08/20/2026
Jesse White Tumblers Eliminated In Quarterfinals Of ‘America’s Got Talent’
The Chicago-based tumbling and stunt group did not receive enough public votes to advance. In a statement, White vowed to bring the team back to compete next season.
Lucia Preziosi
The Jesse White Tumblers will not be advancing to the semifinals of "America's Got Talent." Credit: Facebook
CHICAGO — The Jesse White Tumblers will not be advancing to the semifinals of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” after delivering a show-stopping, live performance of gravity-defying flips and other acrobatics on the live episode of the reality competition program Tuesday night.
It was revealed on the Wednesday night episode that the tumbling team did not receive enough audience votes to continue to the next round of live competition.
The shocking results come after the Chicago-based tumbling and stunt team delivered a massive performance of stunts the night before, which included two tumbling mats and an appearance from 92-year-old Jesse White himself.
The performance received rave reviews from the show’s panel of celebrity judges and had the large audience on their feet and clapping along to the Jamiroquai song “Canned Heat.”
The Chicago-based tumbling and stunt team made it to the top five finalists of the first quarterfinals round, going head-to-head with dog trainer Olivia Befus, laser show Royal Lasers and rapper Luke Taleno. But ultimately the tumblers did not receive enough more audience votes than those acts to grab one of the three semifinal positions.
Voting through the “America’s Got Talent” app closed at 6 a.m. Wednesday as viewers had the chance to cast up to 10 votes for the remaining eleven acts.
The second night of the live quarterfinals of “AGT” will take place 7 p.m. Aug. 25 on NBC and stream the next day on Peacock.
In an emailed statement, White said he was disappointed but “could not be prouder of these remarkable young men and women and how they represented our team, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois on a national stage.”
“To advance as far as we did and perform before millions of people across the country and world is an accomplishment these young people will remember for the rest of their lives,” he said.
White also pledged to bring the team back to the “AGT” stage.
“We intend to come back next year, give it another shot and show America how high we can get without roots, herbs or spices,” he said. “Thank you, America, for believing in the Jesse White Tumbling Team. We’ll see you again.”
The team took to social media ahead of Wednesday’s episode to thank the public for voting while sharing moments of their tumblers mid-air in their iconic red uniforms.
The Jesse White Tumblers, founded by White in 1959 as a gymnastics program at the Rockwell Gardens housing development in East Garfield Park, has been encouraging Chicago youth to live positive lives for decades.
“’America’s Got Talent’ is a highlight of all we’ve been able to accomplish with this program,” White, now 92, previously told Block Club. The youngest tumbler performing with the team on the show is just 8 years old.
Even though the team’s journey has ended on “America’s Got Talent”, the Tumblers continue to make appearances at parades and events across Chicago, with a recent performance at the iconic Bud Billiken Parade.
The troupe is also slated to bring their acrobatic stunts to Austin this weekend at Halo Fest, the community festival hosted by the John Walt Foundation.
Chicago youth can audition to be a member of the Jesse White Tumbling Team, as tryouts are offered multiple times a year for boys and girls aged 6 through 16 who have basic tumbling skills. Practices are held at Tuley Park, 501 E. 90th Place, in Chatham and at the Jesse White Community Center, 412 W. Chicago Ave., on the Near North Side.
The next tryouts are Sept 12.
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