Watch: Filipino fisherman stuns ‘AGT' judges with ‘I Will Always Love You’ performance

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Filipino fisherman Ronald Abante received a standing ovation from the judges on “America's Got Talent” (AGT) for his rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”

Abante’s soulful performance: Abante, who previously went viral for his soul-stirring performance of “When a Man Loves a Woman” on the competition show, once again received praise and admiration from judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel due to his powerful vocal range.

In a video uploaded to “AGT’s” YouTube channel on Tuesday, Abante can be seen performing a soulful cover of “I Will Always Love You,” which was originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton in 1973. After his performance, the Filipino fisherman is once again met with a standing ovation.

Judges’ reactions: Vergara first praised Abante, stating that everyone was going crazy for him and that he deserved to be on AGT. As for Cowell, he initially said he didn't “like” the performance but later clarified that he loved it, acknowledging the significance of Abante’s journey and how much it meant to him.

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“You are singing your life out on the stage,” Cowell said. “That’s what makes this competition exciting. People who'd come from all over the world to fulfill their dreams. And I think, well, in fact, I know America loves you and rightly so.”

Mandel complimented Abante’s perfect voice and song choice, calling it a spectacular performance, while Klum admired the grit and texture in his voice, saying it was one of her favorites of the night.

“It was beautiful, to be honest, one of my favorites of tonight,” Klum said. “And if there's another golden buzzer that could push you right to the finale, I would push it for you right now.”

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About Abante: Abante is a Filipino fisherman and delivery rider who loves singing karaoke. Abante, who fulfilled his big dream of joining “AGT,” had previously gone viral multiple times through the years for his singing. Most notably, his cover of “You’re the Inspiration” while appearing on the Filipino radio station Wish 107.5 over six years ago has earned over 15 million views on YouTube.

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