How far did Tyler go on AGT?

A winner was named in Monday night’s finale of “America’s Got Talent: The Champions,” and fans of Tyler Butler-Figueroa tuned in from near and far to see if the young violinist would come out on top in his second “AGT” Top 10 showing.

The 12-year-old Raleigh native was a finalist last year in Season 14 of “America’s Got Talent,” but did not win. He was chosen along with 39 other “AGT” fan favorites to compete in this year’s second season of “The Champions” spinoff show.

Tyler has been a strong performer all season, nailing both up-tempo and softer songs.

On last week’s finale performance show, Tyler impressed judges with a moving version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” completely unaccompanied for the first time in any of his “America’s Got Talent” performances.

On Monday’s results episode, Tyler performed on the Lewis Capaldi song “Someone You Loved” with fellow “Champion” finalist Angelina Jordan and Kseniya Simonova, from last year’s “Champions” season.

Did Tyler win ‘America’s Got Talent: The Champions’?

This “Champions” season has been a little different than the regular “AGT” season, especially in how winners were picked.

Viewers have not been able to vote for any performers this season. Instead, a group of SuperFans was put in control. Except for the Golden Buzzer picks earlier in the season, and a few “saves” by judges, the SuperFans made the selections.

The same was true for Monday’s previously recorded finale. The winner, based on last week’s performances, was selected by SuperFans.

And this season, Tyler came in third place — which is pretty amazing.

“I just feel very proud of myself that I get to inspire millions of people and that I made it this far,” Tyler told host Terry Crews.

Tyler’s hometown is very proud of him, too.

(This year’s “Champions” winner was the dance group V. Unbeatable.)

More about Tyler

Tyler was also a finalist in last season’s “America’s Got Talent,” making it to the Top 10 before being eliminated.

In Season 1, Tyler was the Golden Buzzer pick of judge Simon Cowell. He told Cowell that he started playing the violin because he was bullied at school. Tyler was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was four-and-a-half-years-old. He underwent three years of chemotherapy, which caused his hair to fall out and kids teased him for that, he said.

Last year, Tyler celebrated four years being cancer-free.

You can follow Tyler and learn more about his appearances on his social media pages.

Facebook: facebook.com/TylerButlerFigueroaViolinist

Instagram: tylerbutlerfigueroaviolinist

Twitter: @TButlerFigueroa

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCWg8rMF8ukLROSCjYZbhV7g

This story was originally published February 17, 2020 9:53 PM.

Brooke Cain is a North Carolina native who has worked at The News & Observer for more than 25 years. She is the service journalism editor and writes about TV and local media for The N&O’s Happiness is a Warm TV blog.

11 February 2020, 16:31 | Updated: 11 February 2020, 16:36

Young violinist Tyler Butler-Figueroa, a standout contestant in the 2019 season of America’s Got Talent, is now competing in the finals of AGT: The Champions.

Tyler Butler-Figueroa is a young violinist on America’s Got Talent, whose cover of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Stronger’ earned him Simon Cowell’s coveted Golden Buzzer.

Hailing from North Carolina, Tyler was bullied by classmates after being diagnosed with leukaemia aged just four and a half.

Before his first AGT audition, Tyler said: “I just didn’t want to be the kid with cancer. So now, I’m the kid who plays the violin.”

According to TMZ, the 11-year-old musician is on the cusp of landing a record deal. He could allegedly get a $100,000 advance on his first album if he’s declared the winner of season 14.

After his first audition, Simon Cowell tweeted: “I am always amazed every year who we meet on our Shows. And I would love you to meet Tyler and this is his Golden Buzzer moment.”

Who is Tyler Butler-Figueroa?

Tyler is an 11-year-old American violinist and fifth-grader at Walnut Creek Elementary in North Carolina, US. He started playing his instrument when he was seven and a half years old.

“I wanted to start playing the violin because I was being bullied in school,” Tyler said in his first audition for America’s Got Talent. “It’s because I had cancer, I almost died.”

“The doctors treated me with chemotherapy. When I lost my hair, I was really sad and embarrassed at the same time to go to school. They used to make fun of me and laugh at me because I was different. They would spread rumours to say that my cancer was contagious, and they all wanted to stay away from me,” Tyler continued.

Read more: 10-year-old opera singer Emanne Beasha wows AGT judges with beautiful soprano aria >

His mother, Kisua, added: “One day, Tyler saw a flyer at his school and it said, ‘After school programme – free violin lessons.’ He said, ‘Mom, I want to do it.’ But no one in our family plays an instrument… and the violin?!

“Once he started that class, it was like a sunshine. He was just full of energy and happy. I was like, ‘I’ve got my son back.’”

Tyler, who has been in remission for four years now, received a standing ovation from the audience and four judges after his first audition.

“You are an extraordinary young man. We hear too many stories about people being bullied, but I can tell you one thing: most people are bullied because they’re better than the people who bully them,” Cowell told Tyler.

Will Tyler win America’s Got Talent: the Champions?

Audiences love him – but Tyler is up against some stiff competition in the final.

The winner will be revealed next Monday (17 February).