These acts left an impression. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most masterful vocal impressionists in “America’s Got Talent” history.
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00:00Hey y'all, it's Miley Cyrus, what's up?
00:03Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most masterful vocal
00:07impressionists in America's Got Talent history.
00:10Talk to me baby, I'm going blind from this sweet, sweet craving, whoa.
00:18Number 10.
00:19Vincent Marcus, Season 15.
00:33Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?
00:36Because this former Vine superstar certainly got the crowd off their feet during his sharp
00:41audition.
00:42And who can blame them?
00:43It's not every day you get to hear Mr. Worldwide Pitbull rap about Mary and Her Little Lamb.
00:49With tunes that riffed off of popular nursery rhymes, he specialized in mimicking some of
00:54hip-hop's biggest names.
01:06And what's doubly impressive is that this was his first time exhibiting this strength
01:11in front of an audience.
01:12Later, Vincent's quarterfinals performance saw bolstered production values, as well as
01:17attempts at even more artists, like DaBaby and Lil Nas X.
01:32Number 9.
01:33Rachel Butera, Season 9.
01:35Although only her audition was ever aired, this comedian and writer did more than enough
01:40to leave a lasting impression.
01:52With a repertoire featuring legendary women in comedy, she used her chameleon-like skills
01:57to thrill judges and viewers alike.
02:00As Heidi Klum highlights, how much she was able to cram into 90 seconds was nothing short
02:05of spectacular.
02:06Thankfully, those hoping to see more of her superb displays as Wanda Sykes or Whoopi Goldberg
02:20didn't have to look far.
02:32Not long after the show, Rachel was crowned a winner on Dana Carvey's First Impressions.
02:37She would also later find success as a voice actress in TV and video games.
02:42Number 8.
02:43The Brown Brothers, Season 17.
02:45This brother duo charmed the socks off of their AGT spectators with their high-spirited
02:50musical act.
02:51Their audition featured random combinations of songs and vocal disguises, making their
02:56performance feel like a pop culture jukebox.
03:08Whether it was Donald Duck covering Nickelback or a striking Simon Cowell ballad, there was
03:13something for everyone to enjoy.
03:24Thanks to their work's infectious energy, we have no doubt SpongeBob would have loved
03:29their rendition of him.
03:41Later for the qualifiers, the pair focused on blasting out A Million Dreams from The
03:45Greatest Showman with another range of classic characters.
03:59Outside of the show, both Gabriel and Nate have maintained a presence on YouTube, with
04:03the former's channel having a number of massively viral hits.
04:07Number 7.
04:08Angela Hoover, Season 8.
04:11After taking a step back from comedy for her family, this expert in facades had no
04:15trouble getting back in the swing of things for AGT.
04:18She consistently found just the right balance between relying on impersonations while also
04:24blending them with clever stand-up.
04:25After Angela's audition showcased her versions of folks like Drew Barrymore and Kristen Chenoweth,
04:38Heidi was relieved that she and Mel B weren't also parodied.
04:48But naturally, the comic couldn't resist once she reached the quarterfinals.
04:53Years later, in a 2021 interview, Angela likened herself to a three-year-old stalker when describing
04:59her love for mimicry from an early age.
05:10Number 6.
05:11Michael Winslow, Season 16.
05:14This self-named voicetrementalist may not seem like your typical impressionist, but
05:19is simply too amazing not to include here.
05:32Featuring stunning imitations of everyday sound effects, his act may be the closest
05:37we'll ever get to a human soundboard.
05:40And as it melds those together with captivating scene setting, Michael's gift for storytelling
05:45is second to none.
05:46Throughout his run on the show, we're transported to a bustling city street, an airplane in
05:51flight, and even an immersive ocean-scape.
06:05With this knack for noise being demonstrated in films like Police Academy and Spaceballs,
06:09his career in entertainment has received decades of renown.
06:13This includes an appearance at the Academy Awards where he presented an Oscar for sound
06:17effects editing.
06:27Number 5.
06:28Melissa Villasenor, Season 6.
06:39Probably the most familiar face on the list, this SNL alum made a much earlier appearance
06:44on NBC where she enchanted AGT viewers during her season.
06:56The comedic stylings that would eventually make her a household name were already on
07:00full display, along with her overstock of personas.
07:04Even the often cantankerous Pierce Morgan couldn't help but find her audition sensational.
07:09While some of her most beloved SNL clips feature Lady Gaga and Dolly Parton, here we see her
07:14take on the likes of Natalie Portman, Kathy Griffin, and Miley Cyrus.
07:27This excellence in masquerade opened the door for Melissa to become a TV mainstay, particularly
07:32in voice acting for animation.
07:38Number 4.
07:39Daniel Ferguson, Season 12.
07:52Having boomed on YouTube in the years following his stint on the show, this master of disguise
07:57might just take the cake for sheer number of characters.
08:00Whether they're covering Rick Astley and Billie Eilish or simply sharing a laugh, it's all
08:05instantly recognizable.
08:17This expertise first found the spotlight when he took the AGT stage by storm, belting out
08:22Cake by the Ocean with a myriad of voices.
08:25This includes yet another, but perhaps the best, attempt at Simon.
08:38In addition to its several viral hits, Daniel's channel also features a few tutorials where
08:43he helps beginners hone their skills.
08:45Number 3.
08:46Marissa Beddoes, Season 17.
08:49Sometimes the amount of talent one person has can just seem unfair, and that is the
08:54exact feeling we get when watching this impressionist, who also happens to be an actual opera singer.
09:07But her ability to command the stage as a soprano isn't where things end.
09:11As seen in her run on the show, the vocal gymnast could hop between an array of channels,
09:16from Ariana Grande and Celine Dion to Snow White, Lois Griffin, and even Siri.
09:29Since her season, she has continued to hone her craft while also building a very sizable
09:34following on social media.
09:46AGT has had its fair share of classical singers and variety acts, but Marissa managed to merge
09:51the two disciplines towards exciting shared horizons.
10:06Number 2.
10:07Greg Morton, Season 14.
10:09Who needs a streaming service when you have this absolute delight of a showman?
10:13Touted as a one-man-living cartoon, he's specialized in impressions from the silver screen, be
10:18it spoken dialogue or iconic sound effects.
10:29His performances ran at a breakneck pace, bursting with energy and expressive physicality.
10:35As a result, he was able to mine a wealth of fun from various movie categories and themes,
10:41with a Star Wars-centric audition being a strong example.
10:52In an interview after the show, Greg described a lovely musicality to the human voice, hoping
10:58to inspire others to explore their own.
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11:27Number 1.
11:28Terry Fader, Season 2.
11:30One wouldn't speak out of turn if they called this ventriloquist, singer, and AGT champion
11:35an essential pillar of the show's success.
11:50All beginning with Etta James in one of the most jaw-dropping auditions in talent show
11:55history.
11:56That star only rose from there.
11:58Terry ran through the competition, with a blend of original puppet characters and impressions
12:02of names such as Louis Armstrong and Roy Orbison.
12:15After the victory, he went on to be one of the biggest acts in Las Vegas for over a decade.
12:21His legacy and influence on AGT itself cannot be understated.
12:25Whether as a perennial guest performer or as an inspiration cited by competitors that
12:29have since followed, which convincing vocal deception fooled you the most?
12:42Let us know in the comments!