Dorothy Williams, 90, Impresses America's Got Talent's Nick Cannon With Burlesque Act

See why Simon Cowell called her "fascinating"

By Chris Harnick Jul 06, 2016 1:12 PMTags
America's Got TalentNBC

Dorothy Williams, 90, took to the America's Got Talent stage and shocked everybody."When I get on that stage, I want to prove that you're never too old to follow your dreams," she said. Those dreams? Stardom by way of burlesque.

Williams, who hails from Hawaii, both shocked and delighted the judges including Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B. with her tassels. Cowell and Klum gave her a standing ovation.

"I have to say, you're 90 years old: Good for you," Mel B. said. "Good for you!"

Klum deemed the performance "really, really special" and declared it put her in a good mood. Mandel said he found Williams inspiring and that she's a star. As for Cowell, he said he found the 90-year-old widow "fascinating."

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But host Nick Cannon swooped in and made Williams' day. "We had a conversation backstage and Miss Dorothy told me that all she dreamed about all her life was being a star and a moment like this. I told her, ‘A star is born tonight,'" Cannon said and explained each judge has used their chance to press the Golden Buzzer and send somebody through to the live performance round. "But you know what? I don't care. I'm going to break the rules."

And Dorothy Williams got the Golden Buzzer and her star moment.

What did you think of her performance?

America's Got Talent airs Tuesdays, 8 p.m. on NBC.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Watch: "America's Got Talent" Judges Gush Over Simon Cowell
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