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Former Spice Girl Mel B joins NBC's top-rated summer series 'America's Got Talent' as new judge

by jmaloni

Press release

Thu, Feb 21st 2013 04:20 pm

"America's Got Talent" season 8 contestants move to audition round with judges - show tapings in New Orleans, San Antonio, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago

NBC has announced that versatile entertainer and former Spice Girl Melanie Brown (or "Mel B") will join the network's top-rated summer series "America's Got Talent" as a judge, and will take her place alongside fellow judges Howie Mandel and Howard Stern beginning this summer.

The outstanding contestants from the season eight open-casting auditions will be invited back to perform in front of Mandel, Stern and Mel B in five cities across the country, with the Top 48 acts moving on to compete during this summer's live shows and vie for the coveted $1 million grand prize. Submissions are still being accepted online at www.agtauditions.com

 "I'm thrilled to be part of this season of 'America's Got Talent' and to get to work with Howie and Howard," said Mel B. "It's so exciting to be bringing some 'Girl Power' to the panel!"

Brown, best known to audiences as Mel B of the Spice Girls, is a chartā€topping musical artist, actress, author, television personality and groundbreaking entrepreneur.

Mel B just returned from Australia, where she appeared on the record-breaking show "The X Factor" for two seasons as one of the four judges. She was co-host of one season of the Australian version of "Dancing With the Stars."

In 2010, along with her husband and children, she also starred in a reality series for The Style Network called "Mel B: It's a Scary World," which let viewers get to know the family and see how Mel manages a multi-faceted career, raises her family and still finds time for her husband. Mel was on Season 5 of the ABC hit series "Dancing With the Stars," where she came in second place with her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Mel B's brash persona was at the core of the Spice Girl's global success, racking up worldwide record sales of $55 million, a Guinness Book of World Records status for "Most No. 1 Entries in the U.K. Charts" and "Most Consecutive No. 1s for a New Act." The group's enduring popularity brought about one of the most successful concert tours of 2007-08 with the reunion trek grossing more than $70 million. In 2012, the Spice Girls reunited for a performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony and for the premiere of "Viva Forever: The Musical." Based on the songs of the Spice Girls, the musical, written by Jennifer Saunders and produced by Judy Cramer, is currently playing in the West End at the Piccadilly Theater.

Auditions for new contestants begin in New Orleans (March 4-5) at the Lakefront Arena before a move to San Antonio (March 20-21) at the Lila Cockrell Theater. The auditions continue in New York City (April 8-10) at the Hammerstein and then re-locate to Los Angeles (April 24-26) at the Pantages Theater before concluding in Chicago (May 8-10) at the Akoo Theater. For taping times and ticket information visit, www.nbc.com/agt

"America's Got Talent," NBC's top rated summer series from producers Simon Cowell's SYCO Television and FremantleMedia North America and returns this summer with the hottest performers from across the country ready to compete in the blockbuster reality show's eighth season. The live shows again will originate from the New York Tri-State area this summer.

With the talent search open to acts of all ages, "America's Got Talent" has brought the variety format back to the forefront of American culture by showcasing performers from across the country. The series is a true celebration of the American spirit, featuring a colorful array of hopeful stars, including singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians and ventriloquists, all vying for their chance to strut and perform on stage hoping to win America's hearts - and the $1 million prize.

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