When RL Bell stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage, he arrived with the kind of self-assured swagger that immediately made you take notice. At 50 years old, the Houston-based massage therapist and former bodybuilder cut a striking figure: long hair that he tossed back with practiced ease, a muscular frame that spoke to decades in the gym, and a grin that suggested he knew exactly the kind of reaction he wanted to provoke. He opened with a little banter about his life — how clients sometimes ask him to sing during massages, how he usually prefers to play a CD of his own music so he can keep working — and his humor landed well with the crowd. There was a palpable sense that he was presenting a “total package,” deliberately tailoring his act to entertain “the ladies” in the room.
Bell’s choice of material — the soulful classic “Me and Mrs. Jones” — hinted at what he planned: an R&B-flavored, theatrical take rather than a straightforward vocal showcase. From the first note, he leaned into dramatic showmanship. His deep, smooth voice carried the song’s romantic frustration with a deliberate, smoky tone, and he punctuated many lines with broad, physical gestures that brought a cabaret-style energy to the theater. He worked the stage with confidence, flexing his biceps and striking poses that felt choreographed to elicit cheers. At one point he removed his hat, tilting it back like a performer who’d been doing this a long time; later, as the song reached its more intense moments, he peeled off his shirt in a move that split the room.
Audience reaction was immediate and noisy — whistles, hoots, and applause that suggested many viewers were delighted by the daring display. Some of the judges responded in kind: Mel B lit up, encouraging and laughing with a kind of delighted abandon, and Heidi Klum seemed genuinely entertained, smiling as if enjoying a live spectacle. They praised the act’s entertainment value and Bell’s ability to command attention, calling the performance “magical” and appreciating the way he made the song his own. For those members of the audience and panel who love a bit of theatrical flair, Bell delivered exactly what they came for.
But not everyone was on the same page. The male judges, more critical of theatrical excess, reacted differently. Simon Cowell in particular took issue with the more over-the-top elements of the performance. He acknowledged that Bell had vocal ability — singing high notes that showed range and control — but argued that the striptease-style theatrics muddied the impression. Simon’s critique was blunt and vivid: he called the routine “too corny,” likening it to a bag of sugar — sweet and perhaps enjoyable in small doses, but ultimately lacking substance. It was a pointed comment meant to separate genuine musical artistry from a gimmick-heavy presentation.
Howie Mandel’s response blended critique with comedy. He wasn’t outright hostile, but he couldn’t help poking fun at the theatrical mélange Bell had created; Howie quipped that the performer felt like “Rick James meets Hulk Hogan,” an image that captured the clash of sultry R&B and hyper-macho display. The joke landed with the audience and underscored Howie’s reluctance to celebrate an act that prioritized show over subtlety. Unlike Mel B and Heidi, Howie tapped his “No” button, a clear sign of the panel’s division.
The feedback session that followed felt electric, charged with both admiration and skepticism. Mel B and Heidi continued to praise his charisma and the way he entertained the crowd, insisting there was something endearing and memorable about Bell’s personality and vocal moments. They pushed back on the more negative takes, arguing that entertainment value itself has merit on a platform like AGT. Simon remained the cautious voice, advocating for restraint and authenticity. Howie’s humor softened his “No,” preventing the exchange from becoming overly harsh, but it left little doubt where he stood.
In a twist that seemed to please his fans, Simon ultimately chose to give Bell the deciding “Yes” vote that moved him forward. Whether that decision came from a belief that Bell had untapped potential or from a recognition of the contestant’s ability to draw a crowd, it was a dramatic capstone to a split verdict. The final “Yes” sent ripples of delight through his supporters; people in the theater and online celebrated the idea that a performer so unabashedly theatrical could still earn passage to the next round.
RL Bell’s audition remains the kind of moment that sparks debate: was it a memorable, entertaining act that showcased a performer confident in his persona, or was it a gimmicky turn that hid true vocal nuance behind spectacle? For many viewers, the answer depended on what they came to the show to see. Either way, Bell accomplished what he likely set out to do — he got people talking, he polarized a panel of seasoned judges, and he advanced in the competition on the strength of both his voice and his unabashed showmanship.
