America’s Got Talent contestant Roland Abante wasn’t afraid to get the crowd emotional with his moving cover of the Dolly Parton classic “I Will Always Love You” on the show this week.
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On the September 13 episode, Abante, a fisherman from the Philippines, took the chance to perform the iconic song backed by guitar and hit every note with perfect control. It concluded with the audience giving a rousing round of applause.
[RELATED: Roland Abante Transcends With Soulful Audition on ‘America’s Got Talent’]
Judge Sofia Vergara excitingly remarked that everyone was going absolutely insane for Abante: “People love you.”
Simon Cowell followed up Vergara’s comment by saying, “Somehow, I loved it. Singing your life out onstage there. That’s what makes this competition exciting. People who come from all over the world to fulfill their dreams.”
Judges Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum both commented how much they loved the performances, too. Klum further stated if she had access to the golden buzzer to push Abante all the way through to the finals, she would.
Following the comments from the judges, the budding performer was overwhelmed with emotion. Moving forward, only two performers from this round will make it through to the next, so it’s up to America to decide the futures of these talented artists.
In the audition round earlier this season, Abante spoke through an interpreter by saying he captured fish in the morning and was a ride-share driver through the rest of the day. A favorite activity of his was singing karaoke, and judging by his performance, his life might just change thanks to AGT.
Following the audition, Vergara commented: “I have a feeling you’re going to have to stop fishing, because this is where you needed to be.”
America’s Got Talent airs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC and streams on Peacock.
Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
