Simon Cowell has been on the America’s Got Talent judging panel since 2016, first appearing on season 11. Throughout his nine-year tenure, he has offered a lot of golden buzzers.
There has been a trend though with Cowell's golden buzzer. The contestants Cowell pressed the buzzer for over his AGT stint have not (yet) gone on to win the show.
Golden Buzzer was first introduced on America's Got Talent season 10 in 2015. The concept allowed the judges and host to send the contestants directly to the live shows and have them skip the rounds in between.
Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzers on America’s Got Talent
Calysta Bevier - Season 11
Simon Cowell awarded his first Golden Buzzer to 16-year-old ovarian cancer survivor Calysta Bevier, who performed Rachel Platten’s Fight Song in her AGT auditions. The 16-year-old made it to the semi-finals of her season. She continued her music and songwriter career after the show and released ten singles.
Mandy Harvey - Season 12
On the next season, Cowell handed his second America’s Got Talent golden buzzer to another singer who amazed him with her act. Deaf singer Mandy Harvey performed an original song called Try, and Cowell called it "one of the most amazing things he has ever seen and heard." Harvey made it to the final but came out fourth.
Michael Ketterer - Season 13
Michael Ketterer, a pediatric mental health nurse and a father of six, made Cowell emotional with his performance of James Bay’s Us. Ketterer received Simon Cowell's America’s Got Talent season 13 buzzer before the judge told him that he was a special guy for being on the show as a dad. Ketterer got the fifth place in his season.
Tyler Butler-Figueroa - Season 14
America’s Got Talent season 14 saw Cowell award his buzzer to 11-year-old violinist Tyler Butler-Figueroa. He played a rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger. On the show, Tyler shared that he was diagnosed with leukemia at age four and performed Ariana Grande’s Break Free at the semi-finals with his fellow cancer survivors. Eventually, he made it to the finals but came out short.
WAFFLE Dance Crew - Season 15
Simon Cowell was impressed with the street dance troupe Waffle Dance Crew's performance in America’s Got Talent season 15 and had to press the golden buzzer and unleash the golden confetti.
After their performance, he told the dance group that it was his favorite audition so far, and he admired the "energy from the second you came on." The group made it to the semi-final, however, got eliminated by the end of the round.
Jane "Nightbirde" Marczewski - Season 16
Cowell bestowed his season 16 golden buzzer to singer Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski. She sang her original song, It’s OK, and it brought Cowell to tears.
Jane was battling cancer during her America's Got Talent audition with a two percent chance of survival. She said that it was important that everyone knows she is more than the bad things that happened to her. She made it to the finals but was unable to perform and sadly passed away on February 19, 2022.
Sara James - Season 17
On season 17, Cowell handed his buzzer to 13-year-old Sara James, who performed Lovely by Billie Eilish. She traveled from Poland to perform at the America's Got Talent Season 17 stage. She reached the finals and came out sixth on her season. According to NBC, she went on to sing as Ariel in The Little Mermaid's Polish dub.
Putri Ariani - Season 18
17-year-old Putri Ariani received Cowell's America’s Got Talent season 18 golden buzzer after she stunned the judge by performing her original song. Before starting her performance, she said:
“My biggest challenge is people look at me just as a blind person, not that I’m a musician, but when I’m singing, I feel like a silver star.”
Simon was deeply affected by her singing and requested the 17-year-old for another song. She performed Elton John’s Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, and Cowell said that he thinks she was one of the best singers they have ever had on the show.
Liv Warfield and Sky Elements - Season 19
In America’s Got Talent season 19, Cowell awarded the Golden Buzzer to singer Liv Warfield and drone group Sky Elements, which took them to the quarterfinals. While Warfield got eliminated in the quarterfinals, Sky Elements is still in the competition.
America’s Got Talent season 19 is currently airing on NBC.