When Lee Collinson walked onto the Americaâs Got Talent stage in 2022, almost everything about the experience was new.
The 21-year-old singer had travelled from England.
It was his first time in America.
And back home, his regular job had very little to do with music.
Lee worked putting up fences for homes and gardens.
His real dream was much simpler:
He wanted to make music for a living.
He Wanted to Leave the Day Job Behind
When the judges asked Lee what he hoped to achieve, he didnât talk about fame.
He said he wanted to be able to make music â whether that meant recording, touring or simply singing â and eventually leave his fencing job behind.
Then Simon asked about his song choice.
Lee had chosen âBetter Daysâ by Dermot Kennedy.
It wasnât a random song.
Lee explained that recent years had been difficult for many people and that he had personally lost a friend during lockdown.
For him, the song carried a message about moving forward after difficult times.
Then the music began.
The Nerves Started to Disappear
Lee looked nervous before the first note.
But once he started singing, the performance settled quickly.
His voice had a clean, emotional quality that suited the song.
There was no huge production around him.
He simply stood at the microphone and let the song build.
As the performance continued, the audience became more involved.
By the end, Lee received a standing ovation.
Simon Saw More Than Just a Good Voice
The judges responded positively to Leeâs singing, but Simon also seemed drawn to his personality.
He described Lee as humble and likable and suggested that Lee probably did not fully realize how good he was.
Then the audition took an unexpected turn.
Instead of simply giving Lee the result, Simon asked whether they could call his mother.
Lee pulled out his phone and FaceTimed her back in England.
His Mom Got the News With Him
Leeâs mother answered from the U.K., where the time difference meant it was early in the morning.
The judges spoke to her while Lee stood beside them.
Then she got to hear the result directly:
Four yes votes.
Lee was moving forward.
What began as a singing audition had suddenly turned into a family moment shared across two countries.
His AGT Journey Continued
Lee was later selected for the live shows.
In the Semifinals, he returned with âFlowersâ by Lauren Spencer-Smith.
The reaction this time was more mixed.
Simon felt the song choice did not show Leeâs voice as effectively as his audition had, while the other judges also had reservations about the arrangement.
Lee did not receive enough public votes to advance to the Final, ending his AGT journey in the Semifinals.
One Audition Changed His Audience
Lee arrived in America as a 21-year-old who spent his working days putting up fences.
He had never visited the country before.
Then he stood on the AGT stage, sang a song that meant something personal to him and received four yes votes.
But perhaps the most memorable part happened after the music stopped.
Simon didnât simply tell Lee he had done well.
He wanted Leeâs mother to hear it too.
For a young singer hoping to turn music into a full-time life, it was a pretty unforgettable first trip to America.
