Before season 16 of America’s Got Talent premiered, NBC released an early look at some auditioners, one of which was Dustin Tavella. Dustin, a magician, made it to YouTube’s trending page with over 300k views in one day. The season may be at the beginning of its course, but with acts like Dustin, it could become one of the best the show has had.
“I believe there are two kinds of magic,” Dustin said at the start of his act. “The first is the kind that you guys see performed on stages like this, but there’s a second kind, and it’s the most real and it’s the most powerful magic that exists. It’s the magic that happens when one individual makes a decision to positively impact another human life forever.” Dustin gave the audience goosebumps when he delivered a heartwarming performance about his son, Xander, whom he and his wife adopted. Through what initially appeared to be random acts of naming times, surnames, and dates, the judges were able to unknowingly guess information on Xander’s adoption process. The facts were revealed through images Dustin sent to host Terry Crews prior to the show and left the crowd in amazement.
According to his official website, Dustin has been performing music and magic for years. He began a stage show called “Here Comes Trouble,” which put together music, magic, comedy, and interactive video. He says he has always had a heart to impact people and use his gifts in a way that will make a difference. He hoped his show would inspire audiences to become childlike again. His Spotify tracklist has nearly 30 songs, all of which he sings and occasionally accompanies with an acoustic guitar.
In 2018, he got married (in shorts!) after a two month engagement. During their marriage, Dustin and his wife, Kari, adopted two-month-old Xander after the child was in, what Dustin described as, “a pretty rocky situation.” On February 21, 2020, he was declared Xander Dre Tavella and since then he has become Dustin and Kari’s entire world. Among being in love with his family, the million-dollar hopeful also says he treasures God and people.
While he claims he is “not a social media guy,” the Virginia Beach native keeps up with his fans through Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Though he doesn’t seem to post a lot, he has shared a glimpse of himself performing, saying, “This is why I love performing magic! Real, live, human interaction! Don’t forget how valuable it is :).” From his accounts, he has made it clear he prefers human contact over social media, saying, “I love living life and engaging with real live human beings... which is why you won't really catch me on social media.”
America’s Got Talent has rewarded two magic acts as winners so far. Though the competition is only beginning, Dustin has already proven himself to be a fan favorite. With his inspiring act and undeniable talent, it’s clear Dustin just might continue performing for Howie, Heidi, Sofia, and Simon on, what he called, “the greatest stage ever.”
Source: Dustin Tavella, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube