When Kentucky truckie Bill Taylor auditioned on America’s Got Talent, the deep soul power in his voice left the room in shock! Taylor appeared on AGT with his dad Billie and their band The Appalachian Heathens, and their old-school soul from the heart of Appalachia was just the trick to make the band go viral overnight. In a hit audition on June 25, 2025, the part-time bar singer delivered a nostalgic acoustic cover of the Bob Dylan classic “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.”
Like most people who cover The Bard, Taylor took the song in a different direction, singing a yearning vocal that poured honey over grit in a delicious combo. All those bar gigs with his pa must have paid off, as Taylor has a helluva great voice, and he quickly had the crowd hyped and eating out of his hand. The Music Man has to say that the audition was brilliant not only for the great performances, but also because of the gentle, hypnotic nature of the cover, which is something you don’t often hear on AGT.
Taylor’s audition was one of the biggest hits in 2025 on AGT, as it drew 1.8 million views on YouTube in just over a week. Fans really responded to the genuine vibe Taylor brought to his audition and added comments such as “His dream is to just make a living for his family – he earned my respect before even singing” and “Forget country! This is PROPER Appalachian SOUL.”
In addition to having a talent for arranging classic songs, Taylor also has a knack for writing his own material. The East Kentucky lad previously drew attention online for his original song “Heart of Appalachia,” which he performed with The Appalachian Heathens on his home turf in Laurel County. When watching Taylor and the Heathens, it’s clear that they’re the real deal and they just live and breathe this music, and it makes their performances really special.
The judges on America’s Got Talent responded in a big way to the old school folk sound that Taylor and The Appalachian Heathens showcased in their audition. Howie Mandel opened the judges’ comments by saying “A great voice and a great American sound”. Simon Cowell agreed, saying “That was like musical Levi’s. It was just so American and so authentic. I genuinely loved that – your voice is fantastic.” The Music Man is pleased to report that all four judges were loving what Taylor and the band delivered, and they sent the band on their way with four big yes votes.