The judges weren't kind to Benton's Triple Threat in the singing trio's first live-broadcast performance on America's Got Talent on Tuesday night, but it's up to viewer votes whether the group advances on the NBC talent show.
The voting period remains open through 11 a.m. Wednesday, and the public can cast up to 40 ballots through four different voting platforms: the show website, Google, the show app and calling. The number to support Triple Threat is (866) 602-4804.
Triple Threat impressed the judges in its first two performances and were selected by the panel to move on to live shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York, which started Tuesday night.
The group, which consists of singers Caleb Conrad, Tyler Davis and Will Richey, performed a version of Destiny's Child's "Say My Name" complete with backup dancers, but the judges for the most part were unimpressed. Three of them — Howard Stern, Howie Mandel and Melanie Brown, best known as Mel B of the Spice Girls — each hit a buzzer mid-performance that lit up a large X in front of them and showed they weren't pleased.
Afterward, Brown said the song had been "butchered," Mandel said Triple Threat "buckled under the pressure" and Stern said the performance seemed like a "parody of a boy band." Stern added the group is "way better than this."
"I am a fan of these guys, but all of the charm went out of the act tonight," he said. "This was completely misguided. You guys were off."
Judge Heidi Klum was the only member of the panel who voiced support.
"This was not buzzer-worthy, guys, I can't believe it," she told the other judges. "I think that it takes a lot of guts to perform a Destiny's Child song, to cover that song, especially when you're three guys. So you have to give it to them, right?"
Triple Threat took to Twitter afterward to encourage fans to cast votes.
"Triple Threat got a Triple X, but we're okay!" they wrote, referring to the judges' illuminated Xs. "We just need your votes! Use all 4 methods and all 10 votes! Let's prove them wrong!"
Twelve acts performed on Tuesday's show, but only seven of them will advance to the next round of the competition, which will ultimately award a winner a $1 million prize.
Triple Threat first drew attention in Arkansas for its catchy Razorback-themed music videos, "Never Yield," a theme-song based on UA's athletic slogan, and "Hey Grude," a parody of "Hey Jude" that unsuccessfully attempted to lure former NFL coach Jon Gruden to Arkansas.