Season 9

Season 9
Information
Winner	Mat Franco
Runner-up	Emily West
Judges	Howard Stern Heidi Klum Mel B Howie Mandel
Host	Nick Cannon
Held from	May 26, 2014 - September 17, 2014
Previous Season	Season 8
Next Season	Season 10

Season 9 of America's Got Talent premiered on May 26, 2014. It concluded on September 17, 2014. The entire judging panel and host from Season 8 returned.

Snapple continued to be the official beverage sponsor of America's Got Talent and its products were featured on the show throughout the season, along with their cups on the judges' desk.

America's Got Talent again shot live shows from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Judging Panel

Howard Stern	Heidi Klum	Mel B	Howie Mandel

Host

Nick Cannon

Episodes

Main article: Season 9 Episodes

Acts

Main article: Season 9 Acts

Auditions

Main article: Season 9 Auditions

Acts auditioned for the judges in New York and Los Angeles. There was a new Golden Buzzer aspect which allowed each judge the opportunity to send one act to the next round whatever the other judges voted.

Judgment Week

Main article: Season 9 Judgment Week

Quarterfinals

Main article: Season 9 Quarterfinals

Symbol	Meaning
	Standing Ovation
	Buzzer
	Judges' Choice Vote

Week 1

Name	Act	Howard	Heidi	Mel B	Howie	Result
1. Sean & Luke	Tap Dancers					Eliminated
2. Valo & Bobby	Balancing Acrobats					Eliminated
3. Julia Goodwin	Singer					Eliminated
4. Baila Conmigo	Salsa Dance Group					Moved On (JC)
5. David and Leeman	Magicians					Moved On
6. The Willis Clan	Family Band					Eliminated
7. Flight Crew Jump Rope	Jump Rope Team					Eliminated (JC/WC)
8. Jasmine Flowers	Chinese Dance Group					Eliminated
9. Emily West	Singer					Moved On
10. JD Anderson	Strongman					Eliminated
11. Dan Naturman	Stand-up Comedian					Moved On
12. Miguel Dakota	Singer/Guitarist					Moved On

Week 2

Name	Act	Howard	Heidi	Mel B	Howie	Result
1. Hart Dance Team	Dance Group					Eliminated
2. Loop Rawlins	Wild West Performer					Eliminated
3. John & Andrew	Salsa Dancers					Eliminated
4. Livy, Matt & Sammy	Band					Eliminated
5. Andrey Moraru	Hand Balancer					Moved On
6. Juan Carlos	Rollerblade Dancer					Eliminated
7. Mara Justine	Singer					Moved On (JC)
8. Aerial Animation	Aerialist					Moved On
9. Jaycob Curlee	Singer					Moved On
10. Mat Franco	Magician					Moved On
11. Darik Santos	Stand-up Comedian					Eliminated
12. ACTE II	Opera Duo					Eliminated (JC)

Week 3

Name	Act	Howard	Heidi	Mel B	Howie	Result
1. Dragon House "The Agents"	Dance Trio					Eliminated
2. Anna Clendening	Singer					Eliminated
3. Cornell Bhangra	Indian Folk Dance Group					Eliminated
4. Kieran & Finian Makepeace	Rock Band					Eliminated
5. Mike Super	Mystifier					Eliminated (JC/WC)
6. Adrian Romoff	Pianist					Eliminated
7. AcroArmy	Acrobat Group					Moved On (JC)
8. Wendy Liebman	Stand-up Comedienne					Eliminated (WC)
9. Sons of Serendip	Band					Moved On
10. Blue Journey	Shadow Dance Duo					Moved On
11. Christian Stoinev	Hand Balancer					Moved On
12. Paul Ieti	Singer					Moved On

Week 4

Name	Act	Howard	Heidi	Mel B	Howie	Result
1. Bad Boys of Ballet	Ballet Dance Group					Eliminated (WC)
2. One Voice Children's Choir	Choir					Eliminated (JC)
3. Jonah Smith	Singer and Band					Moved On
4. Dom the Bom's Triple Threat	Card Thrower					Eliminated
5. Extreme	Dance Group					Eliminated
6. Emil and Dariel	Cellists					Moved On
7. Nina Burri	Contortionist					Eliminated
8. Quintavious Johnson	Singer					Moved On
9. Mothmen Dance	Acrobatic Dance Group					Eliminated
10. Smoothini	Close-Up Magician					Moved On
11. Jonatan Riquelme	Balancing Acrobat					Eliminated
12. Kelli Glover	Singer					Moved On (JC)

