KIRO NEWSRADIO

14 year-old Maple Valley teen competing on America’s Got Talent

Jul 12, 2019, 2:29 PM | Updated: Oct 1, 2024, 11:47 am

America’s Got Talent has tapped some local talent for the season airing right now, and it gave viewers a chance to see 14 year-old Benicio Bryant from Maple Valley stun the judges with his audition.

“I’ve been watching the show for so long, and the fact you know that I’m even just standing on the stage is just amazing. So I was super nervous and really excited,” he told the Candy, Mike and Todd Show. “All I was worried about was ‘Just don’t forget the words.'”

It’s been a whirlwind past few years for the young singer. After placing second in Germany’s The Voice Kids last year, he also got the chance to perform alongside Brandi Carlile at Tahoma High School. Bryant has been singing since he was 2 years old.

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For his audition, Bryant covered Brandi Carlile’s “The Joke,” and the judges responded by standing up and applauding. Later he even a call from Brandi Carlile congratulating him.

“She’s just been such a great inspiration and friend to me, and so right after that she was kind of like, ‘You know, I’m super proud of you.'”

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Now he’s busy preparing for the next round and getting used to his newfound celebrity.

“It’s funny because sometimes I’ll just be like walking in the store and people go, ‘Hey you’re going to hear from agents,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah.’ And then more and more people start and it just kind of gets like, ‘Yeah, I just want to get a candy bar.'”

Listen to The Candy, Mike, and Todd Show weekdays from 3-7 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

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14 year-old Maple Valley teen competing on America’s Got Talent