WATCH: Soulful Country Singer Dani Kerr Overcomes Nerves To Win Over ‘America’s Got Talent’ Judges
The AGT judges compared Kerr’s vocals to those of Dolly Parton and Stevie Nicks.
Dani Kerr; Photo Courtesy of America’s Got Talent/NBC
Dani Kerr, a 23-year-old country singer from Statesville, North Carolina, chased her country music dreams straight to the stage of America’s Got Talent when she auditioned during Tuesday night’s episode (June 20).
Kerr, who has been a music lover her entire life, finally got the courage to pursue it just six years ago.
After she introduced herself, judge Simon Cowell questioned, “I’m curious actually, what do you think about the music business right now for people like yourself?”
Without hesitation, she replied, “I feel like a lot of people have gotten away from being real humans in music and I’m just here to do that. And let people know we’re still human, we’re still us, plus it’s not all robots doing it.”
The singer/songwriter appeared to be nervous and admitted, “When I was a little kid, I never thought that I would even have the courage to sing in front of one person and it’s just, it’s so crazy to be here. It’s a dream come true.”
When it was time to perform, Kerr closed her eyes, took a deep breath and began strumming her guitar. Her distinctive vocals immediately caught the attention of the judges, but her nerves seemed to be getting in her way.
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Cowell noticed and stopped Kerr in the middle of her performance. As the live audience began to boo loudly, Cowell said, “Look, I think you were really nervous and I could tell how important this is to you. Let’s try that again. Did you bring another song with you?”
Lucky for Dani Kerr, she had another song ready to go: an original called “November.”
During her second performance, the audience cheered loudly, encouraging her to continue. When she finished, the crowd collectively jumped out of their seats and roared with applause.
Kerr was overcome with emotions at the sight of the supportive audience.
Comparisons To Dolly Parton and Stevie Nicks
“Thank you,” she said as she wiped tears away from her face.
“You’re amazing,” Howie Mandel gushed. “You remind me of, like, a Stevie Nicks.”
“I hear a little Dolly (Parton), a little Miley (Cyrus),” Heidi Klum added.
“Thank you so much for being here. You’re wonderful,” Mandel continued.
Kerr ultimately won Simon Cowell over.
“I love your songs,” Cowell complimented. “I think you’re a great writer. Authentic and importantly your voice is so distinctive. Not only distinctive but you have a beautiful voice. You have one of my favorite voices this year. I really like you.”
Kerr’s audition earned two standing ovations and a “yes” from the entire judges’ panel.
When Kerr was 16 years old, she overcame her debilitating stage fright while working at her aunt’s restaurant, where she built up the courage to step onto a stage for the first time. Since stepping onto the stage, Dani Kerr has continued to play shows around the Carolinas for the past few years.
“Being up there and having people clapping afterwards, that’s when I knew I wanted to do it, all the time,” Kerr admitted. (per her official website) ”My whole life I’ve kind of been the underdog. I knew I had to put in the work, I had to prove myself.”
Her unique vocal tone is what sets her apart.
“My voice is not technically perfect, nothing like that,” Kerr shared via her official website. “But I feel like it’s soulful, I can do soft or I can do rock, it’s just very diverse in that way. I’ve been overwhelmed by how people respond.”
Dani Kerr hopes to soulful southern rock sound alive.
“My motto is, I’m gonna bring soulful rock back into play, try to keep that flame alive, keep it lit, keep it going forever.”
Season 18 of the popular reality competition show, which finds contestants vying for a chance to win a $1 million prize, launched on May 30.
America’s Got Talent will return on Tuesday, June 27 at 8/7c on NBC.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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