Twenty-year-old Alex Sampson made a nervous but charming entrance onto the America’s Got Talent (AGT) stage, a long way from his tiny hometown of Adakoken, Ontario, Canada, where the only public performance space he knew was a car wash with good acoustics. His nerves were palpable—he admitted to being afraid he’d forget how to sing—but his earnest and down-to-earth personality instantly won over the judges. He explained that there were likely more people in the AGT auditorium than in his entire town, underscoring the enormous leap he was taking to pursue his dream of becoming a singer-songwriter.
Alex performed an original song he wrote called “Pretty Baby,” and immediately transported the audience back several decades. His unique vocal style possessed a distinct, retro quality, drawing comparisons to lead singers from the 1950s and 60s. Despite his stated nervousness, his stage presence was confident, and the soulful, slightly vintage sound of his voice was delivered with a compelling emotional sincerity. The song itself, which included classic imagery like lipstick on a cheek and looking up at the stars, felt timeless, carefully constructed to fit the unique “old school” vibe he was cultivating.
The judges were particularly impressed by his intelligent approach to his music. Sofía Vergara praised his presence and thought it was a great audition, while Howie Mandel pointed out that his retro style was a smart move, as “nobody’s doing that now,” suggesting he was creating a unique niche for himself. Simon Cowell emphatically agreed, saying the song could have been in a Martin Scorsese movie and that his authenticity was “very different.” By separating himself from contemporary trends with a distinctive, well-written original song, Alex Sampson earned a unanimous four “yeses,” proving that even a small-town singer can create a huge, original sound.
