Kylie Frey walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage carrying more than a country voice.
She brought her rodeo roots, a family story and an original song written for her grandfather.
Then she started singing “Horses in Heaven.”
By the end of the performance, Simon Cowell had a clear opinion of the Louisiana singer: “the real deal.”
Contestant Background
Kylie Frey is a country singer from Opelousas, Louisiana, and comes from a large rodeo family. She described herself as a rodeo queen and explained that she had sung the National Anthem at rodeos because she loved performing.
Her rodeo background was closely connected to her musical ambitions.
Frey explained that her grandfather encouraged her to keep singing at rodeos, telling her that performing the National Anthem could eventually help her reach the National Finals Rodeo, or NFR.
There was also a lighter moment before the audition.
Frey revealed that she had grown up watching Simon Cowell and even did an impression of him. Simon was not particularly impressed with the impression, but the playful exchange gave the audition a personal beginning before the music started.
What Happened on Stage
For her Season 18 audition, Frey chose an original song called “Horses in Heaven.”
The song was written for her grandfather.
Rather than performing a familiar country cover, Frey used her own songwriting to tell a personal story connected to her family and the world of rodeo.
She performed with her guitar and a small backing band.
As the song developed, her country vocal style became the focus of the audition. The performance connected her voice with the rodeo imagery and memories behind the song, giving the judges a clear picture of who she was as an artist.
The audience responded with a standing ovation, while Terry Crews also praised the performance as “beautiful.”
But the biggest reaction was still ahead.
Judges’ Reactions
Simon Cowell was clearly impressed by what he heard.
After the performance, he praised Frey and described her as “the real deal.”
The audition was not completely unanimous, however.
Howie Mandel voted no, while Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara voted yes. The three yes votes were enough to send Frey through to the next stage.
That difference of opinion is worth noting because the audition was not simply a case of every judge giving exactly the same reaction.
Simon saw something genuine in Frey as a country artist.
And ultimately, the majority of the panel agreed that she deserved another opportunity.
Why Viewers Liked the Performance
The strongest part of Frey’s audition was the connection between the performer and the song.
She wasn’t simply singing a country song chosen for a television audition.
She was performing an original song written for her grandfather.
Her rodeo background also made the performance feel authentic. The story she shared before singing explained why rodeo, family and music were so closely connected in her life.
There was also a strong contrast between the playful beginning and the more emotional performance.
First, viewers saw a rodeo queen joking with Simon Cowell and doing an impression of him.
Then she picked up her guitar and performed a song rooted in her family story.
That combination of personality, country style and personal songwriting gave the audition a distinctive identity.
Full-Performance Information
Performer: Kylie Frey
Age at Audition: 28
Show: America’s Got Talent
Season: Season 18
Year: 2023
Audition: Episode 1808 / Auditions
Song: “Horses in Heaven” — Original Song
Performance Style: Country
Result: Three yes votes; advanced to the next stage
Full Performance:
The supplied YouTube video is a 2026 upload by Golden Voices, rather than the original 2023 broadcast upload. Its description identifies the performance as Kylie Frey’s Season 18 AGT audition of “Horses in Heaven.”
Frey later reached the semifinals of Season 18, where she performed another original song, “I Do Thing.” She did not receive enough votes to advance to the finale.
Related Stories
- Kylie Frey’s journey from rodeo queen to AGT semifinalist
- Memorable country singers on America’s Got Talent
- Simon Cowell’s most memorable reactions to country performers
- Emotional original songs performed on AGT
- Rodeo performers who brought country music to the AGT stage
A Song That Carried a Family Story
Kylie Frey’s audition stood out because everything about the performance connected back to who she was.
She was a rodeo queen from Louisiana.
She was a country singer and songwriter.
And she brought an original song written for the grandfather who had encouraged her musical ambitions.
The judges did not all agree, but three yes votes were enough to keep her dream alive.
And Simon Cowell’s description of her as “the real deal” gave the audition its defining moment.
Kylie Frey didn’t just sing a song about her grandpa. She brought a piece of her family’s story to the AGT stage.
