We’re also following the flight delays and tomorrow’s impacts after a plane crash at RDU. Plus, Only on WRAL, why a high school student is not allowed to participate in one of the most important events of his life.. and how he and his family are fighting for him to graduate. Watch WRAL-TV at 11 p.m., and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

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Athens Drive Magnet High School and Conn Magnet Elementary School won national awards Saturday at the Magnet Schools of America's annual conference.

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North Carolina native Brooke Simpson has advanced to the next round on America's Got Talent.


Her successful performance this week means she'll compete in the semifinals.

Simpson said when she went on the AGT stage for the first time, the performance gave her a chance to check one more item off her entertainment 'must do' list.

"Being able to perform in front of Simon Cowell for my audition," described Simpson.

Simpson said she had been wanting to perform in front of Cowell since she was 16 years old.

"Hearing Simon compare me to vocal giants like Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia ... those are the women who formed the blueprint for why I sing the way I do," she said.

A familiar booming voice is back on TV in the new season of AGT.

YOU THIS AFTERNOON. >>> >> WOW! YOU KNOW THAT BIG VOICE COMES FROM NORTH CAROLINA'S OWN BROOKE SIMPSON. SHE WOWED THE JUDGES AND EVERYONE ACROSS AMERICA WITH THAT COVER OF LIZ THOSE BECAUSE I LOVE YOU. BROOKE, IT IS SO GREAT TO SEE YOU. YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW HER BACKGROUND, SHE BROKE -- SHE GREW UP HERE AND IS A FAVORITE ON WRAL. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? >> I HAVE BEEN SO WELL. I MISS THE ENTIRE WRAL TEAM. >> WE LOVE SEEING YOU ON THIS NBC SHOW. YOU MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE FINALS. YOU ARE HOPING THIS WILL PROPEL YOU TO THE FINALS OF SEASON 16 AS WELL. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS WHOLE RUN? HOW DOES IT FEEL COMPARED TO THE LAST SHOW? >> HONESTLY, IT FEELS LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE. BEFORE, IT WAS MORE OF A SITUATION WHERE I AM SURROUNDED BY OTHER SINGERS, AND AMERICA'S GOT TALENT IS MORE THAN JUST SINGERS. THERE ARE AREA LISTS AND DOG TRAINERS. THERE ARE MAGICIANS. THE COMPETITION IS SO STEEP. IT IS INSANE. I FEEL SO BLESSED TO BE PART OF IT AND YEAH, WE WILL TRY TO WIN THIS WHOLE THING. >> ARE YOU APPROACHING IT DIFFERENTLY FROM WHEN YOU WERE ON THE VOICE? >> ABSOLUTELY. AT THE SAME TIME, NO, BECAUSE MY MAIN GOAL IS TO SHOW PEOPLE WHO I AM AS AN ARTIST. I FEEL LIKE THAT IS WHAT WILL TAKE ME THE FURTHEST SO, YES, I AM BEING STRATEGIC. AT THE SAME TIME, STAYING TRUE TO MYSELF TO SEE HOW FAR THAT GETS ME. >> I KNOW IT'S A JOURNEY FOR YOU. HOW WOULD YOU SAY YOUR VOICE AND YOUR ARTISTRY HAS CHANGED SINCE WE SAW YOU ON THE VOICE? >> YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ABOUT 2017. I WOULD SAY I HAVE GROWN SO MUCH AS A SINGER. HONESTLY, DURING THE PANDEMIC, I STARTED DOING VOCAL COACHING LESSONS VIRTUALLY. THROUGH DOING THAT, NOT ONLY WAS I HELPING OTHER PEOPLE, BUT IT REALLY GREW MY VOICE. I AM DOING THINGS NOW LIKE SO MUCH LATER IN LIFE THAT I COULDN'T DO WHEN I WAS 17. SO YEAH, I AM REALLY PROUD OF HOW FAR MY VOICE IS COMING AND HOW MUCH GOD HAS BLESSED ME. >> DEFINITELY. WE SHOULD MENTION THE MAN ACCOMPANYING YOU ON THE PIANO IS YOUR HUSBAND OF SEVEN YEARS. IT IS SO GREAT YOU BOTH GET TO BE ON THIS JOURNEY. >> YES, ABSOLUTELY. ME AND RAY HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 7 YEARS. HAVING HIM ON THAT STAGE WITH ME IS LIKE HAVING MY COMFORT ZONE WITH ME. IT IS EVERYTHING. >> WE WILL BE CHEERING YOU ON IN THIS JOURNEY ON AMERICA'S

Jodi Leese Glusco

Brooke Simpson wows judges on 'America's Got Talent'

Before the AGT stage, there was her successful run on<a href="https://www.wral.com/story/-no-one-prepares-you-for-2-am-brooke-simpson-talks-new-single-life-after-the-voice-/17446757/"> Season 13 of the Voice.</a> Simpson said that journey helped her find her own voice.

"The Voice showed me pretty much the small pond that I thought my music career was," said Simpson. "It was this vast ocean of endless possibilities, and it really started my journey of who I am and what's my sound."

Simpson's sound is a dynamic and powerful instrument that chronicles her evolution as an artist.

"I just feel like I am in the best position in my life to show the world, right now, on America's Got Talent who I am as an indigenous woman [and] a woman in general and [as] a vocalist who is ready to sing her butt off every time she gets the chance," said Simpson.

