is the best thing I’ve seen this season,” Mandel tells the group.
10:49 p.m. ET- Fourth place is announced: Putri Ariani.
“Nobody can take away the fact that you are an amazing, amazing singer. And performer. And person,” Cowell tells Ariani.
10:43 p.m. ET- Fifth place is announced: The Ramadhani Brothers.
“You have shown the world how amazing you are,” Klum tells the duo. “I know this is not the end. It’s the beginning. I’m sure of it.”
10:28 p.m. ET- The Top 5 Finalists are announced: The Ramadhani Brothers, Putri Ariani, Adrian Stoica & Hurricane, Anna DeGuzman, and Murmuration.
Coldplay invites the Mzansi Youth Choir to perform with them in one of their upcoming shows.
10:20 p.m. ET- Season 17 Champions The Mayyas return for a dazzling performance.
10:17 p.m. ET- A recap of Mandel’s funniest moments on AGT plays. Try not laughing through it! “I don’t think of it as being funny,” Mandel says. “I look at it as breathing. Comedy is my oxygen!”
10:09 p.m. ET- The Ramadhani Brothers introduce Thirty Seconds to Mars and Chibi Unity, who do a magnetic duet of the band’s song “Stuck.”
9:55 p.m. ET- Crews gives more details about AGT: Fantasy League, the new AGT spin-off coming in 2024. Mandel, Klum, and Cowell will be joined by Mel B. on the Judges’ panel, and fans were given a recap of the Spice Girl’s tenure on Got Talent.
9:54 p.m. ET- Putri Ariani and Leona Lewis join forces for a gorgeous rendition of Lewis’ cover of Snow Patrol’s “Run.”
“You’re incredible, and you’re an absolute gift to the world,” Lewis tells Ariani following their performance.
9:51 p.m. ET- In a pre-taped bit, celebrity chef Cat Cora helps Adrian Stoica & Hurricane make a meal that will fuel them during their Final performance. Naturally (and hilariously), thanks to Hurricane, it goes off the rails.
9:43 p.m. ET- Mzansi Youth Choir and Jon Batiste perform his song “Worship.” It was a powerful collaboration that wowed the audience and Judges.
9:40 p.m. ET- In a fun, pre-taped bit, Cowell surprises a group of kids visiting Universal Studios’ Super Nintendo World. “I think we should all go next week together,” Cowell says. “It was the best!”
9:35 p.m. ET- BroZone, the boy band from Trolls, performs *NSYNC’s first song together in over 20 years, “Better Place.” Viewers were then treated to a preview of Trolls Band Together, in theaters November 17, 2023.
9:32 p.m. ET- In a hilarious pre-taped bit, Ahren Belisle steals an iPad with a bunch of things recorded on it that Cowell has said over the years. Belisle uses it to hilariously troll the other Judges and Crews.
9:29 p.m. ET- Via card trick, Anna DeGuzman intros Jason Derulo and Murmuration for their electrifying duet, in which they sing his hit “Take You Dancing” and his upcoming track “Hands on Me” with Meghan Trainor.
“You guys are unbelievable,” Derulo says about Murmuration, while Mandel notes the dancers in the group are “superstars.”
9:20 p.m. ET- Diane Warren and Lavender Darcangelo perform an emotional duet of “Only Love Can Hurt Like This” by Paloma Faith.
“Keep singing like that, Lavender,” Warren tells Darcangelo. “That was an amazing performance.”
“I love you, Lavender,” Klum tells Darcangelo. “I’m so proud of you. This is wonderful, what you just did!”
9:16 p.m. ET- Avantgardey brings all the Contestants together with a spirited pre-taped performance.
9:15 p.m. ET- Crews recaps the fun that went down at the Sonic Route 44 Lounge following the September 26th Final. It was the place where the Contestants could let loose and exhale after leaving it all on the stage!
9:11 p.m. ET- Crews welcomes the 11 Acts to the stage. “Tonight, one of them will walk away with $1 million, and they will be starring in our AGT Superstars show in Las Vegas,” he says.
Vergara says she’d love to be a part of Adrian Stoica & Hurricane’s Act again if they’d have her. Meanwhile, Cowell says his highlight of the season was the Final that aired September 26, in which the Contestants performed for the last time.
9:05 p.m. ET- A recap of the 11 Acts’ final performances plays. “It’s time to choose a champion,” Crews notes. And it is!
9:03 p.m. ET- The Judges and Crews emerge, dressed to the nines and grinning ear to ear. “Give it up for the 82nd Airborne Division Chorus,” Crews says. “Welcome to the AGT Finale. Can you feel it? The energy [in the room] is off the charts!”
9:00 p.m. ET- The 82nd Airborne Division Chorus opens up the show with an emotional performance called “Freedom.”
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When is the AGT 18 Finale?
The 2023 America’s Got Talent Final begins Wednesday, September 27 at 9/8c for a two-hour event. The winner will be revealed at the end of the broadcast by Host Terry Crews. The champion is determined by the results of America’s Vote following the performances from the night before.
During the show we’ll see new performances from every Act in the Top 11:
Where can I watch and stream the AGT 18 Finale?
You can watch the AGT 18 Live Finale at 9/8c on NBC. You can also live stream the Finale via your cable provider on NBC.com or Peacock.
The episode will be available to stream next day on Thursday, September 28 beginning at 6 a.m. ET on Peacock.