Audience Laughs At Farmer On Stage, Is Amazed Shortly Thereafter

Nov 30, 2021 by apost team

Music is so powerful that it can bring people from a whole variety of backgrounds together. It's also a way that people can express themselves even when they can't do so in other ways.

One incredible performance from a 2009 episode of "America's Got Talent" proved just how powerful music can be. Kevin Skinner arrived on the set that day to do a live audition for the show. When he walked out on the stage, the three judges, Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff, didn't give away how they felt. 

But as Skinner started talking, Osbourne let out a giggle and said it was because of his accent. From the moment he opened his mouth, it was clear that Skinner was from the country — Kentucky, to be specific. He was also dressed very casually, with his hat on backward as Morgan pointed out later. 

In fact, after he was asked what he did for a living, Skinner revealed he used to work as a chicken catcher. That's when the audience erupted in laughter. When Hasselhof asked him how many chickens he had caught in one day, Skinner replied earnestly:

"I'm not real good at math (but) we caught about 60,000 in one night (with) six guys."

That's when he got a laugh from the judges too. Soon enough, he began his performance of Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes." Not only did he sing, but Skinner also played the guitar himself. From the second he began singing, it became clear that this was no ordinary performance.  

Despite not looking the part of a professional musician, Skinner proved that he had the talent and soul to mesmerize the audience with his performance. His vocals were clear and emotional and told a gripping story, while his guitar playing was fluid and second nature.

When he finished, the audience and Hasselhoff gave Skinner a standing ovation. Then the judges gave their opinions. Morgan, who had perhaps been the most critical of the judges, gave Skinner the ultimate compliment. He said:

"There's a moment in every season, I could remember them all. When somebody comes onstage, dressed like you are, your cap's on the wrong way around and you know, we're all like, 'This is going to be a total car crash.'"

But then he changed course and said Skinner had gripped him within 20 seconds. Morgan called it "one of the most emotional, powerful performances (he'd) seen in a long time." He went so far as to say that he thought Skinner could win the competition. 

Osbourne was just as taken aback by Skinner's performance. She initially thought he was going to be "hokey and silly," but he wasn't. She added that she could tell he was a "lovely person ... a very genuine man." Meanwhile, Hasselhoff told Skinner he "moved" them all. All three judges voted for Skinner to progress through to the next round of the competition. Once he got offstage, he shed a tear and revealed that he was "feeling a lot of emotions."

In the end, Morgan wasn't wrong about his prediction — Skinner ended up winning that season of "America's Got Talent." 

apost.com

During his incredible run on the show, Skinner gave many other soulful performances just like he did that day on his first audition. In fact, his performance of Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes" was strong enough that the judges sent him straight to the quarter-finals. There he performed Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love," where once again he sang and played his guitar. Fans voted him through to the semi-finals, where he sang Brenda Lee's "Always on My Mind." The performance moved Morgan so much that he gave Skinner a standing ovation. 

In the finals, Skinner performed Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and received standing ovations from all three judges. Although they said his voice wasn't the best in the competition, the amount of emotion he was able to convey during his performances was exceptional. Osbourne likened Skinner's unique talent to other distinctive stars such as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger — all of whom didn't have perfect voices but made a major impact during their careers.

Following his win on "AGT," Skinner performed on various talk shows including "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Live with Kelly and Ryan." He also released his debut album "Long Ride" in 2010. The following year he released a live album but unfortunately since then, he hasn't released new music.

Although he didn't continue to remain in the spotlight, Skinner's performances touched many people's lives. In fact, in 2015 during an "AGT" anniversary special, Morgan revealed that Skinner was his favorite act. 

What an incredibly moving performance. What did you think of Skinner's rendition of Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes"? Let us know, then pass this on so others can appreciate it too.