When Madelyn Tallent told the America’s Got Talent judges her name, they could not believe it. Talent? She laughed and said yes, it is on her birth certificate and everything. Next to her stood Malachi Martin with his banjo. They explained they are just friends, and that he has a wife and a two month old son at home.
They come from Benton, Tennessee, a town of about 1,500 people. Madelyn joked that there is nothing there except Dollar Generals and churches, and not many musicians, so when she met Malachi they had to play together. She works as a waitress at a family restaurant called Big Toms, and he works full time at a copper company. They had been doing their act for only six months.
Then they played Counting Stars by OneRepublic as a country song, with banjo, guitar and Madelyn’s strong voice leading the way. It was the biggest crowd they had ever played for, and the audience cheered all the way through 🎸.
The judges praised her voice, their chemistry and the song choice. Simon had doubts, saying that after only six months the act felt like a meal that was not cooked yet, and he voted no. Another judge disagreed and said that when you see real potential, you work with it straight away. Sofia said yes, another yes followed, and a final judge said there was something really special there and gave them the third yes ⭐.
