Mackenzie Sol Wins AGT Golden Buzzer 21 Years After Meeting Simon Cowell at Age 4

British singer Mackenzie Sol stunned the judges and audience on America’s Got Talent Season 21 on June 23, 2026, delivering an emotionally charged cover of Sombr’s “back to friends” that earned him Mel B’s Golden Buzzer — sending him directly to the live shows. The moment marked the end of a 21-year journey that began when Sol first stood in front of Simon Cowell at just four years old.

The Mackenzie Sol AGT Golden Buzzer audition has since gone viral, accumulating hundreds of thousands of views across NBC’s YouTube channel and social media platforms within days of airing.

Who Is Mackenzie Sol? British Singer & Viral Performer

Mackenzie Sol is a 25-year-old British singer, social media star, and multi-platform entertainer who has spent over two decades building a career in music and entertainment.

He is best known internationally for his viral TikTok content, his run on American Idol Season 22 in 2024, and now his historic Golden Buzzer moment on America’s Got Talent 2026. With over 12 million TikTok followers, 2.51 million YouTube subscribers, and 1.8 million Instagram followers as of June 2026, Sol commands one of the largest fanbases of any contestant in AGT’s current season.

Key Facts at a Glance

America’s Got Talent Season 21 airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Episodes stream the following day on Peacock.

Mackenzie Sol Age, Background, and Newcastle Roots

Born on September 4, 2000, in Sunderland, North East England, Mackenzie Sol grew up in a musical household. His parents — George Williamson and Nicola Brown — were both professional singers who toured the UK as Motown tribute acts. By the time Mackenzie was two years old, he was already performing alongside them on stage.

Sunderland, a coastal city in the Tyne and Wear region near Newcastle, is not traditionally associated with producing mainstream pop talent — a fact Sol himself has acknowledged publicly. “It’s really hard to make it where I come from in such a small town,” he told AGT host Terry Crews backstage before his audition.

Sol currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he has been based since expanding his career to the United States.

Mackenzie Sol Early Talent Show Appearances

Mackenzie Sol’s rise did not happen overnight. Long before reality television, he was performing in West End youth theatre productions in London, taking on lead roles in productions including Billy Elliot, Oliver, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Doctor Doolittle.

Notably, Sol played the title role of Billy Elliot under the direction of Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning director Stephen Daldry — a significant credential for a young performer from the North East.

At age 13, Sol was invited to share the stage with Jennifer Hudson, Josh Groban, and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds at the 2014 Carousel of Hope Ball in Los Angeles, an event directed by acclaimed music producer David Foster. It was one of his earliest international platforms, and a sign of the extraordinary trajectory ahead.

X Factor UK Audition at Age 4 With Simon Cowell

The story that has captivated audiences worldwide began in 2007, when a four-year-old Mackenzie Sol auditioned for The X Factor UK — one of the most watched talent competitions in British television history.

Standing on stage with the confidence of someone far older, the young boy earned two “yes” votes from the judging panel. However, the show’s minimum age requirement of 16 meant he could not advance to the competition stages.

Simon Cowell, clearly charmed by the tiny performer, told him something prophetic: “In 12 years time, you’re through.”

“That moment in that room was when I knew I wanted to be a singer,” Sol recalled to Terry Crews backstage at AGT, as the pair watched footage of the childhood audition together nearly two decades later.

Now THIS is a full-circle moment!! Mackenzie, you were meant for this stage!! #AGT pic.twitter.com/zDCAhNGZoD

— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) June 24, 2026

American Idol Season 22 Run in 2024

Two years before his AGT appearance, Sol competed on American Idol Season 22 in 2024, auditioned in front of judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie with a performance of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me.”

He advanced all the way to the Top 20, where he performed Nick Jonas’s “Jealous” during the Hawaii round to keep his place in the competition. However, his performance of “I’ll Never Love Again” from A Star Is Born the following week did not generate enough public votes, placing him in the danger zone. A final performance of “False Alarms” by Lawrence was not enough to save him, and he was eliminated.

Despite not winning, the experience gave Sol the confidence he needed to keep chasing his musical ambitions. During his American Idol run, Sol deliberately kept quiet about his anxiety, ADHD, and Tourette’s Syndrome — not wanting those conditions to overshadow his singing. After elimination, he bravely opened up about his diagnoses, releasing a single titled “Anxiety” that resonated deeply with his fanbase.

In October 2024, he also collaborated with fellow American Idol Season 22 alum Jordan Anthony to release “Don’t Ya” under the duo name J+M — the first time in American Idol history that two former contestants had released music together.

Mackenzie Sol on America’s Got Talent Season 21

Sol arrived at the AGT Season 21 auditions on June 23, 2026, with his mother and family seated in the audience — a deliberate and emotionally loaded choice for what he clearly hoped would be a landmark moment.

Backstage, Sol admitted his nerves to host Terry Crews: “Hopefully, I don’t go out there and make a fool of myself.” He also told Crews: “I don’t know why it took 21 years. I did a lot of singing back home. It’s just really hard to make it where I come from.”

