New Orleans singer takes the stage once again weeks after his Golden Buzzer audition: Weeks after his unforgettable Golden Buzzer moment, New Orleans street singer Jourdan Blue stepped back onto the America’s Got Talent stage for Season 20’s first Quarterfinal night.
He performed Calum Scott’s “Biblical” and despite being seriously ill, the performance was nothing short of spectacular. His vocal control and emotional delivery shone through, and thanks to America’s Vote, he advanced to the Semifinals.
Despite the flawless performance, you could tell he was drained by the end, and Judge Simon Cowell wasted no time getting to the reason why.
“Somebody told me just before the break that you nearly didn’t come on because you’re sick, is that right?” Cowell asked.
Blue replied, “I just threw up three times.”
Cowell responded, “You did bloody well.” Blue added, “AGT means everything to me—and nothing was going to hold me back.”
Howie Mandel, who gave him the Golden Buzzer in the audition, said: “I really truly believe that you can win this. This performance… I know that you can be 10 times better.”
Mel B. praised his performance too, saying his voice was “just so perfectly beautiful,” noting, “I could sense you were holding back a little bit but it was magical.”
Sofía Vergara chimed in, “Sick or not sick, the way you look, the way your emotions can reach us, the way your voice sounds—everything about you screams rock star.”
Table of Contents
His Journey to This Moment
From the moment he auditioned, the judges were captivated by both Jourdan’s voice and his path to the stage. A New Orleans busker, he spends his nights singing on Bourbon Street.
“I go out and I sing from probably around 8 p.m. to 2 or 3 a.m., or until the cops kick me out,” he shared. “It’s what I do to provide for my girlfriend and my son Jax. It’s hard, but I want to lead by example—show my son you should chase your dreams.”
He also revealed that early this year, tragedy struck right where he performs.
“At the beginning of the year, there was an attack on New Orleans right on the exact block where I perform…” he recalled, gathering himself before continuing, “It made me realize there’s so much more to live for. That’s what made me choose AGT. I feel like this is the best way to level up.”
In his audition, he chose “Breakeven” by The Script which earned him a Golden Buzzer from Mandel. Now, after winning America’s Vote, you’ll see him again on September 16 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
Latest Updates
- Semifinals Locked In
On the Season 20 Quarterfinal results show, it was confirmed: Jourdan Blue is moving forward to the Live Semifinals, alongside LightWire and Sirca Marea. - A Dream Turning Real
In just weeks since his AGT audition, Jourdan has reached exciting milestones. On July 25, he headlined his first sold-out, ticketed show at The Sanctuary in Biloxi, complete with a meet-and-greet and autograph signing—a moment he calls a “huge accomplishment.” He also went live on Instagram with creator Alex Warren, who asked him to perform a song called “Ordinary.” Warren told him, “This is your song now… Just take it.” That encouragement meant a lot to Jourdan. To top it off, Jourdan was named one of the top musicians on TikTok and won a trip to Cabo—a clear sign that his career is on the rise.
Bottom Line
What started as a street corner busking routine has turned into something so much bigger. Despite illness, tragedy, and the pressure of a national stage, Jourdan Blue delivered a performance that stopped everyone in their tracks.
Now heading to the Semifinals and with sold-out shows, industry recognition, and social-media buzz already behind him his journey feels like only the beginning. And yep, he’s still going to perform live on September 16 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC (stream on Peacock next day) hopefully healthier and still delivering that magic.
About the Author
