Simon Cowell has rare emotional moment after a foster dad's performance on 'AGT'

Kyle Moss

The live semifinal rounds continued on Tuesday’s America’s Got Talent, and singer-songwriter Michael Ketterer performed for the first time since becoming Simon Cowell’s golden buzzer selection in June. Once again, Simon was moved by Ketterer’s performance — to the point that he nearly shed tears.

Ketterer, who has a biological daughter and five boys from foster care, appropriately performed James Bay’s “Us.” And it’s that fatherly connection that touched Cowell, who has a 4-year-old son.

When host Tyra Banks tried to go to him immediately following Ketterer’s performance, Cowell asked that she come back to him in a moment. But Banks persisted by saying, “I know you’re emotional, and I want you to talk through it.”

Cowell choked up through his comments but managed to get out statements like, “as a dad” and “I can’t imagine what you’ve done.” He finished by calling Ketterer “a really, really special guy.”

Given his reputation as the hard-edged judge, fans on Twitter definitely noticed how choked up Cowell got:

But just as quickly as Banks had created a lovely moment, she ruined it by awkwardly pointing it out to Cowell.

“That is one of the most beautiful moments I have ever seen of you,” she said. “That vulnerability and beauty. That’s what people don’t know about Mr. Cowell, is that he is a big, soft papa.”

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Watch clips and full episodes of America’s Got Talent for free on Yahoo View.

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