Kevin Skinner Wins “America’s Got Talent”

September 16th, 2009 by Castina

Kevin Skinner, a singing chicken catcher from Mayfield, Kentucky took home the $1 million prize and a contract for a show in Las Vegas, on Wednesday night’s season finale of America’s Got Talent.

With guest performances by Leona Lewis, Shakira, Rascal Flatts, Susan Boyle, and montages of highlights from the past season, the show was packed full.

“I feel so good right now,” the shy 35-year-old father-of-two told host Nick Cannon. “I’m ready to perform. I wanna go out there and give ‘em the best show I can. Thanks, America, for voting me in.”

Barbara Padilla, an opera singer from Houston, was this season’s frontrunner going into the finals, but ended up coming in second. The Recycled Percussion Band took third place. Skinner will headline an “America’s Got Talent” show at the Planet Hollywood Resort&Casino hosted by Jerry Springer this October.

What did you think of the finish?

What's Hot at PopCrunch?

23 Comments, add yours

23 Responses to “Kevin Skinner Wins “America’s Got Talent””

On September 16th 2009, April Palmer wrote:

This season of AGT was incredible, the final ten that were chosen were the strongest and best of all, and each deserved to be there.

Kevin Skinner was a long shot all along, but there was something charming and appealing about him. If he is for real then it was nice to see the underdog win for achange.

He may have said he was just a chicken catcher, but something tells me his country dumb routine suckered us all in.

Good luck Kevin, and I hope that you don’t waste this opportunity that you have been given. There is no doubt that you worked hard to get it, but now the real work begins. Work hard and show America that you are worthy of our trust, and not only rise to the challenge ahead of you, be triumphant and surpass all of our wildest hopes and dreams for you.
On September 16th 2009, Sherilyn Slawinski wrote:

I believe that what happened this evening’s voting occured just as it should have been. I was a fan of both Kevin and Barbara. I would have been happy with no matter who won. I do believe they have both just launched a career. Thank you for asking the public’s opinion.
On September 16th 2009, Phil wrote:

The biggest waste of time ever…it’s hard to believe the Kevin Skinner is the most talented American of 2009. I feel so bad for all the actual talented performers who didn’t win.
On September 17th 2009, Anika wrote:

AMERICA GOT IT RIGHT!!!

Congratulations Kevin Skinner!
On September 17th 2009, Jeff wrote:

What a joke. Did vote the worst .com play a role in this? I admit I liked Skinner in his audition song. After that I could not listen to him. Thank g-d for tivo where you can fast forward. Did anyone listen to him with Thelma Houston? He should not of made top 5. Top 2 should of been barbara and Percussion. Honestly would you pay a nickle to hear Skinner?
On September 17th 2009, Jan wrote:

I was glad to see Kevin Skinner win. The remaing 9 of the top 10 got to perform in front of millions and no doubt they will also be on their way to stardom. Good luck to them all!
On September 17th 2009, No fix, yeah right wrote:

I don’t know what everybody is getting so upset about. Kevin Skinner was very bad but America didn’t have much to do with it. I’m sure that the producers do look at the percentages of the voting but all they do is use that to make their decisions on who will go up with whom. The people are coming with talent but it’s really up to who the producers of the show to put together the groups of acts that they think will bring in the biggest viewer audience at home to watch with. They are selling commercials remember. Do you actual think that they are looking for America’s next big act? No way. It’s about the money. It’s just like any of these other shows like this. If you want to make yourself happy the next time, don’t watch and or don’t vote. It’s a waste of your time. If you do watch, just watch for the entertainment value and don’t take it serious because they don’t. There are all about the money. Really.

Hope this helps
On September 17th 2009, tinker wrote:

on september 17th 2009,Tinker wrote:

Simple and from the heart, in my book he is up there with Garth Brooks,Kenny Rogers and Johnny Cash….If you don’t like country music, then you will not like kevin skinner….you’re just not country….i feel sorry for you…..you need to listen to the words….
On September 17th 2009, linda wrote:

This show was fixed from the beginning… Every week the judges would go on and on about this skinner guy… that i have heard singers in HIgh School tens times better then him…. and on the finale.. he was off key flat sounding terrible….. so i don’t think america voted this guy in….. i don’t know why he was picked maybe a relative of some excutive or something but he sure didn’t win for talent…..i will not watch again if they get another season… its a joke like most REALITY shows there is nothing real about them….
On September 17th 2009, Sue wrote:

Kevin is an endearing guy, but Linda definitely should have won. Her struggle to overcome cancer was very heartwarming, and her voice is amazing. Tons of people would love to see her perform in Vegas. Kevin’s show will not last long in Vegas. He can’t sing a note to save his life. Who is actually going to pay to hear him sing like an American idol reject??? The outcome had to be fixed. There is no way that he genuinely beat Barbara.
On September 17th 2009, Foodie wrote:

