Karaoke is a beloved pastime, whether it's about hitting the high notes or just having a great time. But few have managed to turn a simple karaoke choice into instant viral fame—except for Andy Rowell.
His hilarious take on "Tequila" by The Champs first blew up on Vine, but it was his 2019 "America's Got Talent" audition that truly cemented his legendary status.
A performance no one saw coming
When Rowell took the AGT stage, no one knew what to expect. Would he deliver an impressive vocal performance? A stand-up routine?
Instead, he performed one of the simplest yet most effective karaoke choices ever—and the judges couldn't stop laughing.
"When I was growing up, I was really inspired by all sorts of music, but my first time really singing was at a karaoke bar. Ever since then, I’ve been singing. It makes me feel alive," Rowell explained, per Billboard.
Singing... or just saying one word?
Rowell's song choice? "Tequila" by The Champs—a song famous for having just one lyrical word.
As the backing track played, he stood on stage, waiting for the perfect moments to say "Tequila" with perfect comedic timing.
His deadpan expression, awkward dance moves, and sheer commitment to the bit had the audience crying with laughter.
A judge-approved act
Despite AGT's notoriously tough panel, Rowell didn’t receive a single buzzer—in fact, he won them over.
"Song choice is always important on this stuff," Howie Mandel told him, per Billboard. "Not only song choice but your exuberance and excitement. I love you."
His unexpected charm and humor made the act an instant hit, proving that sometimes, simplicity is genius.
Did he copy Andy Kaufman?
While Rowell’s performance was widely praised, some drew comparisons to Andy Kaufman’s famous SNL "Mighty Mouse" sketch.
Kaufman, known for his offbeat comedic style, once performed a bit where he stood still on stage, waiting for the perfect moment to lip-sync just one line from the "Mighty Mouse" theme song.
"The act was extremely iconic and became a signature scene when Jim Carrey portrayed Kaufman in the 1999 biographical movie ‘Man on the Moon,’" reported Good Housekeeping.
Though the similarities were noted, fans still appreciated Rowell's unique spin on the concept.
The internet reacts: ‘Imagine losing to this’
After Rowell’s audition was uploaded to YouTube, it quickly racked up nearly a million views, with fans sharing their thoughts in the comments.
Image Source: Reddit | @kamaruddin9172
@realkyunu joked:
Others pointed out that it wasn’t just the song choice—it was his delivery that made it hilarious.
@luigiraffo1462 added:
"Man, that was just hilarious! I enjoyed the whole minute. It isn't just saying tequila, his weird attitude, his gestures, the machine with the screen and its animation. The show was just to make people laugh and I think it was amazing."
A surprise moment of success
Some viewers even speculated that Rowell didn’t expect to make it through and had no idea what his next act would be.
@SArtisto1 commented:
"The realization that now he needs a second song because he was just going for fun and didn't expect to actually win, lmao."
And then there were those who half-jokingly admired his vocal skills:
@KINGJALLA114 wrote:
"I still find it crazy that he can hit those notes with minimal strain on his vocal cords."
The power of comedy in music
Andy Rowell’s brilliantly simple act proved that sometimes, humor is more powerful than vocal ability.
With just one word, perfect timing, and a deadpan expression, he turned a basic karaoke song into an unforgettable moment—and earned his place as an AGT legend.
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Representative image via Canva
via Reddit