EDIE: KCRA 3 PHOTOGRAPHER WILL HERYFORD INTRODUCES US TO BRANDON LEAKE. AND GOT THE SECRET BEHIND HIS SUCCESS. >> I HAVE TWO FACTS FOR YOU. ONE, I’M SIX FEET TALL, NUMBER TWO, LOVE IS THE MOST VULNERABLE THING YOU WILL EVER EXPERIENCE. >> IT’S AN EMOTIONAL POINT, WRITTEN BY A BIG BROTHER. >> AND ANGEL WAS BROUGHT TO THIS EARTH. I SIMPLY KNOW HER AS PUFF. HER SMILE IS AS WIDE AS THE UNIVERSE. SHE IS MY WORLD, AND MY SISTER. I WAS JUST FOUR YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND LEARN WHAT IT MEANT TO LOVE SELFLESSLY, ON DAYS WHEN MY STRENGTH WAS PRESS KNEE-HIGH, SEEING HER SMILING FACE WOULD MAKE MY SOUL FLY. >> HE IS GETTING CONGRATULATED ON HIS BIG WIN >> AT OF TEARS AND BROKEN DREAMS. >> PLANNING FOR HIS NECK SHOT AT WINNING ON AMERICA’S GOT TALENT. >> IT WAS SURREAL. IT FELT LIKE VALIDATION. REHEARSED, PRACTICE, WENT TO OPEN MICS AND SHARED POINTS IN SACRAMENTO, THE BAY, STOCKTON, MODESTO. ALL THE THINGS I WISH WE COULD HAVE DONE. POETRY OFTEN TIMES GETS LOOKED AT AS A MINOR-LEAGUE ART PHONE -- ART FORM, IN PARTICULAR, SPOKEN WORD. >> I HAVE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT MY SISTER AIN’T NEVER COMING BACK. THAT’S THE COST OF LOVE. WENT OUT TO L.A., DID MY FIRST AUDITION, GOT MY CALL BACK. >> WE FEEL YOUR PAIN. WE FEEL YOUR LOVE, AND YOU MOVED ME. >> THEN I GOT IN FRONT OF THE JUDGES. THE GOLDEN BUZZER SOUND. >> GETTING A STRAIGHT SHOT TO THE NEXT COMPETITION. >> IT GARNERED THE RESPECT OF A GIANT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. >> NOW BRANDON WAITS UNTIL THE NEXT SHOWS TAPING. >> I HAVE A WEALTH OF POETRY I CAN UTILIZE. >> HE HAS PLENTY OF MATERIAL TO CHOOSE FROM. >> BRANDON GREW UP ON THE TOUGH STREETS OF SOUTH STOCKTON. >> I WILL NEVER REGRET THESE SCARS FROM TRYING TO HOLD ONTO YOU. BRIAN: QUITE A GIFT HE’S GOT. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT ELSE HE HAS IN STORE FOR US. BRANDON IS GOING TO GET THE CALL EVENTUALLY TO TAKE THE SEMIFINALS EARLIER -- LATER THIS YEAR AND HE HOPES TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE AT THAT TIME