‘You are the act’: Aussie pulls off incredible feat on America’s Got Talent

Queenslander Astrid Jorgensen has blown US audiences away by showcasing her Pub Choir juggernaut on America’s Got Talent. WATCH THE VIDEO

Queensland choir director Astrid Jorgensen impressed the crowd during the America's Got Talent 2025 auditions. Picture: YouTube/AGT

Queenslander Astrid Jorgensen, the creative force behind the cult singing experience Pub Choir, has won over the notoriously hard-to-please Simon Cowell after transforming the studio audience on America’s Got Talent (AGT) into a perfectly harmonised choir.

Jorgensen appeared on US TV screens last month during the 2025 AGT auditions, captivating the audience by leading them in an impromptu harmonic choral rendition of Toto’s “Africa”.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW

Modern Family alum and AGT judge Sofía Vergara, along with Cowell, Mel B, and Howie Mandel, were notably stunned by Jorgensen’s admission that she runs the “biggest choir in the world”.

“I’m really intrigued. I have no idea what’s going on here,” Cowell quipped.

As Jorgensen asked the audience to look at the screen above the stage, they cheered after realising what she had planned.

“How it’s going to work, high voices, you are going to sing blue,” she said.

“Voices in the middle you are going to sing green. Now low, you are going to sing red. Be brave, you are the act. You try.”

Queensland choir director Astrid Jorgensen encouraged the audience to sing alongside her during the America's Got Talent 2025 auditions. Picture: YouTube/AGT

Jorgensen sang alongside the audience to encourage participation, leaving many in disbelief at the vocal harmony they achieved in just seconds.

“Oh it’s Africa,” Cowell said with a grin, when he recognised the tune of the 1980s classic by Toto.

Jorgensen led the choir into the first verse as the camera operator panned across the audience.

Dashing across the stage, Jorgensen pointed at different parts of the screen to give them their cues.

“Standing up with the chorus, here we go,” Jorgensen shouted.

Host Terry Crews briefly appeared on the screen swaying to the music, while Cowell couldn’t stop smiling.

The judges were in disbelief after Astrid Jorgensen united the audience in a perfectly synchronised harmony. America's Got Talent 2025 auditions. Picture: YouTube/AGT

Responding to the cheering from the audience, Jorgensen yelled, “It was you.”

Mandel said he “loved it” and that “the world loves a singalong”.

Despite their love of the act, Vergara and Mel B weren’t in support of Jorgensen progressing through to the Live Shows.

“I enjoyed it, I felt they enjoyed it, it was like a really cute moment. I don’t see where it could get better if you pass now and I don’t think it’s for AGT,” Vergara said.

Cowell countered that what Jorgensen achieved during her audition was “really smart”.

“In about 20 seconds every single person in this audience was singing this song. To have the capacity to do that within seconds and actually allow the audience to win the show is brilliant,” he said.

“I’m going to kick this off as you can tell as I really loved this, yes.”

Mandel voted yes, while Mel B voted no, leaving Vergara as the tie-breaker, with Cowell begging her to vote yes and give Jorgensen a chance at advancing to the Live Shows.

“Think of the world singing along, this is big,” Cowell said.

Bowing to Cowell’s pressure, Vergara voted yes, prompting an audience member to yell, “Simon, you’re always right.”

Following the conclusion of the auditions later this month, the four judges will vote on which acts will progress through to the Live Shows.

Originally published as ‘You are the act’: Aussie pulls off incredible feat on America’s Got Talent