When Joseph Allen walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2019, he wasn’t there simply to perform a familiar hit.
He had an original song, a big personality, and an even bigger goal: to make an impact and leave a lasting footprint on the world.
What happened next turned his audition into one of the most memorable Golden Buzzer moments of America’s Got Talent Season 14.
Joseph performed his own rap-inspired song in front of Simon Cowell, Julianne Hough, Gabrielle Union, and Howie Mandel. By the end of the performance, the judges and audience were on their feet — and Howie had a very unusual way of delivering the Golden Buzzer.
A Young Performer With a Big Ambition
Joseph Allen was 21 years old when he auditioned for America’s Got Talent. At the time, he was a student at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, where he had already developed his passion for music and recording.
His musical journey had involved plenty of hands-on work. During his time at GCU, Joseph learned how to produce, record, engineer, mix, and master his own music. He even recorded music in his dorm room, eventually creating a ten-song LP.
But performing his own music on a national television stage was a completely different challenge.
Joseph was ready to take that chance.
“I Want to Leave a Footprint”
Before he performed, Joseph explained why he had come to America’s Got Talent.
He said he wanted to make a major impact on the world and wanted to see how much of a footprint he could leave on Earth.
That statement became the theme of everything that followed.
Rather than choosing a famous cover song, Joseph decided to perform an original composition. That meant the judges weren’t hearing someone else’s hit — they were hearing Joseph’s own writing, voice, rhythm, and personality.
It was a risk.
But it was also what made the audition uniquely his.
The Original Song That Changed Everything
Joseph’s performance combined singing and rap with an energetic stage presence.
His lyrics focused on taking chances, believing in yourself, and making your time count. As the performance continued, his confidence and enthusiasm became just as important as the music itself.
The audience was already strongly behind him, and the judges reacted to the energy coming from the stage.
Joseph eventually became emotional near the end of his performance, but he managed to finish the song.
Then the room erupted.
The judges and audience gave him a standing ovation.
Howie Mandel Had a Golden Buzzer Moment of His Own
After Joseph finished, Howie Mandel stood up to explain how strongly he felt about the performance.
Mandel described Joseph’s energy as “electric” and praised the exuberance he brought onto the stage.
Then came the moment Joseph could never have expected.
Howie climbed onto the judges’ table.
Instead of pressing the Golden Buzzer with his hand, Mandel used his foot to hit it.
Golden confetti immediately filled the stage.
Joseph had received the Golden Buzzer.
The moment was especially fitting because Joseph had just talked about wanting to leave a footprint on the world. Howie connected that idea directly to his Golden Buzzer decision.
Terry Crews Kept His Promise
There was another memorable moment immediately after the Golden Buzzer.
Before Joseph performed, he had asked host Terry Crews to make him a promise: if he received the Golden Buzzer, Crews would pick him up.
Terry agreed.
When the Golden Buzzer finally happened, Crews kept his word and lifted Joseph into the air as the celebration continued.
The combination of golden confetti, Howie’s unusual Golden Buzzer press, and Terry carrying Joseph across the stage made the ending especially memorable.
What Made Joseph Allen’s Audition Different?
Joseph’s audition wasn’t built around a famous song that everyone already knew.
It was built around his own story and his own music.
That gave the performance a personal quality. Viewers weren’t simply watching a singer perform someone else’s material. They were getting an introduction to Joseph Allen as a songwriter and performer.
His positive energy also played a major role.
From the moment he appeared on stage, Joseph presented himself with confidence and enthusiasm. His performance showed that he wasn’t afraid to take a creative risk in front of four judges and a huge television audience.
That risk paid off with one of the biggest honors available during the audition stage.
The Golden Buzzer Sent Him to the Live Shows
Howie Mandel’s Golden Buzzer meant Joseph bypassed the remaining audition process and moved directly into the live shows.
Joseph later returned for the Season 14 quarterfinals, where he performed another original song titled “Mama.”
Although he received standing ovations from Howie Mandel and Gabrielle Union, Joseph did not receive enough viewer votes to advance to the semifinals.
His competition journey therefore ended in the quarterfinals, but his Golden Buzzer audition remained the defining moment of his AGT appearance.
Full Performance: Joseph Allen’s Golden Buzzer Audition
For viewers who want to watch the complete moment, the supplied video features Joseph Allen’s original-song audition from America’s Got Talent 2019.
Watch the full performance here:
From his opening moments on stage to the Golden Buzzer and Terry Crews’ celebration, the performance captures exactly why Joseph’s audition became such a memorable part of Season 14.
Joseph Allen’s Footprint on AGT
Joseph Allen walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage with a simple idea: use his music to make an impact.
He didn’t know whether the judges would connect with his original song.
He didn’t know whether the audience would respond.
But he took the opportunity anyway.
His performance earned a standing ovation, Howie Mandel’s Golden Buzzer, and a direct path to the live shows.
The Golden Buzzer itself became a perfect continuation of Joseph’s message. He wanted to leave a footprint — and Howie literally used his foot to help create one of the most unforgettable moments of Joseph’s AGT journey.
Related Stories
- Memorable Golden Buzzer performances from America’s Got Talent
- Singers who performed original songs on AGT
- Howie Mandel’s most memorable Golden Buzzer moments
- AGT contestants who received the Golden Buzzer and reached the live shows
Final Thoughts
Joseph Allen didn’t walk onto the America’s Got Talent stage with a song everyone already knew.
He came with his own music, his own message, and a desire to make an impact.
That decision created something special.
His original performance connected with the audience, earned a standing ovation, and inspired Howie Mandel to climb onto the judges’ table and stomp the Golden Buzzer with his foot.
Joseph wanted to leave a footprint.
On that AGT stage, he certainly did.
