Tom Sandoval is no stranger to drama, but he's now channeling his energy into a new and exciting venture on America’s Got Talent with his cover band, Tom Sandoval and The Most Extras. After the infamous "Scandoval" scandal, which saw him become a divisive figure in the media, Sandoval is turning the page and focusing on his musical dreams—and the results are impressive.
Speaking with Billboard, Sandoval admitted he had hesitations about joining AGT, particularly with the potential for backlash following the scandal involving his affair with Raquel Leviss. "I was very, very nervous," he confessed. "I wasn’t sure I really wanted to do it. I thought, you know, I might be facing a lot of backlash online, and I just decided this is such a great opportunity for me … and for the band to be out there."
Despite the public scrutiny, Sandoval and his band have moved past the drama and are now in the quarterfinals of AGT, thanks to their electrifying audition performance. The band earned a standing ovation for their cover of A-ha’s 1985 hit “Take on Me,” and now they’re setting their sights on an even bigger performance in the upcoming live show.
"We’re going to step it up as far as the overall production of our performance," Sandoval promised. Their next cover, The Weeknd’s chart-topping “Blinding Lights,” will be a chance for the band to showcase their versatility and range. “It’s going to be more extra than the first one!” Sandoval teased, adding that fans should expect a totally unique take on the song.
This new chapter for Sandoval isn’t just about advancing in the competition—it’s about redemption. "I wanted to showcase the fact that we’re a band that plays everything and anything," he explained. "So I wanted to have a nice little juxtaposition to what we did before."
While his vocals were critiqued by Simon Cowell during the audition, Sandoval is taking the judge’s feedback in stride. "I’ve been vocally training every day and just doing the best I can to keep improving myself," he said. "I did not take offense at all to [Cowell’s] comments. I’m always trying to get better."
For now, Sandoval is focusing on taking AGT one step at a time. "To me, the ultimate reward is just getting out there and being able to play again," he shared. "If we go further, I will be that much more happier just going back out there and performing."
But AGT isn’t the only thing on the horizon for Tom Sandoval and The Most Extras. "We have a tour coming up," Sandoval revealed. "We’re going to be hitting about 20 or so different cities. We’re going to work on recording some songs as well—might do some originals too."
It’s clear that Sandoval’s redemption tour is just beginning, and this time, it’s all about music. With a tour and new music on the way, it’s safe to say fans are in for a lot more from the former Vanderpump Rules star.
Catch Tom Sandoval and The Most Extras on America’s Got Talent every Tuesday at 8 p.m. on NBC. The quarterfinals kick off on August 19, with the first voting results revealed on August 20.
