‘America’s Got Talent’: Bethpage’s Sal Valentinetti moves on to finals

Singer Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti, 21, of Bethpage has done it again as he advanced into the finals of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” Wednesday night. He and four other acts were chosen out of 11 in the first round of the semifinals.

When the results were announced, Judge Heidi Klum ran onstage to hug and kiss him screaming, “I’m so happy for you! You might win this whole thing!”

Valentinetti turned to the crowd shouting, “Who knows?”

On Tuesday night, Valentinetti’s third performance saw him returning to familiar ground performing the big band standard, “That’s Life,” Frank Sinatra style.

The Long Island crooner garnered high praise from the judges but it was the fans voting at home who put him over the top.

“Sal, you are my golden boy and you have golden pipes,” said Klum. “But what I’ve found out over the past few weeks is that you really have a heart of gold.”

After the performance, judge Simon Cowell was completely elated.

“This is why I love you so much,” he said. “You are not just here to get exposure on TV, you are here to win.”

So far Valentinetti’s ride on the show has been a wild one from getting the Golden Buzzer from Klum to winning the “Dunkin’ Save” during the quarterfinals.

“I didn’t know I could dream this big,” said Valentinetti. “Now look where I am!”

Valentinetti returns to “AGT” on Sept. 13, where he will compete in the finals with the results being revealed the next night.

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.