Semifinals

Main article: Season 9 Semifinals

Symbol	Meaning
	Standing Ovation
	Judges' Choice Vote

Week 1

Name	Act	Howard	Heidi	Mel B	Howie	Result
1. Flight Crew Jump Rope	Jump Rope Team					Eliminated
2. Mara Justine	Singer					Moved On (SS)
3. Bad Boys of Ballet	Ballet Dance Group					Eliminated
4. Paul Ieti	Singer					Eliminated
5. Mike Super	Mystifier					Moved On
6. Andrey Moraru	Hand Balancer					Eliminated
7. Miguel Dakota	Singer					Moved On
8. Sons of Serendip	Band					Moved On
9. David and Leeman	Magicians					Moved On (JC)
10. Dan Naturman	Stand-up Comedian					Eliminated
11. Aerial Animation	Aerialist					Eliminated (JC)
12. Emily West	Singer					Moved On

Week 2

Name	Act	Howard	Heidi	Mel B	Howie
1. Jonah Smith	Singer and Band					Eliminated
2. Baila Conmigo	Salsa Dance Group					Eliminated
3. Jaycob Curlee	Singer and Guitarist					Eliminated
4. Mat Franco	Magician					Moved On
5. AcroArmy	Acrobatic Group					Moved On
6. Kelli Glover	Singer					Eliminated
7. Wendy Liebman	Stand-up Comedienne					Eliminated
8. Blue Journey	Shadow Dance Duo					Moved On (SS)
9. Emil and Dariel	Rock Cellists					Moved On
10. Smoothini	Close-Up Magician					Eliminated (JC)
11. Christian Stoinev	Hand Balancer					Moved On (JC)
12. Quintavious Johnson	Singer					Moved On

Finals

Main article: Season 9 Finals

All 12 remaining acts performed for six spots in the Final 6. The six remaining acts then performed to win one million dollars and the headlining of a show on the Las Vegas strip.

Symbol	Meaning
	Standing Ovation
	Judges' Choice Vote

Top 12

Name	Act	Howard	Heidi	Mel B	Howie	Result
1. Mara Justine	Singer					Eliminated
2. David and Leeman	Magicians					Eliminated
3. Sons of Serendip	Band					Moved On (SS)
4. Christian Stoinev	Hand Balancer					Eliminated
5. Emil and Dariel	Rock Cellists					Eliminated (JC)
6. AcroArmy	Acrobatic Group					Moved On
7. Quintavious Johnson	Singer					Moved On
8. Mike Super	Mystifier					Eliminated
9. Blue Journey	Shadow Dance Duo					Eliminated
10. Emily West	Singer					Moved On
11. Mat Franco	Magician					Moved On
12. Miguel Dakota	Singer					Moved On (JC)

Final 6

Name	Act	Howard	Heidi	Mel B	Howie	Result
1. Quintavious Johnson	Singer					5th Place
2. Mat Franco	Magician					Winner
3. Emily West	Singer					2nd Place
4. Miguel Dakota	Singer/Guitarist					6th Place
5. Sons of Serendip	Band					4th Place
6. AcroArmy	Acrobatic Group					3rd Place
7. Mat Franco	Magician					Top 6
8. Sons of Serendip	Band					Top 6
9. Quintavious Johnson	Singer					Top 6
10. Miguel Dakota	Singer/Guitarist					Top 6
11. AcroArmy	Acrobatic Group					Top 6
12. Emily West	Singer					Top 6

Notable past contestants

• Nick Fradiani, who auditioned with his band Beach Avenue, later tried out for season 14 of American Idol. He won the show on May 13, 2015, becoming the first person from the northeastern part of the country to win the series.

Trivia

• Season 9 is only the third time auditions were not held in Chicago, Illinois.
• Season 9 is the first season since Season 1 not to feature a Vegas Round
• Season 9 introduced the Golden Buzzer. Each judge can hit it only once through the season, and it makes an act go through regardless of votes.
• The Red Buzzers were almost never used during the live shows, with only one performance being buzzed (intentionally).