America's Got Talent Finalists 2016: Season Overview and Key Results
The eleventh season of America's Got Talent aired in 2016, with live shows running from August through September. The competition was broadcast on NBC and produced by FremantleMedia and Syco Entertainment. Judges included Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Simon Cowell. The season culminated in a live finale at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, where the top finalists performed for the audience vote. The winner received the America's Got Talent trophy and a headlining residency in Las Vegas, Nevada, at a venue on the Las Vegas Strip. More details on the season format and prize structure are available on the official NBC show page here.
The 2016 season had a total of 11 live episodes, including audition recap shows, Judge Cuts episodes, and live performance shows. The competition drew a large television audience, with the finale averaging around 10 million viewers in the United States. The season featured acts from across the United States and several international countries, including singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and novelty acts. The top finalists were ranked by public votes during the finale, with the winner announced last. The season's broadcast schedule and episode list are documented by TV Guide here.
America's Got Talent 2016 Winner, Runner-Up, and Final Standings
Winner and Runner-Up
The winner of America's Got Talent 2016 was Grace VanderWaal, a singer-songwriter who performed original songs with a ukulele. She was 12 years old at the time of her victory and became the youngest winner in the show's history at that point. The runner-up was the professional dance duo Zurcaroh, known for their acrobatic and choreographed routines. The final voting results placed VanderWaal first and Zurcaroh second, with the remaining finalists ranked by the number of votes received during the finale broadcast.
Other notable finalists in the top five included the magician duo The Clairvoyants, singer and guitarist Brian Justin Crum, and the acrobatic group Volcher. The Clairvoyants finished in third place, Crum in fourth, and Volcher in fifth. The season's prize package included the Las Vegas residency headlining opportunity, which was later fulfilled by VanderWaal at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Information on the Las Vegas residency deals for past winners is covered by Forbes here.
America's Got Talent 2016 Finalists: Acts, Backgrounds, and Post-Show Careers
Notable Finalist Backgrounds
Grace VanderWaal, the 2016 winner, had previously gained attention on talent shows and social media before her AGT appearance. After winning, she signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and released her debut EP, "Perfectly Imperfect," in 2016. Zurcaroh, the runner-up, is an Austrian-based dance group led by choreographer Peterson Da Cruz Hora, with members from multiple countries. The group continued performing internationally and appeared on other talent shows after AGT.
The Clairvoyants, consisting of Thom