Mat Franco never gave up on his passion for magic and it led him all the way to the “America’s Got Talent” finals at Radio City Music Hall. America couldn’t resist Franco’s charm and charisma as the country voted him the first magician to win the NBC reality competition show.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Franco told Headlines and Global News after the finale. “It’s the type of thing that goes through your whole body, from your head to your toes. It’s warm, it’s energetic and you feel the energy from the audience.”
The Rhode Island native took home the grand prize of $1 million and a headline gig on the Las Vegas Strip. He beat out the comeback kid Emily West, who placed second in the competition.
Even holding the winning envelope that read his name, Franco still couldn’t believe his luck.
“I’m just waiting to wake up from this whole thing,” he said. “Nick Cannon gave me the envelope that had my name in it as the winner and I see this really did happen. Regardless, that doesn’t make it sink in, I’m not sure when it will.”
During the show, Franco performed an amazing card trick with judge Howard Stern and special guest Rosie O’Donnell. The magician dealt each celebrity 10 cards and then told them to place it on their body somewhere he couldn’t (or really wouldn’t) try to access. O’Donnell tucked her cards down inside her bra and Stern shoved his down the front of his pants.
Franco then sent three cards from "The View" host’s pile over to Stern’s pile. When O’Donnell pulled the cards from her bra, she had only seven left. The “AGT” judge pulled out 13 cards.
West took her runner-up status in stride. She considered all six finalists winners, and her highlight moment of the night came when she sang with “her fairy godmother,” Cyndi Lauper.
“It was the most thrilling experience of my life,” the 33-year-old performer told HNGN about singing “True Colors” with the pop icon. She compared the experience to a real-life Cinderella story.
“Five weeks ago I’m cleaning a house and now I’m at Radio City Music Hall singing with my fairy godmother and handing me the torch of pop star freedom and I’m going to take that pumpkin and ride it all the way out,” the Iowa native said.
West will also perform at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas with the other finalists. She will soon release her new album through Pledge Music.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” West said. “I mean millions of people voted for me and they know about me… It’s absolutely thrilling and it’s all happening.”
The six finalists finished as follows:
1. Mat Franco
2. Emily West
3. AcroArmy
4. Sons of Serendip
5. Quintavious Johnson
6. Miguel Dakota
