Tom Sandoval stunned the America’s Got Talent judges with an unexpected performance of ‘Take on Me’ two years after the Scandoval scandal.
Tom Sandoval is trading Bravo drama for the big stage—literally. In a preview of the upcoming America’s Got Talent episode airing June 24, the Vanderpump Rules alum stuns both the audience and judges with a surprise audition that’s already making waves.
Best known for his reality TV fame and the headline-grabbing Scandoval cheating scandal involving exes Ariana Madix and Raquel Leviss, Sandoval is now setting his sights on a new reputation: musician.
“My name is Tom Sandoval, I was the most hated man in America,” the Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras frontman says candidly in a sneak peek clip posted to Instagram on June 20. “This is the chance to show who I am as a musician.”
Dressed in black pants and a shimmering green, bedazzled jacket, Sandoval performs a bold cover of A-ha’s 1980s hit “Take on Me”. The performance begins with Sofía Vergara raising a skeptical eyebrow, but by the time Sandoval hits the high note in the chorus, her doubt turns to surprise—mirrored by cheers from the crowd.
Even America’s Got Talent tough-guy judge Simon Cowell, who initially looked unimpressed when Sandoval walked on stage, was eventually won over. By the end of the performance, Simon was smiling and enjoying the show, a rarity for contestants without a musical pedigree.
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Fans will have to wait until Tuesday night to find out if Sandoval advances to the next round alongside judges Howie Mandel and Mel B, but this isn’t the first time the reality star has shared a moment with Howie. In 2023, the comedian hosted Sandoval’s first post-Scandoval interview on his Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, where Sandoval addressed the backlash surrounding his highly publicized breakup.
“Nothing is excusable for what I did,” he admitted at the time, reflecting on his nearly decade-long relationship with Ariana. “I definitely deserve the hate.” He also expressed disappointment in some former friends for blasting him online rather than reaching out personally.
He added that his original plan was to end the relationship in therapy: “I had made it pretty clear in therapy that I wanted to take the steps to break up, but Ariana really started fighting for it and I felt so, so bad about it.”
Now, two years later, it seems Sandoval is attempting a fresh start—this time under the AGT spotlight.
Catch his full performance and find out if he makes it through to the next round when America’s Got Talent airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. on NBC.
