Montgomery 15-year-old says he's got much more to show audiences on 'America's Got Talent'
Shannon HeupelMontgomery Advertiser
Montgomery teen singer Reid Wilson's star is still shining bright after viewers pushed him through this week's quarterfinals Tuesday and Wednesday on NBC's "America's Got Talent."
"It felt amazing," the 15-year-old said of singing live on the show Tuesday. "Obviously, it's like a dream come true performing on the stage. Every singer dreams of the moment when everyone's clapping for them and you're on that huge stage getting great feedback from these amazing judges."
On Tuesday, Reid sang Airana Grande's hit "Almost is Never Enough," a piece he'd never performed publicly before.
AGT judge and executive producer Simon Cowell, who said Reid has "real soul" in his voice, wants the teen to keep performing in front of live audiences.
"I really do believe, Reid, that singing is going to be your career," Cowell said.
Speaking of feedback, Reid had some very special people in the audience.
“I remember when (AGT host Terry Crews) was talking to me, all my friends and family were up there jumping and waving,” Reid said. “It was really comforting. At first, when I walked out on stage before I sang, I was looking for them and I couldn’t find them.”
Results of America's vote were announced Wednesday night, and Reid was one of five from that episode to move forward.
Powerhouse performances are his thing, and Reid said to expect more of that in episodes to come. Audiences haven’t heard all he’s got to give yet.
“If I’m going to stay on the show, it has to keep going up,” Reid said. “Just like (AGT judge Sofia Vergara) said. She was like, I loved your audition, but it got better than that. I want to keep hearing that. I want to keep hearing it’s getting better and better, until hopefully I win the show.”
During auditions, he got a golden buzzer from judge Howie Mandel, which pushed Reid forward to Tuesday’s live quarterfinals.
"You have so much poise, so much control. Your voice is so clear, so crisp. You know what you want to do," Mandel said Tuesday.
Often, what Reid wants to do is practice. That's how he gets the delicate high notes he used Tuesday.
“I have the range. It’s really a lot of practice and breath control... I love to practice because I’m such a perfectionist,” Reid said. “I feel like I’m never doing enough, so I’m just constantly practicing.”
His work paid off, according to AGT judge Heidi Klum, who said, "You can really hold your own on that stage. Everyone was just quiet trying to hear every little syllable that you were singing."
The teen stepped up his look as well, and AGT's Vergara noticed. "You're so handsome like David Bowie," she said.
Reid seemed less nervous on this performance than he was during his audition, but one family member could tell he felt like fainting.
“I’m glad it didn’t seem that way, but I was kind of freaking out,” he said. “Me and my cousin were watching it (Wednesday) morning, and she was like ‘Oh my gosh, no one else could tell that you were nervous.’”
Reid's hoping that one special viewer will see Tuesday's performance.
"I was really excited to sing it on 'America's Got Talent,' and I'm hoping Ariana will see it," Reid said.
No word on Ariana yet, but the rest of America seemed pleased, according to Wednesday's results show.
Reid’s brother Ryley Tate Wilson, who went through similar situations waiting on viewer votes during his run on NBC’s “The Voice,” gave him some advice for dealing with this stage of the game.
“I did great on my performance is what he was telling me. There’s nothing else I can really do,” said Reid, who celebrated his 15th birthday on Aug. 3. “If people didn’t like it, I tried my best. And if people do like it, they voted for me, and that’s great. I don’t really have much control over what happens.”
That said, he’s hoping his hometown fans will keep tuning in and voting as the show moves forward. On Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. AGT will have 11 acts perform live. The golden buzzer is still in play and will send one act directly to the finals.
“If I get through, I can’t wait to keep on supporting and representing Alabama,” Reid said.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him atsheupel@gannett.com
