America’s Got Talent 2026 Quarterfinals 4: 3-Hour Live Recap
America’s Got Talent continued its live shows tonight (Sept. 8) with Quarterfinals 4 — a special three-hour Performance and Results episode that combined voting and eliminations in a single night.
Because an NFL game is scheduled for Wednesday (Sept. 9), this week’s AGT format required viewers to vote during the performance episode; there was no overnight voting. Voting closed at 10:05 PM ET. Three acts from this quarterfinal advanced to the semi-finals, while one act from each four-week round will automatically advance to the finale via the Golden Buzzer.
To vote: use the AGT phone app, visit NBC.com, or comment on the AGT official TikTok voting post.
Judges Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and Mel B returned for the 21st season, with Terry Crews hosting. Simon Cowell was absent tonight; former judge Heidi Klum sat in for him and joined the panel.
Heidi Klum to Sit in For Simon Cowell AGT Quarterfinals 4 3 Hour Episode
Heidi was enthusiastic about returning and sent a shout-out to Simon. Sofia announced she would award the final Golden Buzzer of this round.
Young & Strange – Magicians
Young & Strange, a veteran magic duo together for more than 15 years, opened with a Las Vegas–style illusion that blended comedy and showmanship. Their centerpiece involved a transparent box that briefly obscured one performer long enough for a surprising switch with a volunteer.
Heidi called the act very Vegas-ready. Mel B praised the magic; Howie said they deserved a buzzer for balancing humor and illusion. Sofia considered the Golden Buzzer but ultimately passed — still impressed by the performance.
Lara D – Singer
Lara D, the shy Australian singer who originally earned Sofia’s Golden Buzzer in auditions, returned with a soulful performance. She saved her biggest notes for the finale and showed growth despite ongoing stage fright.
Sofia praised Lara’s commanding presence but did not press her Golden Buzzer again. Mel B said Lara had stepped up and was finding her own lane, while Howie noted he didn’t sense nerves and urged America to vote. Heidi compared her delivery to Billie Eilish in tone and presence.
Ruben Roldan – Parkour
Ruben Roldan, a parkour performer from Spain who wears a prosthetic leg, showcased high-energy outdoor stunts. He previously impressed Simon Cowell during auditions and had one of Simon’s Golden Buzzers. Tonight he performed outside the Pasadena Civic Center, demonstrating athleticism and bravery.
Howie called the entrance the best in AGT history and praised Ruben’s strength. Sofia described him as inspirational, and Mel B admired how effortless he made difficult moves look.
Cameron Logsdon – Impressionist
Cameron Logsdon performed live impressions on audience suggestions, shifting quickly between characters. He shared personal background about fatherhood beginning at 16, which delayed his show-business ambitions. Highlights included De Niro, Ryan Reynolds, Adam Sandler, Jeff Goldblum and a Jim Carrey impression suggested via TikTok.
The judges offered mixed reviews: Mel B and Heidi wanted clearer comedic beats and bigger laughs, Sofia preferred his audition, and Howie said he needed stronger material this time.
Byrd & Byron – Pop Duo
Singer-songwriter duo Byrd & Byron returned with a soulful, road-tested performance featuring heartfelt vocals and skilled guitar accompaniment. Their chemistry and emotive delivery stood out, and they showcased original songwriting strength.
Howie stood to applaud, likening their chemistry to a fine wine. Heidi noted the magic between them, Sofia called the singer’s voice “sexy,” and Mel B appreciated the strong vocals while noting room to polish.
Tyrone & Margo – Danger Act
Married stunt duo Tyrone and Margo returned with an edge-of-your-seat routine involving bows, arrows and fire. Margo, who has limited vision in one eye due to a past injury, and Tyrone alternate roles as the target, adding both drama and trust to their act.
The judges were on their feet: Sofia called it one of the most dangerous acts on AGT, Mel B praised their precision, Howie called them unique, and Heidi described the routine as almost romantic despite the danger.
Cesar Dias – Comic Singer
Cesar Dias played the part of a supposedly serious singer while actually delivering physical comedy through song. His routine revisited familiar hijinks and even referenced Simon Cowell’s favorite “Unchained Melody,” though Simon was not present to react.
