New Orleans singer Jourdan Blue is in waiting mode at the moment.
One might catch him singing on a French Quarter corner or performing at a private party. But come August, he'll be back in Los Angeles to continue his "America's Got Talent" journey.
Winning a coveted golden buzzer during his "AGT" audition which aired May 27 sent the ¶¶Òõh artist, 23, straight past the semifinals into the talent competition series' live shows, which will begin Aug. 19. That night or soon after, viewers will see Blue sing again and hopefully continue to advance in the contest.
On any given day, you might catch New Orleans singer Jourdan Blue performing in the French Quarter.
Throughout the live shows, it's America's vote that will determine who stays and who goes home. The winner will receive $1 million and the chance to headline a show on the Las Vegas strip.
Since his audition aired, Blue's been getting lots of congratulatory calls and texts.
"A lot of everything," he said. "It's been absolutely insane, yes."
This marks his second TV competition series. In his first in 2021, Blue reached the Top 25 on ABC's "American Idol" before being eliminated. Although he could give "Idol" another go-around, Blue said he declined that offer and others from "The Voice," "Boy Band" and initially "America's Got Talent."
However, months later, at the urging of his online community called "Blue Crew," the singer switched gears and contacted "AGT" about an audition.
A bald judge Howie Mandel, left, jokes around with New Orleans singer Jourdan Blue and his long locks on the set of 'America's Got Talent.'
That's when the magic started happening.
"Your tone and the way that you delivered that song was not only pitch-perfect, but everything perfect, Jourdan. It really was," judge Mel B said.
Judge Simon Cowell shared her enthusiasm.
"You have such a distinctive voice," Cowell told him. "You are so cool. And you feed off the audience. They love you and how you made me feel just there was actually amazing. Seriously amazing. Loved it. Loved it."
"The hair, the voice, your energy. You are a rock star," judge Sofia Vergara added.
As Blue's girlfriend and infant son watched from the audience, judge Howie Mandel sealed the deal for him.
¶¶Òõh's Jourdan Blue takes in his 'golden buzzer' moment on Tuesday's 'America's Got Talent.'
"This is just the beginning," Mandel said.
With that, Mandel walked over and hit that golden buzzer.
Here, Blue reflects on that night and the struggles that led up to it.Â
Just before going onstage for the audition, you called your Grandpappy John. Looks like you guys are very close. Would you elaborate on that?
When I was younger, I made decisions here and there just like anybody else that I've learned from and grown from. I ended up getting myself into some trouble and ended up on my own at 16. So I lived on my own and I stayed in bathrooms at my work or at friends' houses, different places. When my grandpa found out about that, he immediately drove an hour-and-a-half to come and pick me up.
He moved me into his apartment, no questions asked.
I appreciate that so much. That being said, my mom and my dad are still around. I'm very close with them, but in that moment, there was nobody else for me that I would listen to or that I would really respond well to other than him. And so I'm very thankful that he's in my life.
As the years progressed, it went from me living with him to him living with me. And then health problem after health problem. I took him to his appointments, and that's my best friend.
Judge Simon Cowell, left, congratulates Jourdan Blue following his 'America's Got Talent' audition.
You performed the song "Breakeven" by Irish pop-rockers The Script for your audition. Do you sing other genres of music, too?
Oh yeah. I sing R&B, I'll rap, I do hip-hop as well. I'll do country. I love soul. Any type of soulful music and stuff like that, pop rock, a little bit of everything. I just don't do the heavy metal.
Have you had any kind of formal vocal training?
No, I have not. It's all self-taught. Now, that being said, I've definitely had friends and people who I've looked up to and asked questions, but I've never actually taken lessons.
Since being on your own, it sounds like you've had some day jobs, but then did your street performing at night?
Correct. Well, it happened one after the other. I wasn't balancing day jobs and singing on the street. I actually impulsively decided to quit my job and never looked back, and that's when I started doing shows, street performing and pursuing social media hard. That's where I really cut my teeth and learned to do what I do now.
And where in particular do you perform?
I do a lot of private events and private shows. When I first started out, I used to do a lot of bars and restaurants, but now that I'm kind of, I guess, elevated in some way, I mainly just do street performances and then private events (weddings, parties) that people reach out for.
Whenever I sing on the street, which is my main thing, it's at Jackson Square, or I'll sing on Bourbon Street.
So you still play Bourbon Street since the New Year's Day terrorist attack?
I have gone back out to Bourbon a couple of times just because there are certain goals that I have to meet some days. I do social media, but it's not the most reliable. I mean, the community's amazing. They always push for me.
There are times that I really have no other choice (financially) but to go out and sing on the street. Sometimes it could be dangerous, sometimes it could be very frustrating. I'm standing there and hundreds of people not even passing a glance or anything. But, then there are other days when I go out there, and I really rock it and kill it. And it's an amazing time and experience.
If you were going to go out to listen to a show, who would be the artist you'd want to see?
I've never been to a music festival. I've never been to a concert. I've never seen anyone actually perform, like a big artist or anything like that.Â
But the short answer is, I want somebody who's good at what they do. Â I want the people who really put on a show, and I've heard that Post Malone puts on a show. I've heard that Teddy Swims will put on a show. I've even heard that Harry Styles puts on a show, and Harry Styles is not somebody that I listen to religiously.
But that's what I want at the end of the day, is I really want a great experience. I want to take something away for my own. I want to learn something when I go there.
We have to ask about your hair, because it seems to have a personality of its own. That's one of the first things people reacted to when you walked out. Have you had long hair for a long time?
I actually had a shaved head in July 2018. I ended up going to this military boot camp for six months.
I was growing my hair out at the time, but you couldn't do the boot camp without shaving your head. I was devastated the first time. As soon as I got out of the bootcamp, I was like, "I'm never cutting my hair again." Then the long hair was born.
"America's Got Talent" airs at 7 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC. Episodes also stream on Peacock the following day.
