Baton Rouge Man Wrongfully Imprisoned for 37 Years Brings Audience to Tears on ‘America’s Got Talent’ [Video]
Baton Rouge man Archie Williams spent 37 years in Angola Prison for crimes that new fingerprint evidence proved he didn't commit. Williams was recently a contestant on "America's Got Talent" and gave arguably the most touching, important and memorable performances in the show's history.
In 1983, Archie Williams was sentenced to life plus 80 years after being wrongfully convicted or the rape and stabbing of a woman in the Hundred Oaks area of Baton Rouge. In prison, Williams says he would watch "America's Got Talent" hoping that one day he would get his shot to compete on the show. After new developments in fingerprint evidence technology proved his innocence, Williams was released from Angola last in March of 2019.
His dream came true as he performed on the big stage for the new season of "America's Got Talent", which returns Tuesday, May 26th 8/7c on NBC
Williams brought the judges and the audience to tears as well as received a standing ovation for his performance of the Elton John classic "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".
Even Simon Cowell was overcome with emotion. Cowell notes that given Williams' story he will "never listen to that song the same way again".
Thankfully the man actually responsible for the rape and stabbing, Stephen Forbes has now been charged with those crimes.
Watch Williams' incredible story and performance below.
"America's Got Talent" returns Tuesday, May 26th 8/7c on NBC.