Alabama’s Reid Wilson might not look like a powerhouse when he walks on stage. To the uninitiated, the 15-year-old singer from Montgomery resembles an angelic choirboy, not a soulful belter who can bring down the house.
But folks who watch “America’s Got Talent” know better. They’ve seen Wilson in action on the NBC reality series, performing for the four enthusiastic celebrity judges and a cheering, applauding studio audience. This teen is a dazzler — a slender, boyish, braces-wearing dazzler — and he proved it on national television with covers of Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me” and Ariana Grande’s “Almost Is Never Enough.”
READ: Alabama teen wows viewers with ‘epic’ vocals on ‘America’s Got Talent’: ‘You are so, so good’
This week, Wilson is competing in the semifinals of AGT, and viewer votes will determine if he stays or goes. The next cut on Season 19 is a deep one, trimming the list of hopefuls from 12 to six. Four more contestants have already advanced to the finals, after earning a “Live Golden Buzzer” from one of the judges: Howie Mandel, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara.
Wilson and 11 other acts will perform on Wednesday’s episode, which airs at 7 p.m. CT. After a round of voting, results will be announced on Thursday’s episode, also airing at 7 p.m. After that, the top 10 acts will compete in a two-part finale set to air on Sept. 17 and 24. The winner of Season 19 will receive a $1 million prize, an NBC press release says.
As you might expect, this is an exciting and busy time for Wilson, who has to balance daily school sessions with rehearsals for “America’s Got Talent.” The teen is no stranger to TV. however. He was in the spotlight in November on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” Wilson also comes from a talented family, as the younger brother of Ryley Tate Wilson, a semifinalist on “The Voice” in 2023.
Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that Wilson sounded calm and confident during a recent phone interview with AL.com, talking about his experiences on the show, his hopes for the future and more. Here’s what he said.
(The interview below has been edited for length and clarity.)
Why did you want to compete on “America’s Got Talent?”
Reid Wilson: It’s a very different show than what my brother did, “The Voice.” And I feel like we are compared so often that me doing a different show would be kind of a break from that. … This is a completely different show with all sorts of different talent. I guess I kind of did it so that way, we could be separated as different artists. I mean, we’re still family, of course.
What have you done to prepare for the show?
There’s a lot of preparation in what song you’re going to be singing, and I feel like, I don’t know about other acts, but I feel like that was the most intense thing for me, is finding what song I’m going to be singing and how I can make it my own. That’s basically what I’ve been doing to prepare for the show so far.
When you’re at home in Montgomery, do you sing at your church, Landmark Church of Christ?
Yes, I do. Our church has Wednesday night worship, and me and my brother will sing there.
Did that help to prepare you to perform in front of an audience?
I guess you could say so because it helps with stage performance, stage presence and putting emotion into a song. But worship music is very different than the music I like to sing. So it helps, in a sense, but not a tremendous amount.
Reid Wilson of Montgomery covered an Ariana Grande ballad in the quarterfinals of “America’s Got Talent.” He’s 15, the son of Kelley and Todd Wilson, and has four siblings.(Trae Patton/NBC)
You’re competing against magicians and dancers and comedians on “America’s Got Talent.” How does that make a difference for you as a contestant?
It definitely makes a big difference. If I was on “The Voice,” I would be competing with other people with a voice, and I’m competing against people like (dance troupe) Brent Street, with 30 people who can do these crazy flips and everything. My voice just has to be so amazing that it’s better than that, which is so hard. I have to sing perfect every single time in order to make it through to the next round.
Overall, what has the experience been like so far on “America’s got Talent”?
It has been really fun. All the crew members are so nice, and I’ve really enjoyed meeting all the other contestants. I feel like I get along with all of them so well, and they’re all so kind and nice. We don’t have any rude people or anything. It’s just been super fun, but it’s been also really sad as you get further in the show. You watch your friends go home, and that’s just been really hard for me.
Have you been working hard from episode to episode?
I’ve been working very hard with the music team and all sorts of people who help me with my performances. It’s definitely a lot of work.
What’s been the highlight for you so far on “America’s Got Talent”?
I really enjoy performing in front of the audience and the judges, and I love the feedback they’ve been giving me. Hopefully, they don’t give me any negative feedback in the next performances. But I really enjoy performing, and I really would love to do another song that people enjoy listening to.
How did you feel when Howie pushed the Golden Buzzer for you during the auditions? You got cheers, applause, a shower of confetti, and moved right to the live shows.
It was so much fun. I have dreamed about it, like, I’ve watched people get that, and I’ve pictured myself on that stage getting the Golden Buzzer. … I feel like I did that so many times that it almost felt like I had been there before when the Golden Buzzer confetti came down.
When you watch yourself on TV, what do you think?
I honestly am like, “Is that me?” Because I feel like I look so different on TV than how I look in real life. But my family was like, “Yeah, that’s how you are.” … I just say I don’t look like myself because I don’t really know. I’m not used to seeing myself with all that camera lighting and makeup and everything.
Sofia Vergara said you looked like David Bowie during your last performance. What did you think of that?
That’s a really great compliment.
What have your friends and family members been saying about your performances on the show?
