“America’s Got Talent” crowned its Season 5 winner Wednesday night and it’s Michael Grimm from Waveland, Mississippi.
Grimm, the soulful singer with a raspy voice, beat out flamboyant performer Prince Poppycock, child singer Jackie Evancho, and the black-light dance group Fighting Gravity for the $1 million prize.
“Is this real?” he muttered when he was announced the winner, smiling while embracing Evancho, the runner-up.
“I just never thought of winning this,” Grimm told the USA Today.
The 32-year-old, who said in his auditions that he played gigs in small restaurants and bars in Las Vegas, will now get a chance to headline a Vegas show as part of his prize.
In the finale before the results were announced, Grimm sang “When A Man Loves A Woman” by Percy Sledge. “Perfect song, a perfect delivery and a great performance,” said judge Sharon Osbourne.
Grimm, who began singing professionally aged 12, plans to use some of his winnings to buy his grandparents Tom and Laura Butters a new house. The couple lost their home and most of their possessions in Hurricane Katrina.
