Even if you’ve never watched a TV talent show, you have to admit that competitions like The X Factor, The Voice, and the Got Talent series have given unknown artists a chance to shine. It’s a win-win—great for them and great for us because we get to discover some truly amazing talent. One such star is Swedish singer and guitarist Chris Kläfford.
Chris appeared on Season 14 (yes, there have been that many!) of America’s Got Talent, and his audition was nothing short of breathtaking. When Simon Cowell asked about his musical influences, Chris shared that he grew up listening to rock bands like Kiss. So, it was a bit surprising when he didn’t pick a rock song for his audition. Instead, he performed John Lennon’s classic Imagine. And let’s just say—it was magical. His version was so beautiful that many people in the audience had tears in their eyes. When he finished, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind—Chris was going through to the next round! The judges voted unanimously to send him forward.
Chris kept up the momentum in the Judges Cuts round. This time, he took a risk and performed an original song called Something Like Me. It was a bold move—singing original songs can be tricky because the audience usually connects better with familiar hits. But Chris absolutely nailed it! His performance was so powerful that all the judges gave him a standing ovation.
In the quarter-finals, Chris continued to impress. He performed another original song and gave it his all. This time, only Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough gave him a standing ovation, but the audience loved it. Their votes carried him through to the semi-finals.
Unfortunately, that was the end of his journey on the show—he didn’t make it to the finals. But that didn’t slow him down one bit!
Chris grew up in a small Swedish town where most of the residents were actually his relatives! He started playing the guitar when he was just nine years old, and music quickly became his biggest passion. But making a living as a musician wasn’t easy. People told him to treat it as just a hobby, and for years, he struggled to get by. He wrote his own songs, played at tiny gigs, and barely made enough money to survive.
But Chris never gave up. His love for music kept him going, and in 2017, his hard work finally paid off—he won Swedish Idol! That victory changed everything. Suddenly, he was a star in Sweden. The following year, he released three singles that all made it into the country’s top five charts. He even made history by having the number one and number seven most-streamed songs in Sweden at the same time!
Now, he’s on his way to making a name for himself around the world. His America’s Got Talent audition continues to wow listeners online. Many fans on YouTube say his version of Imagine is even better than the original:
“This is the best version of this song I’ve ever heard! I prefer it to the original. Well done, buddy!”
That’s some high praise! If you haven’t heard it yet, why not listen for yourself? And if you want more, check out his quarter-finals original song Cold At The Altar. Chris Kläfford is definitely a name to remember. If you want to keep up with his journey, you can subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Facebook. Keep an eye on him—this is just the beginning!
