Photos
Video
RSS
TwitterKevin Skinner: 'America's Got Talent' winner's interview
Last night (Wednesday, Sept. 16), 35-year-old country balladeer Kevin Skinner grabbed the top prize in the fourth season of NBC's "America's Got Talent," winning $1 million and a chance to headline in Las Vegas."The American public aren't stupid," said judge Piers Morgan - who had named Skinner early on as one to watch -- right after the end of the competition. "They voted for him, because they recognized one of them. This is a guy off the porch in Kentucky, unemployed, used to catch chickens. Now he's won the biggest talent competition in the world."
With his wife, Kristen, his daughter, Sydney, his parents, his older brother and his wife, and his cousin and his wife, in attendance, Skinner wound up in the final two with opera singer and cancer survivor Barbara Padilla.
"It's starting to sink in," Skinner said after the competition, "and it's not fully yet. I think it'll be a while before it sinks in fully. I always tell everybody, when I walk out and play in front of 80 or 100,000 people, that's when it will sink in."
But he was full of praise for Padilla, whom he had cited to Zap2it as his biggest competition.
"I think she will move the industry, Barbara will," Skinner said. "She's got a voice that's out of this world. I'm sure she's had offers already for big engagements.
"If I'm able to be there, I sure will. I'd like to be there to watch that. It'll be a pleasure."
He also had admiring words for "Britain's Got Talent" runner-up Susan Boyle - who was also out of a job when she auditioned for the U.K. talent show - who made her American debut on the "AGT" finale with a stunning performance of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses."
"A natural that was discovered," Skinner said, "what I'd say, just in the nick of time."
Told that she's now married to a singing superstar, Kristin Skinner said, "Well, I always knew I was. This just puts the icing on the cake. I can really say it and mean it now."
While he did have on snakeskin boots, Skinner was not wearing his familiar baseball cap.
"But I do feel comfortable with a hat on," Skinner said. "I like to, every once in a while, go back to that look and let people know that I'm still the common person that I was."
At that moment, judge Sharon Osbourne swooped in to give Skinner a kiss on the cheek. He smiled and continued, "I don't want to get too far away from that. I just try to sing from what I'm feeling inside and hope that the people watching me will experience what I felt, and they can relate to it."
Follow Zap2it on Twitter for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news updates.
117 Comments
Post a comment
Find it fast
Advertisement
Zap2it Twitter Talk Recent posts
So GLAD that Kevin Skinner won, he totally deserved that. His wife is ONE LUCKY woman. Look forward to the next A.G.T. show. Take care all
D.Ryder
I cannot believe he actually won even I voted for him every single time. However, I have to admit that he probably does not deserve to win, he really doesn't have good vocal, and I will not pay to watch him. But I will buy a CD of his. Anyways,I wish him the best, and hopefully he won't changed too much as a nice person.
Go Kevin, go!
He did a great job from the begining.
I'm happy he won,i voted for him everytime.
Lot's of times
he's a great guy
I didn't follow this show, so I went to YouTube to hear him. This guy Skinner can't sing. He wouldn't have made it past auditions on American Idol, that's how bad he is. Yuck.
I am so glad a Kentucky boy won the competition. He is very good, very down to earth and I think with just a little polishing done, he will be a superstar. He could be the next Keith Whitley. Congratulations Kevin!!! I know your career will be awesome, but don't ever forget your Kentucky roots. This is one Kentucky girl who is very proud of you..
From the beginning of Kevin Skinner's appearance on the America's Got Talent show, especially after hearing him sing, I knew he had a voice equal to that of Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and other singers with natural styles that made them stand out from the crowd, especially from the great vocalists. I thought then, "he just might win this thing." I also wanted him to win. I think the voters, like myself, could not bear for him to return to his former life. And, now he doesn't have too, nor does his family. Great vocalists are wonderful. But when you compare the numbers of them with the small numbers of singers like Kevin, it is easy to understand how America judges "its" winners.
Some reporters and bloggers have posted comments saying they don't think he deserved to win. They obviously didn't see his earlier performances. The EMOTION! The man can move people, and he has the distinctive voice of the next Willy Nelson. I hate country music, but I have been transfixed by this guy since I first saw him perform.
I was very happy to watch as Kevin Skinner, "a good ole boy" from humble beginnings in Kentucky, was announced the winner of Americas Got Talent. However, I was just as disappointed and dismayed to wake this A.M. to see Susan Boyle received far more coverage that Kevin Skinner. This should have been his moment in the spotlight as she has already enjoyed hers.
kevin was my favorite from the beginning, "A Chicken Catcher" That is a hard and honest job. Be proud of it.My husband and I have been in the poultry business for over 25years, from Plant and Live prouduction Managers to Broiler producers--Good for you Kevin and your Family-you have paid your dues happy to see a dream come true! God Bless you, and remember to live today as if "Tommorrow Never Comes!
I think it is sad that America was obviously voting on popularity and not talent.
Clearly the runner up and even the other 3 runners up had a great deal more talent. Was anyone watching the same show I was.