‘America’s Got Talent’ Quarterfinals 2 recap: Simon misses live show, Mel B pushes Golden Buzzer for Nene Royal

The performance aired as Season 21 Episode 15, with the broadcast time noted by IMDb. Gold Derby’s recap highlights the judge’s absence and frames the buzzer as a pivotal moment, while NBC’s guide enumerated the eleven acts slated for the broadcast. Simon Cowell was not onstage, a fact recorded by Gold Derby, and his absence opened the floor for Mel B’s decisive vote.

TV Insider highlighted the buzzer moment and asked who received Mel B’s live Golden Buzzer, while Yahoo’s recap posed the question of which three acts would advance to the semifinals. NBC listed the full roster of eleven performers for the night, providing context for the competition’s breadth. Coverage does not explain why Simon missed the broadcast, nor does it detail the criteria behind Mel B’s selection of Nene Royal beyond the buzzer action.

No outlet quotes producers regarding the judge’s absence. IMDb supplied the episode’s release date and streaming locations but offered no insight into the buzzed act’s next appearance. Future episodes will reveal how the Golden Buzzer influences the semifinal lineup.