When Mackenzie Sol was just four years old, he auditioned for Simon Cowell for the British version of The X-Factor. It was a fun audition, but it couldn’t go anywhere because in reality, artists needed to be 16 years old to compete on the TV show.
But it’s a day that Mackenzie never forgot because it was the day that he decided he was destined to be singer.
“I know I was four years old, but it’s a feeling I had that I still have to this day when it comes to music,” the 25-year-old from Northern England told Parade in this exclusive interview. “It’s the feeling that I got that day when I walked into the room when I was four years old. That feeling just doesn’t go away. The love for music is the drive, the passion. I think that moment on The X Factor was just the start of it all.”
So, when Mackenzie auditioned for America’s Got Talent this year, he was hoping that not only would Simon recognize him, but that he would award him a Golden Buzzer. Sadly, just before Mackenzie was set to perform, Simon gave his second and final Golden Buzzer for the season to another artist.
? SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox?
“When I found out Simon Cowell didn’t have any Golden Buzzers left to give, at that point I was like, ‘OK. Let’s just get four yeses to make it the next round.’ Mackenzie recalls. “And then Mel B says [‘I think you are absolutely, extraordinarily fabulous’] and presses the Golden Buzzer, it was so unexpected. It was such an incredible feeling; it was such an incredible moment for me.”
For tonight’s Live Show performance, Mackenzie has decided to win over the audience by performing a pop song to which he will add Soul and Motown influences, because those are his favorite types of music. He is hoping that that will be enough to make him one of the four out of 11 acts that get voted into the semifinals, but he is concerned about one thing: Nerves.
“I just need to compose myself before I go on because I’ve been down this road before and nerves get to me and it’s ruined things for me, so I really need to keep my composure and just do what I’m meant to do,” he says.
Following is more of our chat with Makenzie about what he’s doing to calm his nerves, why his enormous social media following might not be enough to get him voted through to the semifinals, what American Idol taught him, and more.
Related: Who Went Home on America’s Got Talent 2026 Tonight? Week 1 Live Show Results (Spoilers)
In the Live Shows, you are concerned about your nerves. What are you planning to do to make sure that they don’t get the best of you?So, in rehearsals yesterday — and I’ve actually never done this before — I walked around the whole theater. I just stood in every different part of the theater just to get used to it because I’m like, ‘OK, let’s make this place feel like home. This is what I need to do. I just need to make this place feel like home.’ I’ve been here before. I’ve been hanging out, and I just walked around the whole theater, standing there for a few seconds, getting to know each part of that theater. It might be kind of weird, but it’s been helping me so far.
In the past you’ve talked about your influences being Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, James Brown, and Sam Cooke, but you auditioned with a Sombr song — “back to friends” — which is more indie pop. What direction are you going?I know people love all this new pop music and all the songs that are going, so for the next round, I’m actually doing another pop song. I don’t want to say what it is here, but I am doing another pop song. I’m taking these songs, and I want to flip them and give them a soulful me rendition. “back to friends,” how I sang it, it was completely different than how the actual track came out. I slowed it down, I did some different riffs and runs, I changed it up to be me, and that’s what I’m going to try, but 10 times more with this next song.
I think by the end of AGT, when I go into the studio and start sitting down and writing stuff, I really want to push towards that soul and Motown meets pop mix kind of thing, keeping those live guitars, keeping that soulful feel. I want to just make sure I keep that soul and Motown feel [in] whatever I do, whether it’s a cover or whether it’s an original, just put that in whatever I’m doing.
Related: Who Magically Won Howie Mandel’s America’s Got Talent 2026 Live Golden Buzzer Last Night?
Do you have any thoughts about doing an original? People tend to like cover songs because they’re familiar with them, but some people have done well with originals.I think if I get through this next round, there might be an original. It’s been on my mind.
I saw you on American Idol, and you’ve done a lot of other professional gigs as well. What are you hoping will happen with AGT, whether you win or not?Other things I’ve done in the past, I’ve kind of just done it and gone back to creating these silly viral videos, because it was my income. The reason I blew up and got a big social media following was because of these comedy videos, but it’s not who I am. It pays the bills. It’s expensive to live in L.A., and I had to find something that kept me out here. And these viral videos got me branding deals and all that stuff and it’s what I needed to survive. So, hopefully wherever I finish, I’m going to stick to music. I’m going to really push the music no matter what and I think that’s something different that I haven’t done before.
You have 12 million followers on TikTok and 2 million on Instagram!It’s just completely different. Kids go on [and watch] and in every scene, kids want to see me bang my head off a cabinet door. It’s hard to take that and say, “We’re going into this now.” It’s going to be a slow burn changing it up.
Do you think your followers will vote for you on America’s Got Talent? With that kind of social media following, it would seem you would have a lot of voters.I’m hoping so. I’m really hoping so. I’m going to do what I can do. Push the way I can push and just hope, but again you never know what’s going to happen because it’s all kids that follow me, so you don’t know if you can get them. I’m just going to do my best. I’m going to push for my votes.
I think also being a Golden Buzzer helps.I definitely think it adds pressure, too; that can go both ways. Because everyone’s expecting something insane. So, that’s already some pressure on top of people who just went through. So, obviously it’s incredible I got the Golden Buzzer, but people are expecting something great, so it’s also more pressure. I need to really bring it. Step it up.
I was watching back your audition. Who was that in the audience crying?That’s my grandpa. He’s never been out doing anything like this, so it’s big for him. That was probably one of the highlights of his life. He’s never seen his grandson doing anything like that. He knows I’ve pushed for this my whole life, but he’s never witnessed something as incredible as that.
You were on American Idol and made it to the Top 20. How did that experience help you? Did you learn anything that’s helping you with AGT?I think as a performer going into other shows, I had not had a lot of experience. I’ve done a few karaoke things and stuff like that. After that, I started to book a few more gigs and started singing a lot more, so I think I’m going into this with more experience as far as singing live. Hopefully that’s going to benefit me in the best way.
America’s Got Talent performances take place Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Results are revealed on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Both stream the following day on Peacock.
Next, How to Vote on America’s Got Talent: Everything to Know About the Brand-New Voting Rule for Season 21
Hence then, the article about america s got talent golden buzzer winner fears 14 million followers won t be enough for live shows exclusive was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘America’s Got Talent’ Golden Buzzer Winner Fears 14 Million Followers Won’t Be Enough for Live Shows (Exclusive) )
Also on site :