‘America’s Got Talent’
Who will capture the attention of judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell in “America’s Got Talent” Season 12? Pictured: (L-R) Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell at NBC Universal's summer press tour for “America’s Got Talent” Season 11 in Westlake Village, California on April 1, 2016. Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

The producers of “America’s Got Talent” Season 12 will head to Jacksonville early next year for the open call auditions.

According to Florida Today, staff and execs from the hit NBC reality will be at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center from morning until afternoon on Jan. 7. Other cities where auditions have already wrapped up include Chicago and Austin, which had thousands of people show off their talents in November.

Ahead of the Jacksonville auditions, aspiring contestants may also go the Cleveland auditions on Dec. 10. Other cities that will be visited next month include Philadelphia on Jan. 14, Las Vegas on Jan. 19 and New York on Jan. 27. Auditions will also extend until February in two cities, specifically Memphis on Feb. 4 and Los Angeles on Feb. 11.

Meanwhile, “America’s Got Talent” Season 11 winner Grace Vanderwaal recently shared what it was like auditioning for the popular TV show. While speaking with Rolling Stone, the 12-year-old Suffern native said that it was her mom who encouraged her to showcase her talent earlier this year. When she finally did, she and the other contestants were grouped depending on their talent. After she and the rest of the singers performed individually, they were told by one of the staff that they will let her know if they want to see her on the show.

A few weeks later, Vanderwaal received a letter in the mail asking her to come in for an audition in Los Angeles. It was only during this time that the “I Don’t Know My Name” singer had the chance to face judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel. During her audition, Mandel gave Vanderwaal a golden buzzer. This automatically allowed her to advance to the live shows.

“America’s Got Talent” Season 12 will premiere on NBC sometime in May.

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