Cyndi Lauper, Jennifer Hudson & More to Perform on AMERICA'S GOT TALENT Finale, Today

By: Sep. 17, 2014
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Travis Barker, Cyndi Lauper and more surprise celebrity guests will perform during the finale of "America's Got Talent" on Wednesday, Sept. 17 (8-10 p.m. ET) on NBC, rounding out a lineup that includes previously announced performers Jennifer Hudson, Lenny Kravitz, Pitbull, Ed Sheeran and Train. ??

In addition to solo performances by Pitbull (featuring the Rockettes) and Ed Sheeran, the final six "AGT" acts will perform alongside their idols for a very special evening of one-of-a-kind performances. The collaborations are: Travis Barker with AcroArmy, Jennifer Hudson with Quintavious Johnson, Lenny Kravitz with Miguel Dakota, Cyndi Lauper with Emily West, Train with Sons of Serendip and a surprise celebrity guest assisting Mat Franco for a special illusion.?

Travis Barker rose to fame in the late 90's as drummer for punk-pop band blink-182. Barker joined the band in 1998 and remained with the band until the end of its tenure in 2005 and again when the band informally re-formed as presenters at the 2009 Grammy Awards. In 2007, Barker released a series of remixes in which he put his unmatched percussion style on songs such as "Umbrella" by Rihanna and "Crank That" by Soulja Boy. He continued to develop his skills as a producer, releasing a star-studded debut solo album "Give the Drummer Some" (2011) with features from rap titans such as Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and Ludacris. Recently, Barker produced an entire EP, "Pyscho White" with rapper Yelawolf. Barker continues to produce music and play various music festivals across the country, while overseeing his street style/skate accessory/apparel company Famous Stars and Straps (founded in 1999.)?

This year, multi-talented Grammy, Emmy and Tony-winner Cyndi Lauper celebrated her 30-year solo career with a special re-release of her debut album, "She's So Unusual: A 30th Anniversary Celebration" (released April 2014). The deluxe two-CD album is comprised of rare demos, live concert recordings and remixes of some of Lauper's classic hits including "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time After Time." Recently, Lauper has received an abundance of praise for her work on the critically-acclaimed Broadway production "Kinky Boots." Lauper earned a Tony Award for Best Score and became the first woman to win that award solo. "Kinky Boots" just launched its first nation-wide tour, hitting cities across the country including San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, San Francisco, and many more.?

Multi-platinum rock band, Train, is set to release their seventh studio album, "Bulletproof Picasso" via Columbia Records (Sept. 16.) The album is a collaborative body of work-the band's frontman, singer/songwriter Pat Monahan, enlisted the help of a variety of collaborators including Butch Walker (producer) and Jake Sinclair (engineer) to add their musical expertise. The first single off the album, "Angel in Blue Jeans," has already made the Top 15 of Triple A and Adult Top 40 radio. Formed in San Francisco in 1994, Train has delivered ? twenty years of chart-topping hits such as "Meet Virginia," "Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me)," "Calling All Angels" and "Hey Soul Sister." The band has earned multiple platinum/gold citations, including three Grammy Awards, two BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS and dozens of other honors.?

The evening will culminate with host Nick Cannon announcing the winner of Season 9 of "America's Got Talent." This season's winner will headline "America's Got Talent Live" at The AXIS Powered by Monster at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas (Sept. 26 and 27).‎ The show will feature fan favorite acts from Season 9 as well as Season 8 runner up, comedian Taylor Williamson. Since appearing on "AGT," Williamson has been headlining sold-out comedy clubs and theaters across America, making people laugh with his dry, silly, self-deprecating sense of humor. Tickets range in price from $59.50 - $129, plus applicable tax and fees, and may be purchased online at www.planethollywoodresort.com or in-person at The AXIS box office at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.‎

During this week's two-night finale, "AGT" host Nick Cannon will take fashion to a whole new level when he takes the stage in a custom made, all-diamond pair of shoes valued at $2 million. The shoes, designed and created by famed jewelry designer Jason Arasheben, CEO Jason of Beverly Hills, are made of over 14,000 full cut round brilliant white diamonds and took nearly one year and over 2,000 man hours to perfect. "I always experiment with fashion and jewelry, but this year we wanted to make something original for the finale," said Cannon. "So it just seemed fitting that since we're all about winning the million here at 'AGT,'I should have about a million on each foot."‎

More information, including bios and social media contacts for each act, can be found at www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/cast/season-9 ‎‎

"America's Got Talent" stars celebrity judges Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel, and is hosted by Nick Cannon. "AGT" is produced by Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America. Simon Cowell, Jason Raff, Sam Donnelly, Trish Kinane and Richard Wallace are the executive producers. ‎‎

Please visit the official show site at: http://www.nbc.com/agt‎‎

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Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos



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