“America's Got Talent” was filled with unique and certainly never before seen talents in Week 6 of the Season 12 auditions on July 11, yet none was more memorable than the last performer of the night, Brandon Rogers. It is the “America's Got Talent” tradition to save the most moving moments from the competition for the very end, but there has never been an ending segment quite so wrenching as that of Brandon Rogers. A message on a black screen read “At the request of his family, we would like to honor his memory by sharing his audition with you.” A prior statement explained his June 11 passing from a car accident.
His moments onstage were magical, better than any Hollywood movie storyline. Beyond his soaring voice, the impact and meaning of this young physician’s life will endure forever.
Healing hero
Brandon Rogers audition was like no other in recent “America's Got Talent” memory, for many reasons. His moments onstage would not be fully appreciated until the evening's end, as the last of thrilling voices that filled Radio City Music Hall.
The night had already been top-heavy with performers who tugged at the heart and proved their talents. 13-year-old Angelina Green took Heidi Klum's turn for the golden buzzer. Her story and her pure, unaffected vocal pipes moved the entire panel and the crowd, with her journey of inspiring herself and her mother through dark days after her father left them with nothing.
The daughter recalled eviction notices and the fear of being on the streets. The golden buzzer wiped away all those memories in a moment of sweet elation. Another artist with a stirring story was Mike Yun, who made his living for the last 37 years singing in the subway station. Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum all agreed that they wanted to see how far he could go with his audition chance after hearing his “Unchained Melody.”
Brandon Rogers saw so much of life in his 29 years.
When he was six, he came home to a sight that no child should ever see-- his mother in a pool of blood. After being rushed to the hospital, she was saved by the prompt and proper care of doctors. Feeling that inspiration from every hug from his mom moved Brandon to become a doctor. It was his way of “paying it forward,” because the example of those doctors made him “want to be the doctor I am today.”
There is a great shortage of family practice physicians across the US today.
Many graduating medical students choose to go the path of more lucrative practice in specialization. Brandon told the panel that he did sometimes sing to his patients. Brandon chose to be where he was most needed.
A dream realized, a life gone too soon
Brandon could not have chosen a more perfect song for his vibrato than Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky.” In his profile, photos were shared with the young doctor with his family at his white coat ceremony, which he deemed as “proudest day of my life” on his social media pages. He described that music was his way of coping with the stress of “tough days.”
Brandon Rogers dreamed of a life combining music and medicine. His talent was appreciated, and Boyz II Men took notice.
His patients had to be cheering from Fort Smith, VA to see him center stage on “America's Got Talent,” taking hold of that dream. The anthem of love becoming the fulfillment over every sorrow seemed destined, ending in roars of ovation. Simon Cowell gave one of those ovations, and the panel fully approved. Howie Mandel was certain that, “you can be a star” as he told Brandon, joking that all the study of medical school had been a mistake. The talented doctor contested, “No, no” from the stage. That promise the stardom on earth never got to be fulfilled, but the divine voice of Brandon Rogers fills heavenly realms now.
