Throughout the episode, all 12 of the finalists in competition performed once again, with some acts performing together and other contestants showing off their acts individually, before revealing the season’s big winner.
With Christina Ramos, Darci Lynne Farmer, Preacher Lawson, Shin Lim and Kseniya Simonova all making it to the final five, the winner of the first-ever season of America’s Got Talent: The Champions is…
ET’s Denny Directo spoke with Lim before the finals taped, and the 27-year-old entertainer said it was “an honor” to be back on stage performing for the judges.
“At first I hesitated because, I definitely felt like I didn’t have much time to rest or create anything new, but I was like, ‘You know what? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,'” said Lim, who just won his season of AGT in September. “So I was like, ‘I got to do it.’ When else can you be around such talented people?”
Before being named the winner, Lim took the stage on Monday and was joined by Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Melissa Fumero for a fun display of his close-up magic skills using his signature brand of theatrical card artistry.
39PHOTOS
Shin Lim
See Gallery
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Shin Lim, ‘The Manipulator’ from the cast of Broadway’s ‘The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays’ on stage for a press preview at the Marquis Theatre on November 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 10: Shin Lim, America’s Got Talent 2018 Winner and Star of Broadway’s The Illusionists, poses for a photo with Creator and Producer at Ride of Fame David W. Chien, when he attends the Ride Of Fame unveiling of his imminent seat, at Pier 78 on December 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Ride of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 10: Shin Lim, America’s Got Talent 2018 Winner and Star of Broadway’s The Illusionists, speaks at the Ride Of Fame unveiling of his imminent seat, at Pier 78 on December 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Ride of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 10: Shin Lim, America’s Got Talent 2018 Winner and Star of Broadway’s The Illusionists, attends the Ride Of Fame unveiling of his imminent seat, at Pier 78 on December 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Ride of Fame)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 10: Shin Lim, America’s Got Talent 2018 Winner and Star of Broadway’s The Illusionists, attends the Ride Of Fame unveiling of his imminent seat, at Pier 78 on December 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Ride of Fame)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Shin Lim, ‘The Manipulator’ from the cast of Broadway’s ‘The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays’ on stage for a press preview at the Marquis Theatre on November 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Shin Lim, ‘The Manipulator’ from the cast of Broadway’s ‘The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays’ on stage for a press preview at the Marquis Theatre on November 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: SChloe Crawford, ÒThe SorceressÓ, Adam Trent, ‘The FuturistÓ, Darcy Oake, ‘The Grand IllusionistÓ and Shin Lim, ÒThe ManipulatorÓ from the cast of Broadway’s ‘The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays’ on stage for a press preview at the Marquis Theatre on November 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Journalist Richard Ridge with Shin Lim, ‘The Manipulator’ from the cast of Broadway’s ‘The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays’ on stage for a press preview at the Marquis Theatre on November 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Shin Lim, ‘The Manipulator’ from the cast of Broadway’s ‘The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays’ on stage for a press preview at the Marquis Theatre on November 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Colin Cloud, Chloe Crawford, Shin Lim, Darcy Oake and Adam Trent from Broadway’s ‘The IllusionistsÑMagic of the Holidays’ on stage for a press preview at the Marquis Theatre on November 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Journalist Richard Ridge with Shin Lim from Broadway’s ‘The IllusionistsÑMagic of the Holidays’ on stage for a press preview at the Marquis Theatre on November 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 17: Shin Lim attends the ‘America’s Got Talent: The Champions’ Finale at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on October 17, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/WireImage,)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: THE CHAMPIONS — ‘The Champions Finals’ Episode 106 — Pictured: (l-r) Terry Crews, Shin Lim — (Photo by: Jordin Althaus/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: THE CHAMPIONS — ‘The Champions Finals’ Episode 106 — Pictured: (l-r) Terry Crews, Shin Lim, Howie Mandel — (Photo by: Jordin Althaus/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: THE CHAMPIONS — Season:1 — Pictured: Shin Lim — (Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – SEPTEMBER 19: Shin Lim (R) and Casey Thomas attend the ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 13 Finale Live Show red carpet at Dolby Theatre on September 19, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – SEPTEMBER 19: Shin Lim (L) and Howie Mandel attend the ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 13 Finale Live Show red carpet at Dolby Theatre on September 19, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: (l-r) Zurcaroh, Damiel Emmet, Brian King Joseph, Micheal Ketterer, Courtney Hadwin, Samuel J. Comroe, Shin Lim, Vicki Barbolak, Glennis Grace, Duo Transcend — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: (l-r) Daniel Emmet, Shin Lim — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: Shin Lim — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: (l-r) Tyra Banks, Shin Lim, Zurcaroh — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: Shin Lim — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: (l-r) Howie Mandel, Mel B, Simon Cowell, Shin Lim, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: Zurcaroh, Shin Lim (center) — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: Shin Lim — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: Zurcaroh, Shin Lim (center) — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: (l-r) Zurcaroh, Shin Lim, Brian King Joseph, Tyra Banks — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: Shin Lim — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: (l-r) Akbar Gbajabiamila, Shin Lim, Tyra Banks, Matt Iseman — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Finale Results’ Episode 1322 — Pictured: Shin Lim — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – SEPTEMBER 19: Magician and winner Shin Lim (R) and Casey Thomas attend the ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 13 Finale Live Show red carpet at the Dolby Theatre on September 19, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage)
AMERICA’S GOT TALENT — ‘Live Semi-Finals Results 1’ Episode 1318 — Pictured: (l-r) Shin Lim, Mel B, Zurcaroh, Samuel J. Comroe, Howie Mandel, Simon Cowell, Michael Ketterer, Duo Transcend — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – SEPTEMBER 04: Shin Lim attends the ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 13 Live Show at Dolby Theatre on September 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matthew Simmons/FilmMagic)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – AUGUST 14: Shin Lim arrives at the ‘America’s Got Talent’ Season 13 Live Show Red Carpet at Dolby Theatre on August 14, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
HIDE CAPTION
SHOW CAPTION
When AGT: Champions kicked off in early January, 50 breakout stars from an array of Got Talent shows from around the globe had been tapped to return to the stage to give it their all, once again, for the chance to be crowned the best of the best.
Over five weeks, the field was narrowed down to the Top 12 — including two wild-card acts who were brought back from elimination by the judges — and all the acts duked it out in the first night of the show’s finals last Monday, giving the pool of voting superfans across the nation a chance to decide who should be named the ultimate AGT champ.
This season marked the big debut of the show’s new host, Terry Crews, who will be taking over for Tyra Banks when AGT returns for its 14th season later this year.
And Crews isn’t the only newcomer fans can expect when the show returns. Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough will be appearing behind the judges’ table, taking over for outgoing judges Mel B and Heidi Klum.
Klum celebrated her final episode with a heartfelt message on Instagram, alongside a sweet snapshot of herself, Crews and fellow judges Simon Cowell, Mel B and Howie Mandel.
“I wanted to say THANK YOU and how amazing the past six years have been while working on America’s Got Talent… I love my fellow judges and our hosts and our AMAZING CREW It’s been such an incredible experience and I will miss ALL OF YOU very much!” Klum captioned the pic. “While I may not be sitting behind the judges desk any longer, I will be watching and voting from home!”
