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In a heartwarming display of talent and resilience, former Chattanoogan Mitch Rossell appeared as a contestant on the 18th season of NBC’s popular talent show, ‘America’s Got Talent.’ Rossell, who moved audiences nationwide on Tuesday night, showcased his skills as a singer and songwriter, leaving a deep impact on the judges, audience, and viewers alike1.
Rossell, who attended Silverdale Baptist Academy and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has had an impressive career in music, which includes writing songs for country music royalty. His song “Ask Me How I Know,” became a 2017 hit for Garth Brooks, marking the returning superstar’s first No. 1 in a decade. Apart from this, Rossell wrote three other songs for Brooks — “That’s What Cowboys Do,” “All Day Long,” and “Dive Bar” — and even opened for Brooks on his stadium tour in 2022. His discography also includes the song “Ran Into You,” which he released in 2021, featuring harmony vocals by Trisha Yearwood. His songs on Spotify have garnered nearly 21 million streams1.
For his ‘America’s Got Talent’ performance, Rossell chose to perform an original song, which he described as the most personal song he had ever written, centered on his life story. The song was deeply moving, with Rossell sharing his experiences of losing his father and grandparents in a tragic accident caused by a drunk driver. His performance resulted in a standing ovation from the audience and the judges, leaving hardly a dry eye in the house2.
The judges were all praise for Rossell’s performance. Judge Heidi Klum complimented him on his beautiful song, emphasizing how everyone in the room could feel what he was singing. Judge Howie Mandel admired the emotion and sentiment in Rossell’s singing and predicted that the song would be the number one downloaded song the next day. Sofia Vergara appreciated his voice and the song, while Simon Cowell loved every part of the performance, stating that the room was so captivated, one couldn’t hear a pin drop during the whole performance. The judges unanimously voted ‘yes’ for Rossell, with Simon jokingly adding that his vote should count as a billion. Terry Crews, the host of the show, also expressed his admiration for the performance, saying he would like to play the song for his own son2.
Rossell’s inspiring journey and poignant performance serve as a testament to his talent, resilience, and the power of music. As he moves forward in the competition, audiences across the country and beyond will undoubtedly be eager to see what he brings to the stage next. The journey continues on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ which airs at 8 p.m. and features rounds of taped auditions and live shows leading up to the finale in September1.
