Benjamin Hightower made it to the Quarterfinals on America’s Got Talent. The Tennessee native competed earlier in the season by singing a cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” earning a resounding yes from all four judges.

Hightower’s story is even more unique because he left a successful career in the military to become an artist. After completing four years at the Air Force Academy, Hightower spent seven years serving, before leaving to follow his true passion, which is music.

“They don’t naturally flow into one another, do they?” Hightower tells Everything Nash with a laugh. “After being in the military so long, I was so glad I did that. I don’t regret it. I got to see the whole world and meet amazing people. But I started making music towards the end of it, and writing a little bit during COVID. I figured out how to produce music, and really loved doing it. I’ve been a singer my whole life. But I caught the bug for it for sure towards the end, and figured it was time. It was like, there’s no time like the present to run after who you are and what you wanna be.”

Hightower now has no regrets. But he admits that leaving the security of a steady job to pursue his passion, with so many unknowns, was a frightening decision for him to make.

“It was really hard,” he concedes. “It was a scary choice, because that is ironically such a safe job, because you’re probably not gonna get fired. You’re gonna have a paycheck forever. You’re gonna get retirement, you’re gonna have healthcare. It’s a pretty good gig. And so everybody in my life was pretty much saying, ‘Don’t get out. Stay in, get your retirement, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.’ Until I just couldn’t handle it anymore. I was just like, No. I gotta do what I wanna do.’ And I’m so glad I did.”

Even before competing on AGT, Hightower knew he had made the right decision, scary as it was in the moment.

“I haven’t looked back,” Hightower insists. “I live in New York now, and am singing at Broadway showcases. I have really sweet friends, and I get to play gigs around the city. I just love New York. There’s no place like it.”

How Benjamin Hightower Auditioned For ‘America’s Got Talent’

Perhaps surprisingly, this wasn’t Hightower’s first time auditioning for America’s Got Talent. He previously was part of In The Stairwell, an a cappella group that competed in 2017. That time, with Hightower singing lead for their original audition, the group made it to the Semifinals, before being eliminated. Little could Hightower have predicted that years later, he would be invited back, this time to audition on his own.

“We made it pretty far, and had a good time,” Hightower recalls. “I was in this big group of guys in military uniform. And so, I’ve maintained being friends with some of the producers from the show. And I got a call one day from one of the casting directors that said, “Hey, would you be interested in auditioning again?’ And I, at this point, was like a year after being in service in New York. I was like, ‘Yeah, this couldn’t come at a better time. I would love that.’ And then she was like, ‘How is three days from now?’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God. That’s crazy. But yeah, let’s do it.'”

 

@everythingnash @Benjamin Hightower talks about his EPIC audition for @America’s Got Talent. #agt #americasgottalent #music ♬ original sound – EverythingNash

Benjamin Hightower’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ Audition

Fortunately for Hightower, his audition got pushed back a week, allowing him a bit more time to get ready for AGT. And by his own admission, he did great.

“It went better than I could have imagined,” Hightower concedes. “And the response has been so sweet and fun and affirming. ’cause I love doing this so much. It feels just like this thing, it’s finally happening, and I get to do this thing I’ve always wanted to do after being in the military, which I’m so glad I did. But this feels so cool and fun and new for me. So I’m really pumped.”

Hightower acknowledges that auditioning for a reality TV talent show is a nerve-wracking experience, for anyone. Thankfully, Hightower nailed it, something even he realized during his performance.

“It’s too big for my brain to conceptualize,” Hightower concedes. “So I just sort of, in a good way, shut down. I go very internal, and start just to think about how I’m sounding, and how much fun I’m having. It’s actually a great response, I think, because I could be crippled by the amount of people watching. Especially during the live rounds, when I was on the first time, there was this moment where I’m looking down the barrel of the camera, and I was the soloist … They said, ‘You’re live in 3, 2, 1 in my earpiece.’ And I knew in that moment, 15 million people were watching me. There’s just no space for me to get scared about that.”

Hightower is channeling that same mindset as he prepares for the live auditions, which for Hightower takes place on Tuesday, August 26.

“That’s kind of how I feel about going into this round,” Hightower shares. “Like, now is the time. This is the space I’ve got to crush.’ That’s the mindset. What is actually happening too is, I’m having a lot of fun. And I just love singing and performing and playing piano and being on that stage, and getting to show the world who I am through the song choice, and through what I’m wearing and all this stuff. Itt’s just so fun. It’s been my dream since I was a little kid.”

America’s Got Talent airs on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8:00 PM ET on NBC.

Photo Credit: NBC / Trae Patton