Prince's protégé Liv Warfield shines on 'AGT' with song he wrote for her: Watch

After a two-week break for the Paris Summer Olympics, America has talent returned on August 13 with the first of four live quarterfinal rounds.

Eleven acts took the stage, but it was Peoria, IL, native Liv Warfield who stole the show with her powerful performance of “The Unexpected,” a song Prince wrote for her.

Warfield, who had already made waves with her Golden Buzzer-winning audition, brought an emotional intensity to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium that left the judges in awe.

Backed by her horn-filled band, she delivered a performance that Simon Cowell described as “incredible”. “If this was the Olympics for singing, you would have won the gold medal,” Cowell said. “I felt like all those years of climbing the ladder to where you want to be, it all came out in those three minutes.”

Sofia Vergara was equally impressed, calling Warfield's performance “Perfection” and adding, “Your outfit, your voice, the singing — it's amazing to have an artist like you here with us.”

Howie Mandel, a self-proclaimed Prince fan, offered his own high praise. “I'm a huge Prince fan and he knew what he was doing when he gave you that gem. This was a million dollar show. America is mad if they don't vote for you, this is the time to drop the mic.”

Warfield's connection to Prince is deep and personal. As a former member of the New Power Generation, she was mentored by the legendary artist, who not only shaped her career, but also wrote “The Unexpected” especially for her.

In a heartfelt interview before the show, Warfield reflected on her journey: “I've been grinding for a long time. Backing up Prince was a dream. But I still haven't reached the heights I know I can reach. The golden buzzer… when I got home I cried in the car… I cried out loud. I didn't think this would happen. I'm just everyday people.”

The public response was immediate, with fans taking to social media to express their support. One commenter noted, “Liv is one of the most talented people out there AGT introduced me,” while another added, “The fact that she shared a stage with Prince and sang a song he wrote for her — that alone is amazing. You got my vote.”

As the live rounds continue, Warfield is emerging as a top contender, with many eagerly awaiting her next appearance.

In addition to her success in AGTWarfield has made notable achievements on the Billboard charts. Her album The Unexpected reached No. 3 on the Top R&B Albums chart in 2014, and her single “Stay – 'Soul Lifted'” made an impact on Adult R&B Airplay.

Check out Liv Warfield's America has talent performance below.