On the 12th season of America’s Got Talent in 2017, Johnny Manuel wowed the audience with an uplifting rendition of “I Have Nothing,” a timeless soul song by Whitney Houston.
The audience went wild with applause after Johnny’s mesmerizing performance, which was a combination of fire and delicacy.
Johnny Manuel has been on stage before, including at America’s Got Talent. A professional debut had been made by the singer, who was born in Michigan, 18 years prior. Johnny, an R&B performer who had a brief record deal with Warner Music Group when he was fourteen years old, opened for major acts like Jay-Z and Destiny’s Child, and went on tour with NSYNC. Deep within YouTube’s algorithm, his first track, “I Got You,” is still hiding.
Warner Music severed ties with rising singer Johnny Manuel after his debut album failed to meet expectations. The incident happened while Johnny was still a teenager, so he had to take a long break from his music career so he could get over it. But in 2017, at the age of 32, Johnny attempted to regain the limelight—a legendary act that had shocking repercussions.
The American Got Talent judges—Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B, and Howie Mandel—sent Johnny to the next round with four “Yes” votes in his audition. Just his audition has amassed 24 million views on YouTube, and R&B icon Seal gave him a Golden Buzzer for his performance on Judge Cuts. Johnny risked advancing to the semi-finals by singing an original song called “Blind Faith,” which fell short of showcasing his incredible singing abilities.
Johnny Manuel did not make it to the final, but he cemented his position as an exceptional performer and an inspiration to the Black LGBTQIA+ community. He went on to perform with the Bulgarian band EQUINOX at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest and finished in second place on Season 9 of The Voice Australia in 2020. Johnny Manuel, who released an extended play in 2022 and a full-length in 2023, gave Queerty an intimate interview in which he disclosed that he is a real person, someone who loves Diana Ross and wants queer Black empowerment. Johnny has been an enduring source of motivation for aspiring singers ever since his debut on America’s Got Talent.