When Brian Justin Crum stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2016, he had a major challenge ahead of him.
For his Season 11 audition, he chose Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” one of the most demanding songs in rock music.
What followed became one of the memorable singing performances of the season.
Brian Justin Crum Takes on Queen
Crum was 28 years old when he auditioned for America’s Got Talent.
Before performing, he shared part of his personal story and explained how his mother had supported him through difficult experiences growing up.
Then he began singing Queen’s “Somebody to Love.”
His powerful voice immediately grabbed the attention of the audience and judges.
By the end of the performance, the audience and all four judges were standing.
Crum received four yes votes and advanced to the next round.
Simon Cowell Recognizes His Talent
Simon Cowell was among the judges who stood for Crum’s performance.
Afterward, Cowell praised him as a fantastic singer and highlighted the size of the performance he had just delivered.
The other judges were also impressed.
Howie Mandel told Crum that he had found everybody to love him, while Mel B praised the emotional power of his performance.
It was a strong beginning to his AGT journey.
His Journey Continued
Crum did not stop after his Queen audition.
During the Judge Cuts, he performed Radiohead’s “Creep.”
He then reached the live shows and performed Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” during the quarterfinals.
That performance also received a strong reaction from the judges.
Simon Cowell praised Crum’s ability to take a song and make it his own, while Heidi Klum called it her favorite performance of the night.
From Queen to the Top 4
Crum continued advancing through the competition.
He performed songs including “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears and “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson.
His performances carried him all the way to the Season 11 Top 4.
The Queen audition that started his journey had become just the first chapter of a much bigger AGT story.
Final Thoughts
Brian Justin Crum’s AGT journey began with one huge song.
His performance of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” earned a standing ovation and four yes votes, immediately establishing him as a powerful singer to watch.
He continued performing throughout Season 11 and eventually became a Top 4 finalist.
Years later, that unforgettable Queen audition remains one of the performances most closely associated with Brian Justin Crum’s America’s Got Talent journey.