Before taking the stage, Sol chose not to mention his American Idol history or his massive social media following. What he did reveal was the story of his four-year-old X Factor audition — a disclosure that immediately set the emotional tone for everything that followed.

Golden Buzzer Moment: Mel B’s Emotional Reaction

When Mackenzie Sol began singing Sombr’s “back to friends“ — a breakup ballad that peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2026 — he transformed the song into a slower, more intimate R&B ballad. His vocal control, emotional depth, and creative runs brought the entire audience to its feet.

His family in the audience were visibly moved to tears. The four judges — Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Mel B — rose for a standing ovation before Sol had even finished singing.

When Simon asked Mel B for her thoughts, she did not hesitate. Before anyone else could speak, she leaned forward and struck the Golden Buzzer.

“I think you are absolutely, extraordinarily fabulous,” Mel B said. “And I’m glad I got to speak first because I’m gonna do this.”

Sol gasped an audible “No way!” as golden confetti rained down on the stage.

The moment instantly trended across social media, and within two days of airing, the video had accumulated over 780,000 views on NBC’s platforms, with 17,500 likes.

Why This Was a Full-Circle Moment for Mackenzie

The emotional weight of Sol’s AGT audition was rooted in something deeper than a strong vocal performance. It was the closing of a loop that began 21 years earlier.

In 2005 (or 2007 per various records), a four-year-old boy was told by Simon Cowell he was too young to compete — but encouraged to return. Two decades of perseverance, West End stages, small club gigs, TV competitions, and millions of social media followers later, that same boy stood in front of Cowell again as a grown man and received one of the competition’s highest honors.

“4-year-old Mackenzie would be so completely proud of him,” one viewer wrote in the comments after the episode aired. The sentiment was echoed across platforms by fans who had been following his journey for years.

Sol’s story drew direct comparisons to Season 20 winner Jessica Sanchez, who had also competed as a child before returning to AGT and ultimately winning the whole competition.

Mackenzie Sol’s Music Career and TikTok Fame

Before music became his primary focus, Sol built his online following through comedy — particularly prank videos featuring his mother, which became a signature format on TikTok and YouTube.

He has accumulated over one billion YouTube views across his content, a figure that speaks to the scale of his digital reach. But Sol has consistently expressed his desire to be recognized first and foremost as a musician, not a comedian or prankster.

His original discography — which includes the single “Anxiety” and collaborative work under the J+M project — is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. He has also previously worked with Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren on a single called “Taken.”

His AGT audition represents the largest musical platform of his career to date. With a direct path to the live shows already secured, his online fanbase is expected to mobilize significantly once public voting opens.

Mackenzie Sol’s Personal Life and Future on AGT

Sol has been open about managing anxiety, ADHD, and Tourette’s Syndrome, and has spoken about the courage it took to share those diagnoses publicly after years of keeping them private in competitive settings.

As of 2026, Sol is reportedly in a relationship with Lauryn Kyle, though the pair have not made an official public statement about their relationship.

His mother’s battle with breast cancer has also been part of his personal story in recent years — a detail that made her presence in the AGT audience on June 23 all the more meaningful.

With Mel B’s Golden Buzzer secured, Mackenzie Sol is confirmed for the AGT Season 21 Live Shows, which are scheduled to begin in August 2026 on NBC, with episodes streaming the following day on Peacock.

As the only British singer in the competition carrying the weight of a 21-year journey back to Simon Cowell’s panel, Sol enters the live shows with a narrative and a fanbase that few competitors in any season can match.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. What song did Mackenzie Sol sing on AGT 2026?

A. Mackenzie Sol performed “back to friends” by Sombr during his America’s Got Talent Season 21 audition on June 23, 2026.

Q. Who gave Mackenzie Sol the Golden Buzzer on AGT?

A. Mel B (Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls), serving as a judge on AGT Season 21, pressed the Golden Buzzer immediately after Sol’s performance.

Q. How old is Mackenzie Sol?

A. Mackenzie Sol is 25 years old, born on September 4, 2000, in Sunderland, North East England.

Q. Did Mackenzie Sol audition for Simon Cowell before AGT?

A. Yes. At age four, Sol auditioned for The X Factor UK in front of Simon Cowell in 2007. He received two “yes” votes but could not compete due to the show’s minimum age requirement of 16.

Q. Was Mackenzie Sol on American Idol?

A. Yes. Sol competed on American Idol Season 22 in 2024, reaching the Top 20 before being eliminated.

Q. How many followers does Mackenzie Sol have?

A. As of June 2026, Mackenzie Sol has 12.1 million TikTok followers, 2.51 million YouTube subscribers, and 1.8 million Instagram followers.

Q. When are the AGT 2026 Live Shows?

A. America’s Got Talent Season 21 Live Shows are scheduled to begin in August 2026 on NBC, streaming the next day on Peacock.

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