Kylie Frey walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage carrying more than a country song.
She brought her rodeo roots, her love of music, and a deeply personal story about her grandfather.
The twenty-eight-year-old singer from Opelousas, Louisiana, introduced herself as a rodeo queen from a big rodeo family. But when it was time to perform, she chose not to sing a familiar country hit.
Instead, Kylie performed an original song she had written for her grandfather.
It was called “Horses in Heaven.”
And by the time she finished, Simon Cowell had a very clear opinion of the young country singer.
“She’s the real deal.”
A Rodeo Queen With a Musical Dream
Kylie Frey grew up surrounded by rodeo culture.
During her America’s Got Talent audition, she explained that she had been singing the national anthem at rodeos and dreamed of eventually performing it at the National Finals Rodeo, commonly known as the NFR.
Her grandfather played an important role in that dream.
He encouraged Kylie to sing the national anthem whenever she attended a rodeo, believing that those performances could eventually help open doors for her musical career.
Kylie also spoke about her admiration for country superstar Reba McEntire, explaining that Reba’s own path had inspired the way she wanted to pursue music.
That connection between rodeo, family and country music became the foundation for her AGT audition.
Then Kylie Introduced Her Original Song
Rather than choosing a famous song that everyone already knew, Kylie decided to perform something much more personal.
She had written “Horses in Heaven” for her grandfather.
The song reflected memories of him teaching her about horses, riding and the way of life she had grown up around.
That made the performance more than a vocal audition.
It was also a tribute to someone who had helped shape Kylie’s dreams.
When the music started, Kylie began telling that story through her country voice.
The lyrics connected her childhood memories with the idea of her grandfather riding horses somewhere beyond this life.
The performance quickly established her as more than a contestant with an interesting background.
She was a singer-songwriter with a story of her own.
The Song Connected With the Audience
Kylie delivered the performance with a distinctly country style.
Her voice matched the emotional character of the song, while the lyrics gave the audience a glimpse into her relationship with her grandfather.
The studio audience responded strongly when she finished.
A standing ovation followed the performance, signaling that the original song had made an impact beyond simply demonstrating her vocal ability.
But the judges still had the final say.
And Simon Cowell was listening closely.
Simon Cowell Calls Kylie “The Real Deal”
Simon Cowell’s reaction became one of the defining moments of the audition.
After hearing Kylie perform, he praised her and described her as “the real deal.”
The comment carried additional meaning because Kylie had already revealed that she had grown up watching Simon on television.
Earlier in the audition, she had even done an impression of him, creating a playful exchange before the performance.
The mood changed completely once she began singing.
The joking introduction gave way to a serious musical performance, and Simon’s response showed that he was seeing Kylie not simply as a rodeo queen, but as a legitimate country artist.
His reaction was especially significant because Kylie had chosen to perform her own material.
She wasn’t hiding behind a famous song.
She was asking the judges to listen to her song and her voice.
Not Every Judge Agreed
Despite Simon’s enthusiasm, the audition wasn’t a unanimous decision.
Howie Mandel ultimately voted no, explaining that the original song did not stay with him strongly enough after the performance.
Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Simon Cowell all voted yes.
Those three yes votes were enough to send Kylie through to the next stage of the competition.
That detail makes the audition more interesting.
It wasn’t a moment where every judge instantly agreed.
Instead, Kylie had to win enough support to continue, and Simon’s strong reaction helped establish the impression that he believed she had genuine potential.
Why “Horses in Heaven” Was So Personal
The strongest part of Kylie’s audition was the connection between the performer and the song.
She wasn’t simply singing about rodeo because it was part of her image.
Rodeo had been part of her life since childhood.
Her grandfather had taught her to ride and encouraged her ambitions. Those memories became the emotional foundation for “Horses in Heaven.”
That gave the performance an authenticity that is difficult to create with a cover song.
Every reference to horses, riding and the rodeo world was connected to Kylie’s own experiences.
The song allowed the audience to understand where she came from and why music mattered to her.
Her AGT Journey Continued
The audition earned Kylie a place in the next stage of America’s Got Talent.
She was eventually selected to advance to the Season Eighteen semifinals, where she performed another original song, “I Do Thing,” with her band.
Kylie’s journey ended in the semifinals when she did not receive enough votes to advance to the next stage.
Although she did not reach the finale, her original audition remained an important moment in her AGT story.
It introduced a wider audience to a country singer whose musical identity was closely connected to rodeo, family and songwriting.
Full-Performance Information
Kylie Frey auditioned for America’s Got Talent Season Eighteen in 2023.
She performed her original song “Horses in Heaven,” which she wrote for her grandfather.
Kylie received yes votes from Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara, while Howie Mandel voted no. The three yes votes allowed her to continue in the competition.
She later reached the Season Eighteen semifinals before being eliminated.
Watch Kylie Frey’s Full AGT Performance
Want to see the rodeo queen who turned a personal family story into an original country song?
Watch Kylie Frey’s full performance here:
From her playful introduction with Simon Cowell to the emotional story behind “Horses in Heaven,” the performance shows why Simon ultimately called Kylie “the real deal.”
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A Song That Carried a Family Story
Kylie Frey’s audition was about much more than being a rodeo queen on America’s Got Talent.
She brought a part of her family history onto the stage.
She brought the lessons she learned from her grandfather.
And she turned those memories into an original country song.
Not every judge gave her a yes, but three votes were enough to keep her dream alive.
And Simon Cowell’s description of Kylie as “the real deal” became one of the most memorable moments of the audition.
Her AGT journey eventually ended in the semifinals, but the story behind “Horses in Heaven” gave viewers something more lasting than a competition result.
It gave them a song written from the heart.
