What Happened to Kristen Cruz on America's Got Talent?

Season 17 of America’s Got Talent was stacked full of phenomenal Acts. However, there was one amazing singer that the Judges and fans will never forget. Kristen Cruz first stunned viewers with her now-viral Audition that showcased her incredible voice and authentic personality. Here's everything you need to know about Kristen Cruz since her AGT debut:

All about Kristen Cruz from America's Got Talent

From Crowley, Texas, Cruz first introduced the world to her talent with her TikTok videos, where she showed herself singing while making various beverages. As of today, she has over 6.5 million followers on the account. 

However, Cruz truly stepped up her game when she appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2022. 

“I don’t wanna not believe in myself and not try,” she told Simon Cowell when she was asked what made her want to come on the show. She then said her goal was to “inspire people” and help them think that “you don’t have to be anything else but yourself.” 

Kristen Cruz's America's Got Talent Audition 

At the young age of 19, Kristen Cruz first auditioned on the America’s Got Talent stage with a powerful rendition of a country rock song titled “I See Red” by Everybody Loves an Outlaw. A bold choice to go with a lesser-known song, Cruz absolutely blew everyone away with her gritty vocals and intense interpretation of the track. 

Unsurprisingly, Cruz got a standing ovation from all four Judges after her performance, with Cowell and Sofia Vergara calling it “unbelievable." 

“You opened your mouth and you just…you’re on fire,” Howie Mandel said in awe. 

“I love everything about you. You are a star already in the making, I mean you just have a real gift,” Heidi Klum echoed. 

“The moment you started signing you became so powerful, so confident. It was unexpected,” Vergara added.

And Cowell said, “Your range, your tone. You have great taste, by the way, because it was [a] great, great choice of song."

Cruz got unanimous “yes” votes from all the Judges, moving her to the next round.

Kristen Cruz's Semi-Finals performance

The next time America’s Got Talent saw Cruz was during her Semi-Finals performance, where her slot was placed in the fifth week. This time, she chose to sing the power ballad “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" by Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson. 

“Your voice is ferocious, and I love it!” Klum exclaimed. “You are incredible, and you need to be on that stage.” 

“I like the rawness in your voice,” Mandel agreed. 

Despite the jaw-dropping cover, Cruz was not one of the two Contestants to receive enough votes to make it to the next round. However, it certainly won’t be the last fans will hear from Cruz.

What is Kristen Cruz doing now?

Cruz released a single titled “Love Shouldn’t Be a Fight” in September 2022. The song features an old-school, upbeat rhythm with introspective lyrics that tell the story of moving on after a partner isn’t matching your energy emotionally. 

Another tear-jerker song Cruz released that year is titled “Dancing in the Sky." The song comes with gentle piano chords as Cruz sings about deeply missing someone who has passed away. 

According to her website, Cruz does live shows around the Texas area. Click here for more updates from Cruz!