Brooke Simpson is ready to put herself back on the national stage as the new season of America's Got Talent beckons.

the wild audiences in season 13 of the Voice finishing third. Now she's doing the same thing on America's Got Talent Of course. I'm talking about our very own Brooke Simpson joining us now from California brook. Always great to see you. Listen, let's talk about this, a GT journey. What made you want to do A G. T. Honestly, it was such a scary decision. Can't um putting myself back out there again to be on such a public platform. Um, but also the world's largest talent competition ever. Um, it was definitely a hard decision, but with a lot of prayer and talking to Ray and my family, it just felt like the right time and um, I also feel more ready now than ever to show the world who I am as an artist and you know, you've continued to make music since you're phenomenal debut on The Voice back in season 13. How do you compare the stage in the competition and a G. T to the Voice? Uh honestly, it's a completely different game. It's a completely different ball field. Like is that the saying I'm not into sports as you can probably tell from my phrasing, but it's completely different. Um, but I'm just taking the journey one step at a time and just excited to see how far I can go and obviously I have tunnel vision and my goal is the finish line. So hopefully America, especially north Carolina, my home bulk. Hopefully that both from me and come through north Carolina is definitely in your corner. Let's talk about your journey for a little bit. You know, it's that beautiful instrument that you continue to share with us. When you remember that first time you stepped on stage and the voice to the artist you are now tell us about that journey and how you've changed over the years. I have definitely changed so much as an artist, but I would say more so I found who I am as an artist. I walked into my experience with the voice kind of thinking, I knew who I was, I knew what I wanted to do and what type of music I wanted to make. I thought I had the whole package figured out and the Voice showed me uh pretty much the small pond that I thought my music career was, it was this vast ocean of endless possibilities. And it really started my journey of creativity and finding out who I am, what's my sound. Um so now that I've gone on that journey and have even had the time of quarantine, which was such a hard time, but also an introspective time for me to um really right? Like I've never written before. Get creative in other ways like I've never done before, like I've started painting. Um So with that I just feel like I am in the best position of my life to show the world right now on America's Got talent who I am as an indigenous woman um As just a woman in general and as a vocalist who's ready to sing her butt off every time she gets the chance. And do you think the GT stages giving you that opportunity to really showcase the artist you are now? I do and you know the competition is obviously so steep if you watch Last Night um Lives or the First night of the Lives for a G. T. The competition was insane. I mean from Madeline singing a beautiful song to the dogs doing all of the tricks. I mean it was it was unmatched. So not only am I going against incredible vocalists but I'm going against acts of that do acrobatics and back flips and all of these crazy things. Um So it's it's definitely intimidating but I'm up for the challenge and I'm ready to showcase everything I have and you know what's been the biggest surprise for you as you continue this journey on a G. T. The biggest surprise for me, honestly, I feel like the biggest surprises are going to be in store when I perform live, but I will say the biggest like wow moment for me was being able to perform in front of Simon Cowell for my audition. Um that's someone who I've been trying to sing in front of since I was 16 years old. I mean yeah, audition after audition just trying and that was my first time being able to sing for him. So uh hearing his expertise was a bucket list moment for me. For sure. Yeah. What was that moment like for you? Oh my gosh! It was insane. I kind of blacked out when we walked off stage. I called my mom and she was asking me so how did it go? And I'm gonna be like, I don't fully remember everything. So watching back when the audition aired, it was like I was re experiencing it for the, for the first time and hearing Simon compare me to vocal giants like kelly Clarkson and Fantasia. Um those are women who are a part of the blueprint for why I sing the way I do. So hearing him compare me to them, it was just like a um a world shattering moment in the best way, but also confirmation that I'm exactly where I need to be doing exactly what I need to be doing. You know Brooke you mentioned family just now and I know how important family is to you. I know how important home stu recently came back from balloon festival back in May. I can tell you that I worked on that balloon festival with some of the guys and they were over the moon when you agreed to come back to highlight, what was that like for you? Uh it was incredible. That was my first time on stage performing my original music since before the pandemic. So since over a year. Um, so not only was it so fun for the audience that was socially distanced there, but also for me to be on stage with my band and able to perform again, it was just like a breath of fresh air and like I was doing what I was meant for For the first time in a year. I mean it was cloud nine honey. I hear you. So tell us when we will see you on the big stage again. You will see me on the GT states, alive on August 24. Only on NBC. And I am beyond excited. What can we expect? You're going to give us a preview. I can't, I can't if I couldn't even give the slightest of hints, Honey, I would but I cannot. But just know that the song that I have in store for you guys is, it's gonna be like, it's gonna be unlike anything you've heard before. Well, I can tell you north Carolina will be cheering for you. Our very own Brooke Simpson joining us from California right there from Halifax County. All the best of you and egg. Thank you. I love you guys family.

Ken Smith

Ryan Bisesi

Brooke Simpson 'ready to show the world who I am as an artist'

WRAL's Ken Smith catches up with Brooke Simpson ahead of America's Got Talent

The America's Got Talent semifinals airs Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. on WRAL.

Sydney Franklin

NC's Brooke Simpson advances to America's Got Talent semifinals

America's Got Talent,Brooke Simpson,entertainment

A UNC Health physician and pilot were taken to the hospital Wednesday after a small plane crashed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).



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