Preacher Lawson was a comedian from Season 12 of America's Got Talent. He finished in the bottom 5 of the Top 10. Preacher returned for America's Got Talent: The Champions, where he finished in 5th place. He returned again for America's Got Talent: Fantasy League, competing on Howie Mandel's team where he was eliminated in the Semifinals.
Background[]
Preacher Lawson was born In Portland, Oregon, but raised for most of his adolescence in Memphis, Tennessee. He moved 20 times before age 10, but if you asked him what city he was from, he would say Orlando, Florida because there, he grew as a comedian.
Growing up switching schools all of the time, he had to learn how to adapt. Everywhere he'd go, he would learn about different people and different cultures, but he noticed the one universal language everyone had in common was laughter. Through laughter, he spoke and warmed up to most people. Even when he wasn't the funniest, he was still the loudest.
Preacher started writing jokes when he was 16 for about a year, then decided to perform for the first time at age 17 as a bet with his mother. He considered giving this performance the best decision of his life.
Preacher has been blessed enough to meet a few idols of his. He has opened up for many well-known comedians. He won the 2015 Funniest Comedian In Florida and the 2016 Seattle International Comedy Competition.
His advice to others: "Don't Follow Your Dreams. Lead Them." [1]
Audition[]
Preacher Lawson's audition in Episode 1201 consisted of telling jokes about having a motorcycle and a neighbor telling him about her car flipping over. After the set ended, Simon Cowell requested he tell another joke. Preacher then joked about his grandma not being afraid to die when driving and being religious. Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon all voted "Yes", sending Preacher to the Judge Cuts.
Judge Cuts[]
Preacher Lawson's Judge Cuts performance in Episode 1209 consisted of telling jokes about being catfished by a girl who actually had a limp. Howie Mandel, Mel B, and Simon Cowell gave him standing ovations. Preacher's performance was strong enough for the judges to send him to the Quarterfinals instead of Daniel Ferguson.
Quarterfinals[]
Preacher Lawson's Week 1 Quarterfinals performance in Episode 1211 consisted of telling jokes about the world's fastest clapper, his struggle with big smart phones, and using a photo of himself as his phone's screensaver. Howie Mandel, Mel B, and Simon Cowell gave him standing ovations. Preacher received enough votes to advance to the Semifinals in Episode 1212 instead of The Singing Trump and Puddles Pity Party.
Semifinals[]
Preacher Lawson's Week 1 Semifinals performance in Episode 1217 consisted of telling jokes about being single, being ugly as a kid, host Tyra Banks having a huge forehead, having big lips, and playing around with his four-year-old cousin. Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. Preacher received enough votes to advance to the Finals in Episode 1218 instead of DaNell Daymon & Greater Works.
Finals[]
Preacher Lawson's Finals performance in Episode 1221 consisted of joking about his encounter with a naked man dancing on a trashcan that he met walking home. Howie Mandel, Mel B, and Simon Cowell gave him standing ovations.
Finale[]
For the finale in Episode 1222, Preacher participated in a stand-up conversation video with Howie Mandel and Kevin Nealon. Preacher did not receive enough votes to advance to the top 5, eliminating him from the competition instead of Darci Lynne.
The Champions Preliminary[]
Preacher Lawson returned for The Champions. His Preliminary performance in Episode TC01 consisted of performing a stand up routine about being vegan, dating a white girl and what it means to be a black man. Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. It was revealed that the superfans voted him into the Top 3 along with Bianca Ryan and Sofie Dossi. It was later revealed that he received more votes than Bianca and Sofie, sending him to the Finals.
The Champions Final[]
Preacher Lawson's Finals performance in Episode TC06 consisted of performing a stand up routine about alcohol use and his previous career working at a gym. At the end of his set, he proceeded to take his shirt off. Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations.
The Champions Finale[]
For the finale in Episode TC07, Preacher Lawson opened the show with a sketch where he attempted to throw knives at Deadly Games, Darci Lynne makes fun of his sock puppet, Paul Potts looks at him like he has 3 heads, he can't do magic, the singers want nothing to do with him, and even Terry Crews rejects him. The superfans gave him enough votes to enter the Top 5 instead of Paul Potts and Angelica Hale. Preacher finished the competition in 5th place, behind Shin Lim, Darci Lynne, Kseniya Simonova, and Cristina Ramos.
After the Show[]
Preacher returned to the AGT stage in Episode 1418 as a guest performer doing a stand-up routine about losing to Darci Lynne in Season 12, how good kids have it and cuss words.
He competed on Britain's Got Talent: The Champions. After winning the superfan vote in week 4 of the Preliminaries, beating out recent BGT winner Colin Thackery and fellow Champions contestants Billy & Emily England, Preacher finished in the Top 10.
He was a judge on the Nickelodeon series Unleashed in 2020. Coincidentally, the winner of the very first episode was fellow Season 12 act Sara and Hero.
He returned to AGT as a guest performer in Episode 1616.
Fantasy League Nominations[]
Preacher Lawson was nominated as one of the top 40 acts, sending him through to the Draft Pool.
Fantasy League Draft Pool[]
Preacher Lawson was drafted onto Howie Mandel's team.
Fantasy League Preliminary[]
Preacher's Preliminary performance in Episode FL02 consisted of performing a stand-up routine about how English people can't do American accents, the differences between British and American comedy, and luxuries in public bathrooms. Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Simon Cowell all gave him standing ovations. He received enough votes to advance to the Semifinals along with Adrian Stoica and Hurricane instead of Drake Milligan.
Fantasy League Semifinals[]
Preacher Lawson's Semifinal performance in Episode FL05 consisted of performing a stand-up routine about rules regarding underage dating, his parents, and his mom throwing him a surprise 29th birthday party. Howie Mandel gave him a standing ovation. He did not receive enough votes to enter the top 3 of the night, eliminating him from the competition.
Trivia[]
- Preacher was the highest placing act on The Champions to have not won a prior Got Talent season.
- He, Kseniya Simonova, and Alexa Lauenburger are the only three acts that have made final in both the American and British versions of The Champions.
- Preacher auditioned for America's Got Talent in 2013 and failed to pass the audition round. [2]
External Links[]
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