America's Got Talent crowned magician Shin Lim its Season 13 champion over Zurcaroh, a large acrobatic group, during Wednesday night's live finale broadcast on NBC.
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As America's Got Talent's Season 13 winner, Shin Lim won the grand prize of $1 million as well as the chance to headline a stage show in Las Vegas.
"The first audition, I got reactions I never thought I would get. If you told me when I was 16 -- that awkward, shy, weird kid -- that he would one day be at the Dolby performing in the finale of America's Got Talent, I don't think he would have believed you," Shin Lim said in a video package that played before his victory was announced.
"All of America has watched me, and for them to appreciate what I do, it means the world to me."
America's Got Talent host Tyra Banks called the results "one of the closest votes AGT has ever had in a finale."
Peterson da Cruz Hora, the leader of the second-place act, said he put the group together in order to change people's lives.
"I want to give them opportunity. Zurcaroh is a family. When people watch our performance, they can feel we are connected with each other. I cannot express how proud I am to see them like this. But when you work hard and follow your heart, anything is really possible," Peterson said in a video clip.
Electric violinist Brian King Joseph finished the competition in third place.
"I feel like I've always been meant to play the violin. It's kind of like a best friend that's been there since I was four years old," Brian said.
"A few years ago, I learned I had a nerve disease called neuropathy. I can't feel the strings when I play. But I won't take 'no' for an answer to life. America's Got Talent has showed me believing in myself can get you somewhere, and it doesn't matter what's in front of me or trying to stop me -- I won't let it."
Comedian Samuel J. Comroe claimed fourth place.
"Samuel, I love you as a comic, I love you as a person, as a father and a son. You are great... And the fact you are a comedian and you got this far in the competition means so much to you and me and comedy. You are a winner," judge Howie Mandel told him.
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And in a bit of a shocking result, singer Michael Ketterer finished in fifth place. The audience yelled and booed loudly, and Tyra admitted she was "speechless."
"Michael, all I can tell you is, you know, a competition is a competition," judge Simon Cowell told the artist.
"You could not have done any more. After the performance you did tonight with the song that [Garth Brooks] wrote for you, I'm hoping and I believe it will change your life. You and I are going to continue this relationship; you've been an absolute star throughout. I'm so sorry you didn't make it."
Earlier in the finale broadcast, Tyra had revealed the five other Top 10 acts -- acrobatic couple Duo Transcend, singer Glennis Grace, opera singer Daniel Emmet, comedian Vicki Barbolak, and singer Courtney Hadwin -- had not finished among the Top 5 vote-getters.
During Tuesday night's performance show, Simon, Howie and their fellow judges, Heidi Klum and Melanie "Mel B" Brown, agreed Shin Lim could win the whole thing and he deserved the $1 million prize.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
