Auditions in Houston

"America's Got Talent" headed south to Houston to see if the talent was as big as the state of Texas. The Hoff made a special, Texas-sized entrance, and away we went. The first act was a trio of cowboys promising to make something big happen. They called themselves "The Texas Tenors," and admitted they put the group together about three months earlier. They got the crowd on its feet and clapping along. The Hoff liked it, and Sharon said they were still a little rough around the edges. Piers said he was worried when he heard they'd only been together for three months, but enjoyed it. They could work out the kinks between audition time and the next round in Las Vegas. Bruce Thomas, a 51-year-old handyman-turned-musician talked about his unique talent and promised the judges would be flabbergasted. They were, but not in a good way. Three buzzer hits sent Bruce on his way, and started a string of bad acts, including an urban burlesque dance group that fell all over the stage, and a guy who had assistants staple dollar bills to his chest and forehead, and hung a 40-pound weight off his nipples. A group calling themselves "Acrodunk" offered up a high-flying slam dunking routine. The judges and crowd loved it, and The Hoff said they were by far the best dunking act the show had seen. Sharon said she could watch them all night. They're next aerial routine would be flying to Las Vegas for the next round of "America's Got Talent." A group of green-lit acts came next, including a belly dancer and a rapper. Eight-year-old Eleisha Miller, who Nick Cannon called a little girl with a big personality, brought her precociousness to the stage and sang and played piano to "Proud Mary." The Hoff said she was cute and funny, but her singing needed a little work. Sharon voted no, but Piers said he didn't care whether the girl would sing or not and voted yes. The Hoff voted yes, and sent little Eleisha on to Vegas. An R&B duo named "Timez 2" said they could be huge. The crowd got up and danced as they served up a rendition of Usher's "Yeah!" The Hoff liked their "raw talent" and energy. Sharon suggested they spend more time on their vocals than their grinding. The Hoff said yes, Piers said no. That left it up to Sharon, who gave them the yes they needed to send them to Vegas. "Grandma Lee," a 75-year-old retired phone operator, took her last shot at her dream at being a comedian. The crowd roared with laughter at her quick wit. Sharon liked it and Piers said she might his favorite contestant of the season, so far. Grandma Lee said she thought Piers was cute, then slipped in "I'd do him." With three yeses, Grandma Lee's dream will last at least another round. Barbara Padilla, a 36-year-old full-time mom who said she never gave up her dream of being a singer, busted out some impressive operatic vocals that brought the crowd and the judges to their feet. Barbara opened up afterward, saying she believed in miracles and was living one as a cancer survivor in remission for five years. Three yes votes later, Barbara can keep living her miracle in Vegas.