Malibu, California, USA, August 4, 2026 — Magician Joel Mawhinney, known professionally as Joel M, was eliminated from America’s Got Talent Season 21 after a Judges’ Callback performance at Mel B’s home, closing out a run that began with his hammer-and-reveal audition centered on the judges’ own belongings.
Mawhinney performed the same night as fellow Mel B callback act James & Marina, with guest judge Emma Bunton, Mel B’s former Spice Girls bandmate, sitting in.
An Elaborate Build to a Ring Reveal
For his Callback routine, Mawhinney borrowed a ring from Bunton and appeared to lose it among a pile of hay. He then had Mel B and Bunton each land on a random word through an internet search — Bunton settled on “walnut,” Mel B on “audition.”
Bunton selected a lemon from a bowl, which Mawhinney cut open to reveal an egg inside, one Mel B recognized as coming from her own chickens. The egg was etched with Mel B’s word, “audition.” A second reveal followed with a walnut found inside the egg, corresponding to Bunton’s word. Mawhinney closed the routine by revealing Bunton’s borrowed ring found again inside the walnut.
Despite the elaborate build and successful conclusion, Mawhinney was eliminated that night, along with country duo Madelyn Tallent & Malachi Martin and comedian Lachlan Patterson. Mel B advanced James & Marina, singer Bety, and duo Butter & Grit to the Live Shows instead.
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