If you haven’t heard of Sam Cieri yet, get ready to be amazed. This 21-year-old singer from New Jersey blew everyone away on America’s Got Talent with his incredible voice. Not only did he impress with his amazing vocal range, but he also tugged at our hearts with his original song, “What Makes You Sad,” which he performed with his indie band, Nicotine Dolls. After that performance, Sam quickly became a rising star.
You Won’t Believe This Voice! | Nicotine Dolls Takes a Chance With an Original Song
During America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League, Sam performed a beautiful cover of “You Are the Reason.” With just a piano to back him up, Sam’s soulful voice took center stage, and it was clear he wasn’t just singing the words—he was pouring his emotions into every note. But that wasn’t all. He also performed “What Makes You Sad,” a song from his band, and it showed how much he cares about his music. It wasn’t just a performance; it felt real and raw.
The judges couldn’t get enough of him. Heidi Klum and Sofía Vergara stood clapping and praising with joy while Gabrielle Union had the brightest smile on her face. Even Simon Cowell, known for being rigid and tough, gave him a thumbs up which would be considered a bow as per Simon’s nature. He said, “What I liked, Sam, you know what? It was real. Ya know… you had this… I don’t want to say cockiness, but between the honesty that you had with us, it came off as if you’d swallowed some great singer because your voice is literally like somebody else in your body.”
Sam’s audition went viral. In just two months, his performance got over 4.6 million views on YouTube! Fans couldn’t stop talking about how his music made them feel. “I am weeping. Someone is cutting onions. That was amazing,” one comment said. Another wrote, “The emotion Sam brings to this song is incredible.” It’s noticable by many that Sam aims to build a cnnection with his audinece unlike many other artists.
But Sam didn’t stop there. During the judge cuts round, he sang “A Cappella,” a song that really showed his passion for becoming a true artist. This performance earned him another standing ovation and, to everyone’s surprise, Simon Cowell’s golden buzzer! That golden buzzer sent him straight to the quarter-finals, and he kept amazing us with his soulful performances.
Iris // I’m With You – Nicotine Dolls (cover)
In the finale, Sam performed with the “Say You Won’t Let Go” singer. His performance was incredible, but he didn’t make it to the top five, and he was eliminated. However, Sam made a bold choice—he decided to withdraw from AGT before his second performance. He explained on TikTok that the producers wanted him to perform alone, without his band, Nicotine Dolls. Sam knew he couldn’t compromise his music or his band, so he walked away. That takes a lot of guts.
Since AGT, Sam has kept creating music with Nicotine Dolls. The band has gained a lot of fans over time, with over 200K subscribers on YouTube and millions of views. Sam has shown that he’s not just another reality show contestant—he’s a true artist who stays true to his music.
Sam Cieri is one of those artists who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to follow his own path. If you haven’t already done so, make sure to follow Sam on Instagram and check out his music. This is just the beginning of this talented singer, and you won’t want to miss what he does next!