32-year-old Ben Waites had the America’s Got Talent judges in tears when he sang an inspirational pop hit and proved that disability doesn’t have to stop anyone from living their wildest dreams.
Ben beat the odds stacked against him when he auditioned for the show in 2022 and is now going viral all over again as his performance amasses an incredible 5 million views on YouTube. Music Man readers can watch it all unfold in the video below…
Visibly disabled with arthrogryposis, Ben takes center stage in an electric wheelchair, beaming as he tells of his roots in a rich Southern accent. A Nashville-based gospel singer and vocal coach, the pressure piles high as Ben reveals he’s about to sing a song with a powerful and inspiring message: Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.”
With Ben’s wife watching on from the stage wings, and his mother and grandmother in the audience, the theater falls silent as the song’s piano intro plays out. But as soon as Ben reveals his voice, the crowd erupts into cheers.
Ben’s soft, deep vocals run thick with emotion and experience, his glassy tones edged with subtle grit as he reimagines snatches of Cyndi’s melodies and makes the song his own. It’s enough to leave judge Sofia Vergara with tears welling in her eyes, and earn a standing ovation from Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, and the entire live audience.
Sofia admits, “It’s a beautiful song but you made it yours and it was special, it was different,” driving Simon Cowell to add, “There is no such thing as a perfect audition, but this was a great audition. It was a moment,” before awarding Ben with three out of three Yes votes.
But as this clip goes internet viral, fans can’t help thinking that Ben was robbed. As one top commenter reckoned, “A lot of less good singers got a golden buzzer, this guy really deserved it,” others spread their praise for the unlikely star, writing, “You can tell there’s an infinite amount of kindness in that man,” and, “His voice has a wonderful sensitivity and warmth. Love the colors of his voice!”
Ben may have been booted out before reaching the live shows, but it hardly marked the end of his music career. Just last year, Ben released his latest album, “I Believe,” following on from his two 2019 albums, “Grandpa’s Book: A Legacy” and “A Step in Time,” and two singles: 2022’s “Real As I Believe” and 2023’s “Mary, Did You Know?”
Ben Waites is a singer and vocal coach whose uplifting America’s Got Talent audition — a powerful rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colours” — has touched millions and shown disability needn’t stop anyone from dreaming big. Want to explore his story and music further? You’ll find useful links to discover more below this paragraph.