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Dustin Tavella was a magician from Season 16 of America's Got Talent. He was the winner of the competition, claiming the $1,000,000 prize, a new car, and the headlining of a show in Las Vegas. He later returned for America's Got Talent: All-Stars where he was eliminated in the Preliminaries.

Background[]

Dustin Tavella is a magician who aims to inspire audiences by using magic to connect with people from all different walks of life. Tavella resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with his wife, Kari, and their adopted son, Xander.

Audition[]

Dustin Tavella's audition in Episode 1601 consisted of performing a magic routine. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Simon Cowell all voted "Yes", sending Dustin to the next round.

Deliberations[]

Dustin Tavella was chosen to advance to the Top 36.

Quarterfinals[]

Dustin Tavella's Quarterfinals performance in Episode 1609 consisted of performing a card trick with the assistance of Howie and an accompanying storybook. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. Dustin received enough votes to advance to the Semifinals in Episode 1610 instead of Matt Johnson.

Semifinals[]

Dustin Tavella's Semifinals performance in Episode 1615 consisted of performing an interactive mentalist act with the judges using people that have impacted their lives. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. Dustin received enough votes to advance to the Finals in Episode 1616 instead of Peter Rosalita.

Finals[]

Dustin Tavella's Finals performance in Episode 1619 consisted of performing a magic routine incorporating the audience, Terry and the judges incorporating storytelling. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations.


Finale[]

For the finale in Episode 1620, Dustin Tavella performed a magic act with Mat Franco and Rico Rodriguez. He received enough votes to enter the Top 5 instead of Northwell Health Nurse Choir. Dustin was announced as the winner of Season 16 ahead of Aidan Bryant, Josh Blue, Brooke Simpson and Léa Kyle, winning $1,000,000, a new car and the headlining of the AGT Live show in Las Vegas.

After Season 16[]

Dustin returned as a guest performer in Episode 1711.

All-Stars Preliminary[]

Dustin Tavella's Preliminary performance in Episode AS02 consisted of performing a magic routine assisted by Heidi and Terry incorporating storytelling about the power of words. Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell gave him standing ovations. He did not receive enough votes from the Superfans to enter the Top 3 of the night, eliminating him from the competition.


Trivia[]

  • Dustin is the third magician to win AGT, following Mat Franco in Season 9 and Shin Lim in Season 13.
  • Dustin is the second non-Golden Buzzer act to claim the title after the Golden Buzzer's upgraded format in Season 10. The first was Shin Lim from Season 13, who didn't receive the coveted buzzer in his audition nor his Judge Cuts performance. Coincidentally, both happen to be magicians
  • During his All-Stars performance, Dustin mentioned that he has Tourette's Syndrome, which would make him the second such America's Got Talent finalist since Samuel J. Comroe.
  • He is friends with Season 18 contestant H.B. Monte.

External Links[]

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