Cork singer-songwriter to learn America's Got Talent fate tonight

Cork singer-songwriter and radio presenter Stephanie Rainey awaits results from tonight’s episode of America’s Got Talent to see if she's going to make it to the semi-final stage of the competition.

The Glanmire native performed live at the show’s quarter-finals on Tuesday evening, alongside Sarah Power, but did not receive the coveted ‘golden buzzer’ that would have advanced the duo directly to the semi-final stage.

Ahead of her performance, Rainey took to X, formerly Twitter, to ask fans at home to share her music with American friends and relatives, in the hopes that she will advance to the next stage via the public vote.

The 36-year-old singer performed an original song called ‘Woman’, which was described by actress and judge Sofia Vergara as “very moving.” 

Although this sentiment was shared by fellow judge and model Heidi Klum, judges Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell agreed that this performance fell short of Rainey’s initial audition, where she played another of her original songs called ‘Please Don’t Go’.

“You are a great singer, and I think when you come to the show you have to put your best foot forward,” said Howie Mandel.

“This song was not as good as the first one.” Simon Cowell said that while he thought Tuesday’s production was lacking, he felt that her performance was still “good enough” to secure her a spot in the next round.

“I don’t think this was as good as your audition song – it was beautiful that song,” he said.

“If you do [get through], I would sing the first song again.” 

Rainey’s audition song, ‘Please Don’t Go’, was released in 2015, and was written about the sudden loss of her one-year-old nephew following a battle with meningitis.

The radio presenter was amongst eleven acts that performed at the quarter-finals this week, which included dance group Brent Street, comedian Erica Rhodes, balancing duo Illya and Anastasia Strakhov, comedy magician Jonathan Burns, vocal group L6, singer Oscar Stembridge, singer Pranysqa Mishra, aerial duo Sebastián and Sonia, quick change artist Solange Kardinaly, and novelty act Tonikaku.

Aerial duo Sebastián and Sonia were the lucky performers who received the ‘golden buzzer’ on Tuesday night, advancing them to the semi-final stage.

The results show, which will determine Rainey’s standing, will air tonight on NBC in the US at 4am Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).