'AGT' audience moved to tears by police officer's heartfelt cover of Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud'
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA: During the July 16 audition episode of 'America's Got Talent,' Virginia police officer, Mervin Mayo took the stage and captivated both the audience and judges—Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Simon Cowell, and Sofia Vergara—with his inspiring backstory and an incredible version of Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud.'
Mervin, a 19-year veteran of the police force, has dedicated his career to working with at-risk youth, drawing on his own experiences as one of them.
Mervin Mayo credits Police Athletic League officer for life-changing influence
On stage, Mervin Mayo shared, “I grew up in a housing project in Richmond, Virginia,” adding, “And there was a program called the Police Athletic League. An officer named Curtis Simmons kind of took me under his wing ’cause I was a little mischievous growing up, and he kept me safe.”
“I’m alive today because he kept me out of it,” Mervin continued. “And I thank him for that ‘cause I tell people I’ve seen more murders as a child than I have as a police officer.”
In addition to his commitment to serving the community, Mervin has a passion for singing but had never mustered the courage to perform outside of karaoke bars. His wife, Mechelle, encouraged him to pursue his dreams by auditioning for 'AGT.'
“My wife is the reason that I’m here today,” he said. “She tells me to follow my dream. And music is in me, yeah, it’s in me.”
Taking a seat at the piano, the police officer started to sing a classic love song.
The deep emotion in his voice moved couples in the audience to embrace and elicited cheers from the crowd.
As he sang the heartfelt lyrics, he shared smiles with his wife, who stood backstage with her hand over her heart.
Before he finished, his wife Mechelle, Heidi Klum, and many audience members wiped away tears of joy.
After Mervin Mayo invited his wife on stage, they shared a touching moment that melted hearts.
Where to watch 'America's Got Talent'?
Tune in to NBC to watch Mervin and the other Season 19 contestants compete on 'America’s Got Talent,' airing Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC and available the next day on Peacock.
According to NBC News, the competition on 'America’s Got Talent' intensified as NBC's coverage of the Republican National Convention affected the viewing experience of the July 16, 2024 episode, varying by location within the United States.
On July 16, like all audition rounds, the show ran for two hours. However, viewers in the Mountain Time Zone noticed a slight change this week.
Season 19 auditions of 'AGT' included a special two-hour episode on July 16.
For viewers outside the Mountain Time Zone, the episode aired as usual with no changes. However, for those in the Mountain Time Zone, the episode was split into two parts, airing for one hour at its normal time.
Following that, NBC interrupted convention coverage for an hour. Immediately afterward, the second hour of this week’s 'AGT' episode resumed airing as planned.
