'America's Got Talent': Knoxville's Michael Ketterer gets golden buzzer from judges

Knoxville's Michael Ketterer couldn't have impressed the "America's Got Talent" judges more Tuesday night.

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After his audition — a slow, soulful cover of the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" — judge Simon Cowell praised Ketterer and hit the show's golden buzzer, automatically advancing Ketterer to the "America's Got Talent" live shows.

"Well, Michael, you know what, when we find singers on these shows, is it about being technical or is it about being relevant? And sometimes, for me, it's just about being real and a surprise," said Cowell. "I'm being honest with you because you were so nervous. I was concerned for you, but I think sometimes actions speak louder than words."

And then Cowell slammed the golden buzzer. This will allow Ketterer to bypass the next stage of the show's competition, the judges' cuts, and move straight to the live shows, where he'll have a chance to win the $1 million grand prize.

Once Cowell hit the buzzer, golden confetti rained down on stage, and Ketterer's wife and six children came to embrace him.

"Let me tell you, something about your voice — I genuinely mean this — is special, and everything was perfect. You deserve it. I really mean that," said Cowell, after Ketterer hugged him.

What did judges say about Ketterer?

Cowell wasn't the only "America's Got Talent" judge to praise Ketterer's performance.

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"Can I just say that that was absolutely amazing and incredible, and you sing from your soul. Thank you for gracing this stage. Thank you," said Mel B.

"I think that you have a great voice. I'm just blown away," said Heidi Klum.

"I feel like when I watch you and listen to you, I just want to be, you know, a fraction of the human being that I believe that you are," said Howie Mandel. "You're a great performer, and you're a star human being."

Who is Michael Ketterer?

Ketterer is a musician, worship leader and pediatric nurse. He is a part of Influence Music, "a faith-based record label and artist collective birthed out of Influence Church in Anaheim Hills," according to the group's website.

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He moved from Knoxville to California in 2014, according to Ketterer's bio on Influence Music's website. While in Knoxville, he was a part of Knoxville Christian music group United Pursuit.

Ketterer and his wife Ivey have six children, five of whom they adopted from foster care. On "America's Got Talent," he shared his family's story.

"Well, my family's my reason why I'm here. My wife and my six children," said Ketterer.

He and Ivey got married young, and while pregnant with their daughter, Ivey got really sick. 

"The doctor said the woman I loved the most in life and my new daughter, they probably wouldn't make it through the night ... I spent the whole night praying, and miraculously my daughter pulled through," said Ketterer. "My wife pulled through, but the doctors told us if we got pregnant, this would happen again."

For seven years, they stayed a family of three. Then his daughter dreamed about having three brothers. 

"It took my daughter three years to convince us to adopt. After we went through the process of getting certified to adopt, our very first call that we got were for three little boys. I promise I'm not making this up," he said.

Ketterer and Ivey went on to adopt two more boys, and one of them has cerebral palsy.

Why Ketterer auditioned for 'AGT'

Ketterer's motivation for auditioning comes from his family. 

"Every daddy likes to think they're a hero to their kids," said Ketterer. "I feel like 'America's Got Talent' could absolutely change my family's life."

He said he wants his kids to know that they can live their dreams.

"You know, one of the things that happens, especially because my children came out of foster care, when you're surviving, you can't dream. And that has been one of the most rewarding things is providing them with a home and safe environment where they are free to dream, and so I'm here because I want to show them that if their dad can live out his dreams then nothing is impossible for them," said Ketterer.

"America's Got Talent" airs at 8 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC.