In a performance that will undoubtedly go down in reality TV history, Avalon Penrose’s ‘AGT’ Audition Takes a Turbulent Turn Mid-Opera, leaving both judges and viewers stunned.
Appearing on the Tuesday (Aug. 5) episode of America’s Got Talent, Penrose presented herself as a soft-spoken, perhaps even shy contestant. She shared that her musical journey began in childhood as an opera singer but came to a halt at 14 due to debilitating panic attacks.
“Now, after 14 years, I’ve kind of decided I want to try and find my voice again,” she told the judges. “Maybe I can be an inspiration to other kids who suffered through stage fright, who think they can’t do it. I want you to know that you can.”
With that emotional introduction, Penrose launched into a rendition of Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman’s “Time to Say Goodbye.” Initially poised and powerful, the performance quickly took a surreal turn. As she reached the chorus, unexpected chaos unfolded: crew members entered the stage armed with paint, confetti, and a pie—all of which made their way onto Penrose mid-song. Despite the mayhem, she continued singing unfazed.
The performance ended with a pie to her face and a confetti explosion, turning the operatic act into a full-blown theatrical spectacle.
The judges’ reactions were a mix of amazement and bewilderment. Simon Cowell rose to his feet in a standing ovation. Sofia Vergara, however, remarked, “You ruined something beautiful.” Mel B appeared unsure, questioning whether Penrose was genuinely an opera singer. Penrose responded that the over-the-top presentation was her way of managing performance anxiety while embracing her art.
“You don’t need all this with that voice,” Vergara advised. But Howie Mandel disagreed, saying, “This is what makes it special. This is why you’ll remember her.”
Simon Cowell, still intrigued, asked for another song. Penrose obliged with a rendition of Georges Bizet’s “Habanera,” but this time she invited Cowell and Mandel to join in the theatrics.
What followed was pure America’s Got Talent chaos. Cowell and Mandel fully embraced the silliness, and the performance quickly devolved into a slapstick comedy scene. Water balloons flew from host Terry Crews, Mel B armed herself with a paint-filled water gun, and pies landed on unsuspecting faces.
Eventually, the judges managed to return to their seats and, amid laughter, gave Penrose four yeses, sending her through to the next round.
“Well, we have to say goodnight, believe it or not,” Cowell joked to the dazed audience. “That’s kind of a strange way to end, isn’t it?”
Avalon Penrose’s ‘AGT’ Audition Takes a Turbulent Turn Mid-Opera, but it also cemented her as one of the most unforgettable contestants in America’s Got Talent history.
View Avalon Penrose’s chaotic performance of “Time to Say Goodbye” below.
