Ronee Martin’s America’s Got Talent audition took an unexpected turn when Simon Cowell stopped her first performance. Instead of continuing with the original song, Martin was asked what else she had prepared.
Her answer led to one of the most memorable moments of her AGT audition: an emotional performance of Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
Ronee Martin Takes the AGT Stage at 62
When Ronee Martin appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2016, she was 62 years old and had already spent decades singing. Contemporary coverage identified her as a singer from Virginia, and her audition became notable because of the dramatic change between her first and second song.
Martin initially performed Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” After hearing part of the performance, Simon Cowell stopped the music.
Rather than simply continuing, Cowell told Martin that he did not think the song was the right choice for her and asked what other songs she had.
It was an important moment because Martin now had the opportunity to show the judges another side of her voice.
Simon Cowell Stops the Performance
For an audition, having a judge stop the music can be an uncomfortable moment. But in Martin’s case, it opened the door to a completely different performance.
When Cowell asked what else she could sing, Martin suggested “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” the classic associated with Aretha Franklin.
The judges agreed to let her continue with the second song.
And the atmosphere changed.
Instead of the first performance, viewers got to hear Martin deliver a much more powerful showcase of her vocal ability. The second performance became the defining moment of her audition.
Then Ronee Martin Sang “Natural Woman”
The choice of Aretha Franklin’s song gave Martin the opportunity to demonstrate the strength and character of her voice.
According to contemporary reports, the audience responded enthusiastically, with the performance receiving a standing ovation. All four judges—Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Mel B, and Heidi Klum—voted yes, sending Martin through to the next stage of the competition.
The moment illustrates something important about talent-show auditions: sometimes the first song does not necessarily show what a performer can really do.
For Martin, the second song provided that opportunity.
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A Second Chance Became the Defining Moment
What makes Martin’s audition particularly interesting is the sequence of events.
She walked onto the AGT stage with her first song. Simon stopped the performance and questioned the song choice. Martin then had to make a quick decision about what to sing next.
Her answer was Aretha Franklin’s “Natural Woman.”
That decision changed the direction of the audition.
Rather than allowing the interruption to define the performance, Martin used the second opportunity to demonstrate her vocal strengths. Reports from the time described the result as a dramatic turnaround, with the judges ultimately giving her their approval.
Ronee Martin Continued Her AGT Journey
The audition was only the beginning of Martin’s run on America’s Got Talent.
She advanced to the Judge Cuts, where she performed Dusty Springfield’s “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.” She then moved into the live competition.
Martin eventually reached the quarterfinals. Contemporary local reporting noted that she performed “Lean on Me” during the live shows before her run came to an end.
Her AGT appearance therefore became more than one audition clip. It was a journey that took her from an unexpected interruption during her first song to the live stages of one of America’s biggest talent competitions.
Why This Audition Still Stands Out
The appeal of Ronee Martin’s audition is not simply that Simon Cowell stopped her.
It is what happened afterward.
The interruption could have become the most memorable part of the performance. Instead, Martin was given another chance to choose a song that better showcased her voice.
Her decision to perform “Natural Woman” created the turning point.
It is also a reminder that a performer can sometimes need the right song to reveal what they are capable of doing. Martin’s first selection did not convince Cowell that it was the right fit, but her second choice allowed her to show a much stronger side of her vocal ability.
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Final Thoughts
Ronee Martin’s America’s Got Talent audition remains a memorable example of an unexpected second chance.
At 62, she faced a difficult moment when Simon Cowell stopped her first performance. But instead of letting that moment end the audition, she chose Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and delivered the performance that ultimately earned four yes votes from the judges.
The story is simple but powerful: the first song did not work for Simon, but the second song gave Ronee Martin the opportunity to show the judges what she could really do.
Watch the original video on YouTube to experience the full performance.
