'America's Got Talent' judges clash over country singer's bold original performance

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Howie Mandel explained how auditioning at his upcoming 'America's Got Talent' Comedy Showcase at Hollywood's Laugh Factory can boost comedians' chances of making it on the show. A hopeful country singer sparked an unusually divided reaction from the "America's Got Talent" judges after performing an original song during Tuesday night's auditions. Elsie, a 32-year-old singer-songwriter and mother from Mississippi, took the stage with a self-written country anthem, hoping to launch the music career she said she had long put on hold while supporting her family. While all four judges praised her vocal ability and star potential, they disagreed over whether her original song was the right choice. COUNTRY STAR GABBY BARRETT SAYS SHE 'SLEPT IN THE CAR' BEFORE 'AMERICAN IDOL' CHANGED HER LIFE "America's Got Talent" judges were at odds over a contestant's song