Howie called him lovable as a clown, Mel B wished for even more mishaps, Heidi appreciated his comedic timing, and Sofia said she enjoyed him even more than during auditions.
Unitree – Dances with Robots — Sofia Vergara’s Golden Buzzer
Unitree, a former engineer from China who combines technical skill with dance, expanded his routine by performing alongside robots and traditional Chinese dancers. The act was larger and more elaborate than his audition, with tight choreography and striking visuals.
Heidi was astonished, calling the future “a little scary.” Howie predicted the performance would go viral. Mel B admitted she had trouble identifying the robots but still found the act impressive. Sofia ultimately pressed the Golden Buzzer, sending Unitree straight to the finals and bypassing the semi-finals.
Travis Garland – Pop Singer
Travis Garland returned with a dramatic, Broadway-tinged pop performance. A former boy-band member who has also performed on television, Garland impressed the judges with vocal control and stage presence, even if some found his style overly theatrical for the format.
Mel B was blown away, Heidi loved his voice and presentation, Sofia called him one of the best singers in the competition, and Howie named him the best solo singer of the season so far.
Akira – Comedy Stunt
Akira, whose act mixes visual gags and risqué comedic stunts, performed a routine that relied on classic physical humor. Mel B pressed her buzzer during the performance, while Heidi and Sofia found it entertaining despite differing reactions from the panel.
Jesse Joe – Country Singer
Jesse Joe, a singer from a small Texas oil town who left a blue-collar life to pursue music, closed the night with an original song. Judges noted pitch issues at times but praised his authenticity and improvement since auditions.
Mel B acknowledged tuning problems but credited his growth; Heidi called the song a potential hit; Sofia praised its authenticity; and Howie noted improvement overall.
Voting closed at 10:05 PM ET. Results followed in the same episode.
America’s Got Talent 2026 Quarterfinal 4 Results Show
With voting compressed into the live broadcast and Sofia’s Golden Buzzer sending Unitree straight to the finals, tonight’s results reflected the real-time nature of viewer votes. Terry Crews hosted the results, and the show included performances and a recap montage while votes were tallied.
Warren Zeiders Performs
Country-pop artist Warren Zeiders performed his single “Overrated” during the results segment, delivering a radio-friendly crossover sound that blends country themes with pop production.
Former AGT Contestant Mentalist Oz Pearlman Performs
Mentalist Oz Pearlman returned to perform a mind-reading routine. He first appeared on AGT in 2015 and remains one of the show’s memorable alumni.
Golden Buzzers Advancing to the Finals
Terry reviewed the four Golden Buzzer acts already secured for the finals, including tonight’s recipient, Unitree.
Results
Young & Strange and Cameron Logsdon joined Terry on stage; the first act announced as safe and in the Top 5 was Young & Strange, and Cameron Logsdon was eliminated.
Cesar Dias and Tyrone & Margo were next; Cesar Dias earned a spot in the Top 5.
Byrd & Byron and Akira were announced next; Byrd & Byron earned a Top 5 spot.
Jesse Joe and Lara D followed; Lara D took a Top 5 position and Jesse Joe was eliminated.
The final pairing was Ruben Roldan and Travis Garland. The last Top 5 spot went to Travis Garland, and Ruben Roldan was eliminated.
Terry Announces 3 Acts Advancing to the Semi-Finals
From the Top 5, the three acts advancing to the semi-finals were announced: Cesar Dias, Young & Strange, and Travis Garland.
AGT Quarter-Final 4 Top 3 Heading to the Semi-Finals
Cesar Dias
Young & Strange
Travis Garland
Eliminated
Cameron Logsdon
Tyrone & Margo
Akira
Jesse Joe
Ruben Roldan
Byrd & Byron – Top 5
Lara D – Top 5
Twelve acts advance to next week’s semi-finals. Six will move on to the finals, joining the four Golden Buzzer acts for a ten-act finale. America’s Got Talent will resume its Tuesday–Wednesday schedule for the final two weeks of the competition.