I’m getting great feedback from my family, of course. All of my family’s like, “You can do it, Reid. You can win it.” And I really want to win so bad. I just want to make everybody proud. They’ve just loved watching me on the show, and some great opportunities have popped up since I’ve been on the show. It’s just been so much fun.
Are you getting texts from your grandmother and cousins and other relatives while you’re in Los Angeles?
I have some family members that love watching the show, and they can’t believe that I’m going to be on the show. I feel like it’s kind of what Ryley Tate went through when he was on “The Voice.” Like, “Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe you’re on ‘The Voice.’” I was one of those people, and now it’s all switched over to where I’m the center of attention. And it’s different, but I like it.
Has your brother given you any tips for competing on a reality show?
He knows what it’s like being on a TV show, so if I have any questions, of course he’s there. And singing tips, as far as that, he’s definitely giving me some help with that.
How have you been making choices for songs to sing on the show? Why did you pick “You Don’t Own Me” and “Almost Is Never Enough”?
Honestly, I love those songs a lot, and I feel like if I’m going to sing songs on the show, I might as well do songs that you love and songs that you can do very well, to get you through to the next round.
How do you see yourself as a singer?
I would like to think of myself as a very soulful singer. That’s what I go for when I sing.
In the semifinals, the list of acts will be trimmed in half, from 12 to six. What are your thoughts on the next cut?
To be honest, I’m not as confident as I probably should be. I would love to make it through, but, I mean, the competition is getting really fierce. There’s some people on the season that I’m definitely scared of. If it works out, it does, but if it doesn’t, this isn’t the end of my singing career.
What can we expect from your next performance?
You can expect something soulful, of course, and I’m never going to do a song like you’ve heard it before. I’m not going to sing it like it’s a karaoke version. I’m going to change it up a little.
Alabama singer covered “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore for his audition on Season 19 of “America’s Got Talent.”(Trae Patton/NBC)
Do you have a favorite judge on the show?
Howie gave me the Golden Buzzer. … if I had to go with favorite judge, I’d probably go with Howie.
After you covered Ariana Grande’s “Almost Is Never Enough,” did you get any reaction from her, maybe on social media?
Unfortunately not, no. But I should probably post something on Instagram, like, “Please, if you see this, please tell me you know I exist.”
What do you think about your chances for winning this season?
I’m confident, but I’m not overconfident. I would love and I want to win so bad. It could go either way, because it depends on what America likes. I feel like America loves these acrobatic dancing acts, but there are people who love singing and my soulful genre. So we’re just gonna have to see how it goes.
How would winning on the show change your life? What would it mean for you?
A million dollars is a ton of money, and it would set me up for things like college and to do things I’ve never been able to do before. Honestly, I feel like I wouldn’t even know what to do with a million dollars. Maybe I’d be able to do things for other people as well as myself.
You said on TV that if you win, your parents will let you get a dog. Do you have a specific dog in mind?
Well, the dog has to be hypoallergenic because my dad’s allergic to dogs. Also, the reason my mom and my dad won’t just, like, buy me a dog is because they want it to be this perfect little dog that goes to school and is very well trained. … I would love a big dog that I can play with.
Are you hoping for a career as a singer?
Yes, definitely. Whether it’s Broadway or on a TV show or a musical or anything where I can show my voice, I feel like that’s what I would love to do.
You’re planning to go to college, right? Where would you like to go to school?
I would love to go to Auburn University culinary school. I love baking and cooking, and I feel like that would be a great place to express that. … I love doing bake sales, and I love making cakes for people’s birthday parties. And maybe one day I’ll be able to take it to another level where I could have my own restaurant.
What do you like about baking? It’s very precise, right?
I’m a very big perfectionist, and if something isn’t perfect, I like to make it perfect. When you bake, if you follow the recipe perfectly, then it will turn out good. I mean, I’m not a professional or anything, and there’s always room for improvement. … But I can make a good cake that isn’t super fancy.
Alabama singer Reid Wilson covered Ariana Grande’s “Almost Is Never Enough” on “America’s Got Talent” and was voted into the semifinals.(Trae Patton/NBC)
What do you think about being in California?
It is so much fun, and I would love to stay forever.
Have you been getting recognized when you got out in public? Are people yelling your name and asking for selfies?
Yes. The other day I went and watched the show, and there was a line of people who wanted a picture, which is so different than what I’m used to. And there’s one girl who walks up and she’s like, “I came prepared,” and she brought a notepad and pen for me to sign it. I was like, oh, my gosh, I feel like I’m not even that famous or anything. I don’t know why people are wanting all this stuff, but it feels good. I would love to be a celebrity one day.
Are you starting to feel famous?
I feel like I’m on the show and I’m still there, so I’m doing good. But I’m not like, famous famous yet.
What would you like to say to folks in Alabama who’ll tuning in and maybe voting for you on the show?
It’s them who gets me through, and I’m just so thankful. And if they want me to win, please vote and tell your friends to vote. I would love to win so badly, so please vote for me.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I would love to say that I will be having a single coming out soon. Definitely tune in to find out. I can’t say when I’m going to be releasing it, but check in and wait for that. … It’s called “Sad About You.” It’s R&B and pop music.
If you watch: “America’s Got Talent” airs on NBC. Season 19 semifinals are set to air on Sept 11-12 at 7 p.m. CT. New episodes stream on Peacock the following day.
