Kylie Frey walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage with her rodeo roots, her country voice and a song that had a deeply personal meaning.

The 28-year-old singer from Opelousas, Louisiana, came from a big rodeo family and had performed the national anthem at rodeos.

For her AGT audition, she performed an original song called “Horses in Heaven,” which she wrote for her grandfather.

From a Rodeo Family to AGT

Before performing, Frey explained that she was a rodeo queen and came from a big rodeo family.

She had started singing the national anthem at rodeos because she loved to sing.

Her grandfather encouraged her to keep pursuing music and told her that performing at rodeos could eventually help her reach the National Finals Rodeo.

That rodeo background became an important part of her identity as a performer.

“Horses in Heaven” Was Written for Her Grandpa

Frey didn’t choose a familiar country cover for her audition.

Instead, she performed her original song “Horses in Heaven.”

She explained to the judges that she wrote the song for her grandfather.

The song connected her family story with her love of rodeo and country music.

Simon Calls Her “The Real Deal”

After hearing the performance, Simon Cowell made his opinion clear.

He said he really liked Kylie as a writer and musician before telling her, “You are the real deal.”

Heidi Klum also praised Kylie and her band, while Sofia Vergara expressed support for the performance.

Howie Mandel had a different reaction and voted no.

The three yes votes from Heidi, Sofia and Simon were enough to send Kylie through.

Kylie Had a Special Connection to Simon

Before performing, Kylie told Simon that she had grown up watching America’s Got Talent.

She had even impersonated him at birthday parties with her friends.

When Sofia asked her to demonstrate the impression, Kylie did her version of Simon’s accent.

Simon joked back: “That was terrible. But I still like you.”

The Performance Earned a Standing Ovation

Reports following the audition noted that Kylie received a standing ovation from the audience.

Simon also praised the song and performance, while country star Reba McEntire publicly supported Kylie’s audition.

For a singer whose dream was closely connected to country music and rodeo, the response marked an important moment in her journey.

Kylie Continued Her AGT Journey

Kylie advanced beyond the auditions and later performed another original song, “I Do Thing,” during the live qualifier stage of Season 18.

She ultimately did not receive enough votes to advance further.

Her original audition, however, remained closely connected to her personal story and the song she wrote for her grandfather.

Final Thoughts

Kylie Frey’s America’s Got Talent audition brought together her rodeo background, country music and family story.

She performed “Horses in Heaven,” an original song written for her grandfather.

The performance earned three yes votes from the judges, with Simon Cowell calling Kylie “the real deal.”

Her AGT journey continued into the live rounds, but it was the original audition—and the story behind “Horses in Heaven”—that introduced Kylie Frey to a much wider audience.