TV Talk: Former Pittsburgher Loren Allred exits ‘AGT: Fantasy League’

In Monday’s “AGT: Fantasy League” former Pittsburgher Loren Allred competed in the show’s semi-finals by singing her own spin on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” She made it into the Top 2 for the night but ultimately did not advance to the show’s finals, ending her competition tenure on “AGT: Fantasy League” (though she may be back to perform).

In the episode Allred’s performance elicited near-unanimous praise from the judging panel.

“Lauren, that was what I call a master class,” said Simon Cowell, Allred’s mentor on the show. “That’s how you do it.”

Judge Heidi Klum enthused, “I think I can speak for everyone in this room you are giving us all the feels and you just sounded so beautiful.”

Judge Mel B of Spice Girls offered one bit of criticism, saying, “You have a voice that is just to die for. Literally. You could sing absolutely anything. If I was your mentor, I would have chosen a different song because you could have had everybody in this audience crying.”

“Like ‘Wannabe’?” Cowell teased, referencing a Spice Girls song.

At the end of the episode Allred made it through a winnowing to two acts but only one advanced to the finale and it was the Pack Drumline that got the most audience votes.

In a phone interview Monday, Allred said on the taping day she performed last and all the Golden Buzzers had been used up by then, which is different from the order of the acts in the televised episode where her performance fell in the first half hour of the two-hour telecast.

“I was sitting backstage and I saw the second Golden Buzzer get used and then I knew I really might not make it through,” Allred said. “I had seen Pack Drumline perform and they were so emotional even I would have voted for them. There was a lot of competition in the semi-finals and after Mel’s comments I didn’t know if that would sway the audience in what they thought.”

Allred said she has no regrets about going on “AGT: Fantasy League” to tell her story and she’s glad she got to perform a song other than “Never Enough,” which she sang in the movie “The Greatest Showman.” She plans to release her version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” digitally sometime in the next week.

“From the response I know for sure I made the right decision [to go on the show],” Allred said. “People are rooting for me, they can’t wait to see what’s coming next and I can’t wait to show them more songs I’ve written.”

Allred is creating a set list now in hopes of headlining a tour in the near future. And she’s open to another record deal, as long as it’s the right deal that would allow her some creative control.

“I just want everyone to know how happy I am for the Pack Drumline that they got through,” she said, noting so many of the performers’ talents differ so as to be incomparable. “It was an amazing opportunity. I’m glad I got to showcase more of myself on stage and all the competitors are genuinely friends. I’m really happy for everyone.”

You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow @RobOwenTV on Threads, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.