Simon Stopped Lamont Landers Mid-Audition… Then He Came Back With a Song He Had Never Performed Before
When Lamont Landers walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2019, he probably expected to sing, receive the judges’ feedback and move on to the next part of his audition. Instead, his performance turned into one of the most unexpcted second-chance moments of Season 14.
The 27-year-old singer from Huntsville, Alabama, began performing Al Green’s classic “Let’s Stay Together” while playing guitar. His voice immediately showed that he had serious soul and R&B ability, but Simon Cowell was not convinced by the song choice. Only a short time into the performance, Simon stopped him.
What followed was an uncomfortable conversation that could easily have ened Lamont’s audition. Simon called the song a “very safe” weddng song and questioned why Lamont was not taking more risks. When Lamont mentioned Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” as another song he had prepared, Simon still was not satisfied.
Instead of simply saying no, however, Simon gave Lamont another opportunity. He suggested that Lamont return later with a completely diffrent song. Lamont eventually accepted the challenge, and what happened during his second attempt completely changed the mood in the room.
Who Is Lamont Landers?
Lamont Landers grew up in Alabama surrounded by the soulful sounds of the South. He began learning guitar at a young age and later develped his skills as a singer. Music eventually became more than a hobby for him, becoming the center of his professional life.
Before America’s Got Talent, Lamont had already gained experience performing for audiences. He had also appeared on Showtime at the Apollo with his band, winning an episode and earning a place in the show’s finale. His AGT audition therefore was not the first time he had perfomed in front of a major audience.
But America’s Got Talent presented a completely different challenge. He was now standing in front of Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough, with millions of viewers potentially watching at home.
Simon Cowell Stops the Audition
Lamont began his audition with “Let’s Stay Together,” a song that gave him plenty of room to showcase his soulful voice. But Simon quickly interrupted.
Simon explaied that while Lamont had a good voice, the song choice felt too safe. He wanted to hear something that showed more risk and personality.
Lamont then mentioned “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye as anoter song he could perform. Simon also felt that choice was too safe and told Lamont directly that his problem was that he did not take enough risks.
The conversation became increasingly tense. Lamont questioned the criticism and even asked the audience what they thought. Simon became frustated, telling Lamont that he was getting on his nerves, while also making it clear that he actually liked his voice.
That last part was important. Simon was not telling Lamont that he had no talent. He was challenging him to show more of it.
“Don’t Be Cocky”
Simon eventually told Lamont that he should come back later with another song. He also warned him not to be cocky and encourged him to think about the advice.
For Lamont, this was a difficult moment. He had walked onto the stage ready to perform, only to have his audition stopped almost immediately. He could have decided that the experience was not worth it and simply walked away.
Instead, he chose to take the second chance.
That decision became the turning pint of the entire audition.
Lamont Comes Back With “Dancing on My Own”
When Lamont reurned, he had chosen a song that was completely different from his original selection. Instead of another classic soul song, he performed Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own.”
Even more impressive was the fact that Lamont had learned the song shortly before performing it. Contemporary reports said he had learned the song only about 30 minutes earlier. That meant he was being asked to perform unfamiliar material under enormous pressure, immediately after a tense confrontation with Simon.
At first, the pressure was obvious. Lamont strugled with nerves, and Simon stopped him again, telling him to shake out the nerves and relax.
For a moment, it looked as though the second opportunity might fail too.
But Lamont kept going.
Then Everything Changed
Once Lamont settled into the performance, the audience began to hear the voice Simon had been talking about.
His soulful interpretation of “Dancing on My Own” was completely different from the original performance he had attempted earlier. The song gave him an opportunity to show emotion, control and personality while stepping outside the musial comfort zone that Simon had criticized.
This time, the judges listened differently.
The tension that had filled the room earlier began to disappear. Lamont was no longer arguing about song choices or defending himself. He was simply performing.
And the performance spoke for itself.
The Audience Gives Lamont a Standing Ovation
By the end of the second performance, the reaction was dramatically different from the beginning of the audition.
The audience appladed, and the judges stood to give Lamont a standing ovation. Simon, who had stopped him twice earlier, also stood and applauded.
It was a remarkable transformation.
Just minutes earlier, Lamont had been in a tense argument with Simon and was unsure whether he should continue. Now he was standing on the same stage receiving a staning ovation from the judges.
Entertainment Tonight reported that the second performance left the judges smiling and the audience applauding, with Simon giving Lamont a standing ovation.
Simon Admits the Advice Worked
After Lamont finished, Simon explained why he had pushed him so hard.
