When Howie Mandel hit the coveted Golden Buzzer, 16-year-old Christian Guardino couldn't have been more surprised.
When Christian took the stage, he was obviously very nervous his hands shaking as he was answering Simon's questions. Once he opened his mouth to sing "Who's Lovin' You" it's like all his fears disappeared- and with good reason.
There wasn't a dry eye in the house after an emotional performance for the inspiring story of Guardino. He received a standing ovation from the judges and audience causing Howie to slam that Golden Buzzer.
"I wanted to cry," Guardino tells EW. "I was really nervous before I got on stage. I was just thinking, I can't mess up. I can't mess up. I can't mess up. But when I saw everything that was going on with the judges, all my nerves turned into strong energy and excitement. I started going off on the song and getting comfortable."
See how this young man overcame blindness to perform on the AGT stage on the next page.
Being blind as a child, he was able to regain his ability to see at the age of 12 after undergoing a revolutionary treatment.
When dealing with his vision impairment as a child, he turned to music.
"Music was always my escape," he says. "When I was dealing with my condition, it was a way to forget everything that was happening."
His struggle with his vision ended up amplifying his musical talent in the end.
"My hearing was strengthened because of my eyesight," he says. "I hear music in a strong way. It's always been there for me."
Guardino has had a successful music background, considering his age. He has sang multiple times at the Apollo Theater and even performed a duet with Jordin Sparks at an event for Michelle Obama's Partnership for a Healthy America.
He takes his musical inspiration from Stevie Wonder who also has issues with his sight.
I feel like I relate to him and what he goes through being blind and struggling with his sight," he says. "I love his voice. It's incredible."
Getting Howie's Golden Buzzer bodes well for the team as in 2016, Howie hit for Grace VanderWaal who went on to win the whole competition!
Now there is only one buzzer left- Heidi's. Who will she choose to go straight through the Live Show?