When did Sofia Vergara join America’s Got Talent? Details explored

Sofia Vergara is a Colombian-American actress and TV personality. She is well-known for her role as Gloria Pritchett-Delgado in the ABC sitcom Modern Family and her titular role in the Netflix show Griselda.

Vergara joined America’s Got Talent in 2020 for its 15th season. The actress came in after completing her run on Modern Family. At the time, she was joined by Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel on the judging panel, and Terry Crews as the host of the show.

Heidi Klum was returning to the show after taking a break from America’s Got Talent season 14. Heidi and Vergara were brought in to replace Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough. According to TMZ, NBC was talking to celebrities to fill Union and Hough's vacant seats. Vergara was one of the celebrities and met with the network on December 18, 2019.

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Sofia Vergara on America’s Got Talent

Sofia Vergara has been a judge on America’s Got Talent for almost five years and has appeared on the show for seasons 15 to 19. During her five-year run, she has awarded over ten golden buzzers to the AGT contestants, sending them straight into the live shows and some to the finale. She has given the prestigious award to singers, dancers, illusionists, and recently to an acrobatics act.

Sofia Vergara first pressed the golden buzzer on her inaugural season 15, and it was to the 10-year-old Canadian singer Roberta Battaglia. Vergara was amazed by the singer's performance, who sang Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. She said what the Canadian singer did was impossible to do at the young age of ten. Her buzzer helped Roberta to the finals, where she came out in fourth place.

Vergara gave her second golden buzzer of the show, on season 16, to Portland singer Jimmie Herrod, who performed Tomorrow from the musical Annie. After the performance, Vergara said she "didn't like it that much, but she loved it." In the same season, she gave a group golden buzzer to child opera singer Victory Brinker.

In season 17, an all-female Lebanese dance group performed a belly dancing act which stunned Vergara. She awarded them the golden buzzer for the season, saying that there were no words to explain what the judges felt during their performance. She added that this was the most beautiful, creative dancing she had ever seen.

During the season, Vergara was also part of the group that awarded the golden buzzer to country singing trio Chapel Hart. In season 18, she awarded a solo golden buzzer to Brazilan singer Gabriel Henrique and a group golden buzzer to the dance troupe Chibi Unity.

As of now, Sofía Vergara has given out three golden buzzers in the latest America’s Got Talent season 19. She bestowed her first two golden buzzers on Legion (a dance crew) and Schumacher (an animal mask illusionist) and sent them to the live show. Later, in Quarterfinals 1, she handed the buzzer to Tanzanian acrobatic group Hakuna Matata, sending them directly to the finals.

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Sofia Vergara's Career outside America’s Got Talent

Sofia Vergara is a TV personality who has also made a name for herself in the movie world. Apart from her popular roles in shows like Modern Family, she has appeared in movies like New Year's Eve, Bottom of the 9th, Chef, Wild Card Four Brothers, and Big Trouble. She has also acted in movies she produced, such as Madea Goes to Jail, Meet the Browns and Hot Pursuit.

Sofia Vergara has established herself as a businesswoman and a successful entrepreneur. She has released products in the fragrance, haircare, and furniture markets. Vergara also owns a clothing line that has been a bestseller at different Walmarts.

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America’s Got Talent season 19 is currently airing on NBC.