Tuttle teenager Blake Henderson will be on this season's
"America's Got Talent.” The country music singer said when he first
started singing he couldn't "carry a tune in a bucket.” He's obviously
improved.
TUTTLE — From not being able to "carry a tune in a bucket,” to
appearing on this season's "America's
Got Talent,” Blake
Henderson has come a long way.
The widely popular NBC summer hit TV game show series is back,
‘Americas Got Talent’ season 5
premiered tonight, and for those of you who weren’t able to catch the
premiere you can watch it online.New this season replacing old judge David Hasselhoff, is comedian and host of ‘Deal or No Deal’, Howie Mandel.
Judge Piers Morgan claims it’s the best season so far, “I can say it as a fact from my nine seasons of doing the British and American shows, in my view the pool of talent on this year’s season of America’s Got Talent is the best that I’ve known on any of the shows, whether it’s Britain or American.”
Join the host Nick Cannon and judges Sharon Osbourne, Piers Morgan and new judge Howie Mandel as they analyze, critique and pick the most talented American act in America.
You can watch videos of Season five of America’s Got Talent Here
TUTTLE — From not being able to "carry a tune in a bucket,” to
appearing on this season's "America's
Got Talent,” Blake
Henderson has come a long way.
"My grandpa said, 'Well, some people aren't meant to sing,'” the 16-year-old high school senior said with a soft laugh.
But, Henderson said he just kept practicing, and eventually he got better — good enough, in fact, to take him through at least the first round of the television show "America's Got Talent.”
Henderson's contract won't allow him to reveal if he makes it all the way through the Las Vegas round of the show and on to Hollywood.
Tryouts were January in Dallas. Henderson and his family drove through the Oklahoma blizzard to get there, then got up at 4 a.m. to stand in line.
"It's a good thing we went so early, because we later heard about 20,000 people came through,” he said.
As it was, he said he was the first to audition. Then he had to wait three to four weeks for a callback. He went back to Dallas in March to tape for the show. He'll appear sometime in the first two weeks of the season, which starts tonight.
He said the taping was hard work, including 12- to 15-hour days practicing and waiting through other acts.
"It's a lot of hurry up and wait, but it was a blast,” he said. "Once you sing, it's fun.”
Henderson has played at area festivals and concerts. He played for about 300 people at a school fundraiser with his band, and for about 2,500 racing fans, singing the national anthem at the stock car races at State Fair Park. He's also sung at the Rodeo Opry in Stockyards City and with the Oklahoma Opry. But, he said, "America's Got Talent” is by far the biggest deal he's had to date.
"It's really just crazy. You don't really believe it,” he said.
Henderson looks like a typical teenage boy, buzz-cut hair, blue eyes, scruffy jaw line and a farmer's tan peeking below the sleeves of his shirt. If he doesn't win America's hearts singing, he said he will pursue a football career. He's a running back for Bridge Creek High School and has an offer this summer to go to a football camp at University of Nebraska.
But, for now, music is a true love. His biggest musical influence is his grandpa, who taught him a love of country legends such as Johnny Cash and George Jones. Even his guitar came from his grandpa, and when he sings, his voice is as strong and smooth as some of his idols.
Still, he said, even if he wins the national talent show, he hopes he won't let success go to his head.
"The only difference between me and someone else is, I can sing,” he said. It just took a little time.