Kent Juggler Advances on 'America's Got Talent'

Award-winning juggler Charles Peachock of Kent got serious national air time Wednesday night as he secured a spot as one of the Top 48 contestants on the NBC television show America’s Got Talent.

Celebrity judges Howie Mandel, Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne were impressed with Peachock’s performance in the show’s “danger acts” category, advancing him to AGT’s next elimination round in Hollywood. Top winner of the talent show will receive a $1 million prize and a headlining show on the Las Vegas strip.

Peachock’s fiery juggling act was the first to air during the first of AGT’s “Las Vegas Week” episodes at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Before performing, he was shown explaining the perilous nature of his act.

“I’m lighting my lower half on fire. Anything can happen,” said Peachock. “Nobody’s ever done anything like this on this show. This is very dangerous.”

The act’s grand finale featured a shirtless Peachock, 35, standing on a platform juggling five fire torches as flames lit up the back lower portion of his black leather pants. The professional entertainer’s act closed with him dropping to his knees and extinguishing the flames in a cloud caused by the blast from a pair of fire extingushers concealed inside the platform, from which he then emerged, arms raised in victory.

Peachock also appears in numerous other camera shots, watching from the wings as his fellow “danger acts” contestants performed onstage. Toward the end of the two-hour show, Peachock was seen onstage again as he awaited the judges’ decision.

After learning that he’s advancing to AGT’s Hollywood round, a jubilant Peachock told the national audience, “I sacrificed so much and I’m going to Hollywood. It’s all happening.”

A small crowd of family and friends gathered Wednesday at the to watch the TV show on a 30-foot screen. Peachock was not in attendance, as he had been for a June 8 watch party that attracted more than 150 supporters. Instead he was at work, performing his act on a cruise ship in the Bahamas.

“I thought I wouldn't get to see tonight's America's Got Talent. The best news is I am staying late in Nassau! Now just wish I had my friends and family with me. I know you guys will be watching and that makes me smile,” Peachock wrote on his Facebook page late Tuesday afternoon.

By midnight, his Facebook page showed scores of messages from supporters commenting on Peachock's latest performance and congratulating him for advancing to the show’s Hollywood round.

Among them was a message from his father, Phillip Peachock Sr. “We know that you are special. Great going,” he wrote.

Kentites Phillip and Dorothy Peachock, who own on Main Street, attended the watch party but could not comment due to a confidentiality agreement with NBC.

Jan Bennett, manager of the Habitat for Humanity in Kent, attended the party with ReStore employee Bradley Knife of Kent to support Dorothy Peachock, who also works there.

“We know Charlie. He’s done some volunteer work for us at the ReStore,” Bennett said. “He got the sound system working for us a couple months ago.”

Frances Penney and Mike Mistur, both of Kent, are longtime friends of Peachock’s who have watched him perform at his house, at a mutual friend’s wedding and at the Kent Heritage Festival.

Asked why they came out to watch the show Wednesday, Mistur replied with a laugh, “We want to see Charlie 20 feet tall.”

Bennett said she enjoyed the Kent Stage event and looks forward to watching Peachock’s live AGT Hollywood performance there in the upcoming weeks.

“It’s cool to watch TV with other people. It’s a small-town thing,” she said.” It’s neat that Tom (Simpson) opened everything up so we can all watch together.”

Simpson, Kent Stage owner, said he’s more than happy to donate the use of his venue for Peachock’s TV watch parties.

“The Peachocks are good friends of ours and it’s a Kent thing, so we’re happy to support it. We want to pack the place when Charlie does his live (AGT) performance,” Simpson said.

He promised plenty of publicity for the event, likely to occur later this month.

You can watch Peachock's Las Vegas performance by clicking on this link.