Jeff and others, I said the same thing to my daughter – Did you hear him sing with Thelma Houston? I thought he didn’t have a mic on and he looked like he didn’t know the words. Between him and Barbara, it should have been Barbara but my faves were the Texas Tenors! :-)
On September 17th 2009, kim wrote:

congrats Kevin! no matter what people are bad mouthing about you, i believe you were the best on the show and you really deserve it. you’re my favorite singer of all time, i’m so glad you won.
God bless you and your family
On September 17th 2009, Anna wrote:

I think there’s something behind the whole thing. Like, who with some clout or some sort of blackmail on someone big in AGT insisted that they push Kevin Skinner through? I saw every episode, and I watched the look on the judges faces and the pathetic compliments that they gave him (e.g. “I like your smile” – yeah, sure you do). If anyone was listening, Piers gave many hints that he knew Skinner was not talented. Yes, a lot of people liked him, but he shouldn’t have won. Kevin Skinner won because someone insisted that he win. Why? We’ll never know.
On September 17th 2009, Susan wrote:

In reality Kevin Skinner was not the one with the most polished / beautiful voice, not even in his physical appearance.
BUT………… he totally embodied heart, soul and spirit…….he was so transparent. Life isn’t always about those who are so physically georgeous or super talented…….that is just the surface. Life is real and sometimes goes beyond polish and talent.
America sees enough polish and talent , enough of the perfect voice, perfect smile, perfect hairdo, perfect body all on etertainment tonight or lifestyles of the rich and famous, glamour magazine, cosmopolitian etc. I’m thankful that America is tired of the superficial and ready to embrace the raw unpolished diamond in the rough. “Thank You America” !! It’s time to look beyond the glitter and truly see the gold.
On September 17th 2009, Thomas wrote:

The first night Kevin sang, I felt he would go the distance. I know Kevin’s background and family life and community. He well deserves the tremendous win. We lived near his home and to come from that area to the #1 spot on Americas got Talent, there was a lot of folks pulling and still pulling for Kevin Skinner. You go GUY and God bless you. Thanks AGT for the excellent season , keep going.
On September 17th 2009, Charles wrote:

Kevin is a great guy and this prize means a lot to him and his family and congratulations to him for that. However, his talent is not to the level where it needs to be. To adequately judge one’s talent, you have to compare them to the top performers in their field. Kevin has a nice tone to his voice but his notes fall flat due to poor breath control. He will need some strenuous vocal training if he is to succeed as a performer. If you compare him to Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson or anyone else who has hit the big time in country music, Kevin just doesn’t have the voice. I must admit I don’t listen to operatic very often, but Barbara Padilla, in my opinion, has the level of talent that the top in her field have. The same can be said for Recycled Percussion and the Fab Five. It’s obvious to me that people weren’t voting for talent. But good luck to Kevin.
On September 17th 2009, Terry wrote:

I agree with Thomas. I told my wife when he first walked on that stage and spoke that he had to have talent and he showed it. I picked him to take it all on the first night. Then along came Barbara. Wow!! I am sure you will see her in N.Y. city and other places where opera is big. She is a gifted woman. I would pay to see either on stage.
On September 17th 2009, tina wrote:

So kevin did not sing so well with Thelma Houston…I don’t think any of them really did…They all have their own way of singing and Disco was not any of the contestants..They all sounded kind of off..But Kevin is a one of a kind person..It is good to see a man cry not once but quite a few times from the heart. He deserves to be the winner..I will certainly buy one of his cd’s when ready..
On September 17th 2009, agt fan wrote:

All this the vote is rigged talk is absolutely dumb. Instead of using my phone votes to vote for who i like, i call ALL the numbers to see who’s are busiest. The only reason i watched last night was to just confirm what i already knew. It was a Skinner/ Padilla final with a Skinner win. Barbara’s line was steadily busy for roughly 20-25 minutes after voting began while Kevins was busy thru the half hour. No one, and i mean no one else’s line was ever busy at all. At least not when i called. So maybe the producers wanted a country win, they very well might have pushed the judges to gush over him, but in the end it was the AMERICAN PUBLIC that gave him the win he so rightly deserved.
On September 17th 2009, dosh wrote:

Well, if Kevin Skinner is the best talent that a country the size of America can produce……….I despair! Susan Boyle was all over the international news after her win, I have heard nothing about him. Sorry, he is just not good enough
On September 18th 2009, Big Bully wrote:

I’m disturbed by all of the blathering about Skinner’s crying and “humility”.

The show is called “America’s Got Talent” and Kevin Skinner is NOT a professional singer. We all personally know people who can sing better than Skinner – he can’t even carry a tune!!

We now have a culture where “every one gets a trophy” and it makes me sick.

This is an embarrassment for the entire country.
On September 18th 2009, Alice Smith wrote:

All of America had the chance to vote and I congratulate the winner. Strong words against America’s choice brings out the worst in those in those who have never been taught to lose gratiously.
I am so happy for Keven Skinner
On September 26th 2009, Laura Miller wrote:

This was my first time to watch america got talent
I will never for Kevin Skinner.
When will he release some more music thanks.