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Why Simon Cowell Told Howie Mandel to “Shut Up” During Trailer Flowers’ Audition on AGT
Trailer Flowers divided the America's Got Talent Judges, but the female duo had Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum reflecting on their own long-standing friendship.
America’s Got Talent Judge Simon Cowell may have lost his voice, but he still hilariously had plenty to say to fellow judge Howie Mandel during Trailer Flowers’ audition.
Let’s just say Cowell and Mandel didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye about whether the country duo from Nashville should advance in the talent competition.
Mandel saw the group’s two-song audition as “good” but not great, while Cowell “loved” the audition from best friends Jack and Brooke that had fellow besties Judges Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum feeling their vibe as well.
Before Mandel could even begin to weigh in on the act, Cowell interrupted the veteran judge using a special app programmed to speak phrases using his own voice, a device designed to give his own ailing vocal chords a rest.
“Howie, shut up,” Cowell hilariously said through the app as Mandel gave him an incredulous look.
“Hey, I thought you lost your voice,” he fired back.
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But even the well-timed insult (and boos from the crowd) weren’t enough to stop Mandel from speaking his mind.
“I’m just saying that for me personally, you’re very good, good isn’t what we’re looking for. Great is what we’re looking for,” he said.
Who are Trailer Flowers?
Performing on America’s Got Talent was a dream come true for the female roommates turned bandmates, who connected after moving to Nashville.
“We randomly became roommates,” Jack explained on AGT.
“And then we learned that we grew up in the same hometown, went to rival high schools and we never knew one another until we moved to Nashville to chase our dream,” Brooke finished.
It didn’t take long for the pair to join musical forces.
“The Trailer Flowers are a female progressive County duo based in Nashville, TN,” their website boasts. “Known for their tight harmonies and transparency in their story-like writings, they have been performing together since 2020, playing off Broadway, at private parties, house shows, listening rooms and breweries.”
Led by the mantra “We make good things out of sh-t” — a line from their song “Theme Song” — the two best friends focus their “country, modern, hippy, western sound” on authenticity and their strong faith.
The sassy duo brought their distinctive sound to AGT after being inspired by Brooke’s grandfather.
“AGT has always been the dream,” Brooke said. “This was my grandpa’s favorite show. He went to heaven on Christmas Eve this past year, but I know he’s got a front row seat.”
The besties’ dreams don’t just end on the AGT stage.
“The dream is to sell crazy records, go on crazy tours, shake our booties, meet people, connect,” Brooke said before grabbing Jack’s hand, jumping around and shaking their booties together at the crowd.
What songs did Trailer Flowers sing on AGT?
Trailer Flowers sang not one but two songs during their AGT audition. The women started with Luke Bryan’s “Country Girl (Shake it for Me),” but after singing a few bars of the country hit, Cowell raised his hand to signal them to stop.
“Do you have a second song?” he asked through his app.
“Yes, we do,” a visibly emotional Jack answered.
“Do that one?” she asked as Cowell nodded.
They decided to “change it up” for the second song and pick a slower-paced original song.
Before Jack began to strum on her guitar, she took a moment to reflect on how big the moment was for her. "This is like my greatest dream y’all as a songwriter to sing a song that I’ve written in front of a 1,000 people, so thank you so much for this opportunity,” she said.
The song showcased their strong faith in God and growing up too young.
“When I found God, he told me, ‘Baby I don’t waste no time, it all works out, just wait and see. I know it’s scary. The unknown. But I will take the wheel when you spin out of control,’” they sang.
Who voted for Trailer Flowers?
The second chance to impress the judges paid off — at least for most of the judge’s table.
“You two have beautiful voices and I think that was the best thing for Simon to ask for that second song because it was better,” Vergara told them.
Klum saw a little of herself and Vergara in the pairing.
“I love the friendship that the two of you have,” she said as Brooke and Jack held hands. “I feel like I’m looking at Sofia and myself a little bit, you know, how you support each other and I see that within us in a way.”
The duo’s harmonizing was also “working” for her.
“I really like the two of you,” she said.
Cowell agreed. “People are going to like you,” he said through his app. “I love that audition.”
The second chance to impress the judges paid off — at least for most of the judge’s table.
“You two have beautiful voices and I think that was the best thing for Simon to ask for that second song because it was better,” Vergara told them.
Klum saw a little of herself and Vergara in the pairing.
“I love the friendship that the two of you have,” she said as Brooke and Jack held hands. “I feel like I’m looking at Sofia and myself a little bit, you know, how you support each other and I see that within us in a way.”
The duo’s harmonizing was also “working” for her.
“I really like the two of you,” she said.
Cowell agreed.
“People are going to like you,” he said through his app. “I love that audition.”
The only voice of dissent was Mandel, who agreed that although the “second song was better” it still wasn’t enough for him to offer his vote of support.
“It didn’t blow me away. I’m saying no, I’m sorry,” he told them.
Since the act just needed three “yes” votes to move on, Trailer Flowers will two-step forward in the competition despite Mandel’s claim that the performance had been “so boring.”
And it looks like the ladies are already drumming up support from their fans.
“God thank you for painting sunsets, and a story as good as this one. Thank you for helping us make good things out of sh-t,” they wrote on Instagram in a post to promote their appearance on the show. “Thank you for the songs & thank you for the many lessons that are required for superstars in training. Flowers we are so thankful for you…get your snack ready, your prayer on, and rip those bras off & throw them at the tv. The party happens in T minus 24 hours!!!!!!!!”
