Country music is hot right now, and Drake Milligan looks like a guy who’s making a real fist of it.
On Wednesday night (Sept. 13), the season 17 alum made his return to the America’s Got Talent stage, stared down the barrel of the camera and delivered a performance of “I Got A Problem,” an original song.
Wearing a white denim jacket with a red bandana, and wielding an acoustic guitar, Milligan’s performance was confident, polished. Slick even. He appeared right at home under the bright lights, a year on from his AGT podium finish.
Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, Milligan has quite the story to tell. He cut his showbiz teeth as an Elvis impersonator and enjoyed a deep run in the 2022 season, finishing third and placing top among all singers.
He followed his AGT stint the release of a 14-song collection, Dallas/Fort Worth, which features Milligan’s writer’s credit on every track. Billboard described the LP as “a steady mix of laid-back, ‘90s Strait inspired come-ons including ‘Save It For a Sunny Day’ and ‘Hating Everything She Tries On,’ the barroom burner ‘Tippin’ Point’ and ‘Long Haul,’ which finds Milligan incorporating an Elvis-esque vocal swagger.”
Earlier this year, Milligan and several members of his band were injured when his touring van crashed into a concrete median in the Lone Star State.
Based on his latest AGT appearance, Milligan has made a resounding recovery. The audience loved it, so too the did the four judges. At the end of the performance, everyone in the room was on their feet.
“Amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing,” was Simon Cowell’s initial response. Milligan is on the way to becoming a superstar, the Brit reckons. “That was amazing.” Cowell was adamant that AGT addicts haven’t seen the last of the crooner. Milligan, he hinted, might even find a spot in one of the upcoming all-star AGT spin-off series.
For the record, America’s votes were tallied, season 18 contestants Anna DeGuzman and Chibi Unity were saved. They progress through to the semis, alongside previously announced competitors Adrian Stoica & Hurricane, Lavender Darcangelo, Ahren Belisle, Murmuration, Mzansi Youth Choir and Putri Ariani.
Watch Milligan’s performance below.
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