Johnny Manuel had already made an impression on America’s Got Talent with his powerful voice.
But when he returned for the Judge Cuts, things suddenly became uncertain.
He performed Stevie Wonder’s “Lately,” and Simon Cowell was not convinced that it was the right song for him. Then Simon asked Johnny to do something unexpected: return to the Whitney Houston song that had impressed the judges during his first audition.
Johnny accepted the challenge.
He sang “I Have Nothing” again, this time with little more than his voice.
And then guest judge Seal stood up and hit the Golden Buzzer.
Johnny Manuel’s Journey to the AGT Stage
Johnny Manuel auditioned for America’s Got Talent during Season 12 in 2017.
The Flint, Michigan singer was not completely new to the music industry. He had been signed to a record label as a teenager and had experienced professional music opportunities before his AGT appearance. But after that early chapter of his career ended, he returned to singing with the hope of building a new future in music.
For his first AGT audition, Johnny chose one of the most demanding songs he could have picked:
Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.”
The choice immediately put his vocal ability under a microscope.
But Johnny delivered.
The judges approved him, giving him four yes votes and sending him forward in the competition. Howie Mandel described the performance as a “jaw-dropping moment,” while Simon praised Johnny’s ability to nail and sell a song.
The first audition had established Johnny as a serious vocalist.
His next performance would test whether he could keep that momentum.
What Happened on the AGT Stage?
When Johnny returned for the Judge Cuts, he chose Stevie Wonder’s “Lately.”
It was a difficult song from a legendary artist, and Johnny delivered a strong vocal performance.
Mel B responded positively and gave him a standing ovation.
Simon Cowell, however, had a different opinion.
Simon felt that the song choice was not working for Johnny and questioned why he had chosen to perform a song so closely associated with Stevie Wonder.
Then Simon gave Johnny another chance.
He asked him to sing around thirty seconds of “I Have Nothing,” the Whitney Houston song from his first audition.
Johnny did not hesitate.
He went straight back to the song.
There was no need for a complicated setup.
No elaborate explanation.
Just Johnny’s voice.
And within those few seconds, the audition changed completely.
His powerful high notes reminded everyone why his first performance had made such an impression.
Then Seal made his decision.
Seal’s Golden Buzzer Moment
Seal was serving as the guest judge during this round of America’s Got Talent.
After hearing Johnny’s spontaneous return to “I Have Nothing,” Seal stood up and pressed the Golden Buzzer.
That decision sent Johnny directly to the live shows.
Seal explained that Johnny had demonstrated the kind of vocal ability and readiness that a professional singer needs.
Johnny had been asked to perform something on the spot.
Instead of backing away from the challenge, he delivered.
And Seal rewarded him with one of the biggest opportunities available in the competition.
The moment was especially powerful because it came after Simon had criticized Johnny’s song choice.
One performance had created doubt.
The next few seconds erased it.
The Judges’ Reactions
Simon Cowell’s role in the moment was particularly important.
Rather than simply rejecting Johnny after the “Lately” performance, Simon gave him another opportunity to show what he could do.
That request ultimately led to Johnny’s Golden Buzzer.
Seal, meanwhile, was clearly impressed by Johnny’s ability to respond immediately and sing with such control.
The performance earned a standing ovation, and Seal’s Golden Buzzer sent Johnny straight into the live shows.
The result was a remarkable turnaround.
Johnny had walked onto the stage facing criticism about his song choice.
He left with a Golden Buzzer.
Why Viewers Remembered the Performance
The strongest part of Johnny Manuel’s story is the reversal.
He did not simply walk onto the stage and receive a Golden Buzzer immediately.
There was tension first.
Simon did not believe “Lately” was the right choice.
Then Johnny was challenged to prove himself again.
Instead of performing an entirely new song, he returned to the Whitney Houston classic that had already established his vocal ability.
That decision created a powerful contrast.
First came uncertainty.
Then came the familiar voice.
And finally came the Golden Buzzer.
The moment also demonstrated why song choice matters so much in a talent competition. Johnny clearly had the vocal ability, but Simon’s criticism suggested that finding the right material was just as important as having a great voice.
What Happened After the Golden Buzzer?
Seal’s Golden Buzzer sent Johnny directly to the live shows.
He continued to demonstrate his range during the competition.
In the quarterfinals, Johnny performed “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls, earning strong reactions from the judges and advancing to the semifinals.
During the semifinals, he changed direction again and performed an original song called “Blind Faith.”
That performance allowed Johnny to show another side of himself beyond performing songs made famous by other artists.
He ultimately did not advance to the final, but his Season 12 journey had already produced one of the show’s most memorable reversals: a performance that initially received criticism ultimately led to Seal’s Golden Buzzer.
Full-Performance Information
Performer: Johnny Manuel
Show: America’s Got Talent
Season: Season 12
Year: 2017
Judge Cuts: Season 12, Judge Cuts 4
Original Audition Song: “I Have Nothing”
Original Artist: Whitney Houston
Judge Cuts Song: “Lately”
Original Artist: Stevie Wonder
Guest Judge: Seal
Golden Buzzer: Seal
Result: Sent directly to the live shows
Watch the Full Performance
Want to see the moment for yourself?
Watch Johnny Manuel’s performance and see how a request from Simon Cowell to revisit Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” ultimately led to Seal pressing the Golden Buzzer.
Watch the full performance on YouTube:
Related Stories
If you enjoy memorable America’s Got Talent performances, these are natural stories to explore next:
- AGT singers who received a Golden Buzzer
- Simon Cowell auditions that changed after a second chance
- Powerful Whitney Houston performances on talent shows
- Seal’s most memorable moments as a guest judge
- Singers who turned criticism into a breakthrough performance
From Criticism to the Golden Buzzer
Johnny Manuel’s AGT journey shows how quickly a performance can change when a singer gets the right opportunity.
His first audition established his voice with Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.”
Then came the Judge Cuts.
Simon Cowell was not convinced by Johnny’s choice of “Lately,” but instead of ending the moment there, he asked Johnny to return to the song that had first impressed the judges.
Johnny delivered.
Seal responded.
And the Golden Buzzer followed.
Sometimes, the biggest moment comes when you’re given one more chance to prove what you can really do.