Simon told him that somtimes criticism can be frustrating, especially when you believe you are right. But he said that sometimes someone gives you advice that opens a door.
For Lamont, that door had just opened.
The important part was not that Simon had forced him to abandon his musical identity. Instead, Lamont had been pushed to demonstrate that he could adapt and take a risk.
By learning a completely unfamiliar song and deliveing it under pressure, he showed the judges another side of his artistry.
Four Yes Votes Send Lamont Through
The second perforance completely changed the judges’ opinions.
Lamont received four yes votes from Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough, sending him through to the Judge Cuts.
That unanimous decision was particularly meaningful because his audition had started so badly. Had Lamont refused to return, his AGT story could have ended with Simon stopping his first song.
Instead, he left the stage with a second oportunity and returned with one of the most memorable performances of his audition.
Why Lamont’s Story Is So Interesting
Lamont’s audition is memorable because it was not a simple story about a singer walking onto the stage and immediately receiving praise.
There was conflict. There was criicism. There were nerves. There was even a moment when it looked like the audition might fall apart.
But Lamont stayed.
He listened, even when the criticism was difficult to hear. More importantly, he acted on it.
That is what made the second performance so satisfying. The audience had already seen him struggle, so watching him eventually find his confidence creatd a much stronger payoff.
His Musical Background Helped Him
Lamont’s ability to recover was not an accident. He had already spent years developing his musical skills.
He began playing guitr at a young age and later started singing. His musical influences included artists such as Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Sly & The Family Stone and Ray Charles. Before AGT, he had also built experience performing with his band and had already appeared on Showtime at the Apollo.
That background helped explain why he could take a completely unfamiliar song and turn it into something that felt personal.
He was not simply a contestant hoping to discover wheher he could sing. He was already a working musician who had spent years developing his craft.
The Lesson Behind the Audition
There is an important lesson hidden inside Lamont Landers’ audition.
Someties criticism feels like rejection when it is actually a challenge.
Simon could have simply rejected Lamont after stopping his first song. Instead, he told him that he wanted to see something different. Lamont could have ignored that advice, but he chose to take the risk.
The result was a performance that showed far more of his potential.
It also demonstrated why artists sometimes need to step outide their comfort zone. Lamont was comfortable performing soulful music, but “Dancing on My Own” forced him into unfamiliar territory.
That unfamiliarity created nerves, but it also revealed another side of his voice.
Lamont Continued to the Judge Cuts
After receiing four yes votes, Lamont moved into the Judge Cuts portion of the competition.
He returned to the AGT stage with another challenging song, performing P!nk’s “Walk Me Home.” This time, however, the judges ultimately decided that his performance was not strong enough to advance him to the quarterfinals. He was eliminated during the Judge Cuts.
Although his AGT journey did not reach the live shows, his oriinal audition remained one of the more memorable moments of his season.
That is partly because his story had such a dramatic arc within a single audition.
From “Let’s Stay Together” to “Dancing on My Own”
The contast between Lamont’s two performances tells the entire story.
He started with Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” a song Simon considered safe. He then returned with Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own,” a song he had barely had time to learn.
The first performance led to an interruption.
The second led to a standing ovation.
That contrast made his audition feel almost like two different performnces from two different contestants.
But it was the same singer.
The difference was that the second time, Lamont was willing to take the risk Simon had challenged him to take.
Final Thoughts
Lamont Landers’ America’s Got Talent audition is a perfect example of why some of the most memorable talent-show moments do not go according to plan.
He waked onto the stage in 2019 expecting to perform Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.” Simon Cowell stopped him and caled the song too safe. When Lamont offered Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” as another option, Simon still wanted something more adventurous.
The conversation became tense, and for a moment it looked as though Lamont’s audition might be over.
Instead, Simon gave him another opportunity.
Lamont returned later with Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own,” a song he had only just learned. He struggled with nerves at first, but eventually settled into the perormance and showed the judges the soulful voice they had been waiting to hear.
The audience applauded. The judges stood. Simon stood too.
Then all four judges voted yes.
Lamont did not ultimately reach the live shows, but his audition demonstrated something that is sometimes more important than advancing in a comptition: the ability to take criticism, take a risk and keep going when the easier choice would have been to walk away.
What Did You Think of Lamont Landers’ Audition?
What did you think of Lamont Landers’ incredible turnaround on America’s Got Talent? Did you agree with Simon Cowell that his first song chice was too safe, or did you prefer his original performance of “Let’s Stay Together”? And what did you think when Lamont returned with “Dancing on My Own” and received a standing ovation from the judges? Share your thoughts in the comments below.