Michael Ketterer gave a touching performance of James Bay’s “Us” on America’s Got Talent, which made Simon Cowell break down on live TV.
Cowell wasn’t the only one who struggled to get through his comments, as Mel B also teared up and had to take a moment after Ketterer’s show-stopping performance. The Knoxville, Tennessee singer stripped back “Us” to just a lone piano part, and it was the perfect arrangement to let his voice really soar.
Ketterer opened the song with a smoky, low-key vocal, before ratcheting up the intensity to really bring the hopeful message of the chorus home. The father of six, who was then 41 years old, gave an intense performance so you really couldn’t keep your eyes off him throughout. He finished the performance off strong with a triumphant high note in the bridge leading into the final chorus.