Johnny Manuel had already impressed the America’s Got Talent judges once with Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.”
But when he returned for the Judge Cuts, the situation suddenly became much more complicated.
Johnny chose to perform Stevie Wonder’s “Lately,” but Simon Cowell was not convinced that it was the right song for him. Then Simon asked Johnny to do something completely different: return to the Whitney Houston song from his original audition and sing it again, on the spot.
Johnny accepted the challenge.
And within seconds, the performance changed everything.
Guest judge Seal was so impressed that he hit the Golden Buzzer, sending Johnny directly to the live shows.
Johnny Manuel’s Journey to AGT
Johnny Manuel auditioned for America’s Got Talent during Season 12 in 2017.
The singer from Flint, Michigan, already had experience in the music industry. He had been signed to a record label as a teenager and had worked with major performers before his recording career was interrupted.
AGT gave him another opportunity to put his voice in front of a huge audience.
For his first audition, Johnny made a bold choice.
He performed Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.”
It was a demanding song, but Johnny’s vocal range immediately caught the judges’ attention.
Howie Mandel described the performance as a “jaw-dropping moment,” while Simon Cowell said Johnny was someone who could “nail and sell a song.”
That first performance earned Johnny four yes votes and sent him forward.
But his most dramatic AGT moment was still ahead.
What Happened on the AGT Stage?
When Johnny returned for the Judge Cuts, he decided to perform Stevie Wonder’s “Lately.”
The song gave him a chance to show another side of his voice.
Mel B responded positively and gave him a standing ovation, but Simon Cowell had a different opinion.
Simon felt the song choice was not working for Johnny.
Rather than simply moving on, Simon asked Johnny to sing approximately thirty seconds of the Whitney Houston song he had performed during his original audition.
It was an unexpected challenge.
Johnny had to go back to “I Have Nothing” and prove himself again.
This time, there was no elaborate setup.
Johnny sang the section essentially on the spot, putting the focus directly on his voice.
And the difference was striking.
The performance quickly built into the kind of vocal moment that had impressed the judges during his first audition.
Then Seal stood up.
Seal Hits the Golden Buzzer
Seal was the guest judge during this round of the competition.
After hearing Johnny’s impromptu return to “I Have Nothing,” Seal decided he had heard enough.
He pressed the Golden Buzzer.
The moment sent Johnny directly through to the live shows. Contemporary coverage reported that Seal was particularly impressed by Johnny’s ability to hit extremely high notes and respond immediately when Simon challenged him to sing a cappella.
Seal explained that singers need to be prepared when unexpected opportunities appear.
Johnny had just been given one.
And he delivered.
What made the moment especially satisfying was the turnaround.
Only moments earlier, Simon had criticized Johnny’s song choice.
Then Simon gave him another opportunity.
Johnny returned to the Whitney Houston song.
And Seal rewarded that performance with the Golden Buzzer.
Why Viewers Remembered Johnny’s Performance
Johnny’s audition stood out because it was not simply a straightforward Golden Buzzer story.
There was tension before the big moment.
His Stevie Wonder performance had not convinced Simon.
But instead of allowing that criticism to end his journey, Johnny responded when Simon asked him to sing something else.
That second opportunity revealed exactly what the judges had noticed during his original audition.
His voice had remarkable range.
His ability to sing high notes was one of the qualities that particularly impressed Seal.
The moment also demonstrated why song choice can matter so much on a talent show.
Johnny’s first performance of “I Have Nothing” had already established the song as a strong fit for his voice.
When Simon asked him to return to it, Johnny immediately showed why.
The result was one of the biggest reversals of his Season 12 journey.
What Happened to Johnny Manuel After the Golden Buzzer?
The Golden Buzzer was not the end of Johnny’s story.
It sent him directly into the live shows, where he continued to demonstrate his vocal range.
During the quarterfinals, Johnny performed “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls and received strong reactions from the judges.
He later performed an original song, “Blind Faith,” during the semifinals. Parade reported that Johnny’s AGT journey gave him the opportunity to present both his vocal ability and his own music.
Although Johnny did not advance beyond the semifinals, his AGT run gave him several memorable performances and another major platform for his music.
The Golden Buzzer remained the defining moment.
Full-Performance Information
Performer: Johnny Manuel
Show: America’s Got Talent
Season: Season 12
Year: 2017
Round: Judge Cuts
Song Performed: “Lately” by Stevie Wonder, followed by “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston
Performance Type: Vocal performance
Judges: Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B, Howie Mandel
Guest Judge: Seal
Result: Seal’s Golden Buzzer
Afterward: Advanced directly to the live shows
Watch the Full Performance
Want to see the moment that changed Johnny Manuel’s AGT journey?
Watch the performance and see how Simon Cowell’s criticism of the song choice led to an unexpected second chance — and ultimately to Seal’s Golden Buzzer.
Watch the full performance on YouTube:
If you enjoy memorable America’s Got Talent performances, these are natural stories to explore next:
- AGT singers who earned a Golden Buzzer
- Performances that changed after Simon Cowell challenged a contestant
- Powerful Whitney Houston covers on talent shows
- Seal’s most memorable Golden Buzzer moments
- Singers who turned criticism into their biggest AGT performance
The Moment Everything Changed
Johnny Manuel walked into the Judge Cuts hoping to continue his America’s Got Talent journey.
His choice of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately” did not convince Simon Cowell.
But Simon gave him another chance.
Johnny returned to “I Have Nothing,” the Whitney Houston song that had first introduced his incredible vocal range to the judges.
This time, he had only a few moments to prove himself.
He did.
Seal pressed the Golden Buzzer, and Johnny went straight to the live shows.
Sometimes, the biggest moment comes after the performance does not go exactly as planned.
For Johnny Manuel, one unexpected second chance turned into a Golden Buzzer.
