America's Got Talent's crowned Michael Grimm its fifth-season champion during Wednesday night's live finale broadcast of the NBC reality competition series.

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The 30-year-old musician and singer from Henderson, NV won America's Got Talent's grand prize of $1 million and the headline role on this fall's national show tour based on home viewer votes cast following Tuesday night's live performance episode which featured performances from the competition's four remaining acts.

"Is this real?" asked Grimm, who appeared genuinely shocked to hear America's Got Talent host Nick Cannon announce his victory.

Jackie Evancho -- a 10-year-old opera singer from Pittsburgh, PA who many had deemed the competition's frontrunner -- finished as America's Got Talent's fifth-season runner-up.

"This experience has been amazing, I have loved every single moment that I've been doing it and I just really hope that I'll be able to sing for you guys again," Evancho said after Grimm's win was announced.

"You definitely will," Cannon replied.

Fighting Gravity, a 13-man special-effects performance group from Blacksburg, VA finished in third place.

"This isn't the end, it's just the beginning for you, and you will see all the huge opportunities that are out there for you are appearing on this show," America's Got Talent judge Sharon Osbourne told the group of Virginia Tech fraternity brothers following their elimination. 

"I know you are going to have your own show in Vegas, and if you guys don't give me front-row seats on the first night that's it!"

John "Prince Poppycock" Quale -- an outlandishly costumed 32-year-old opera singer from Los Angeles, CA who was buzzed by judge Piers Morgan when he delivered an unusually reserved performance on Tuesday night -- finished in fourth.

"I want to say thank you to Piers.  You see, I was promised a horse, but I only got two guys in horse heads, so Piers intuitively understand that I needed a horse's behind," Quale joked after his finish was announced.

"Well look, there's been lots of controversy as you know overnight about my decision to buzz you, and having watched it back, I do think I made a mistake... I should have buzzed you about 10 second earlier," Morgan fired back. 

"I'm kidding... you've been an incredible contestant this year... that's when you're at your best -- when you're being camp, funny, flamboyant, and outrageous and a cross between Elton John, Freddie Mercury and Liberace."
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Prior to revealing the results, America's Got Talent's finale broadcast featured each of the four acts performing a duet with an established singer.  Quale sang with Donna Summer, Fighting Gravity performed with Lionel Richie, Grimm sang with Jewel, and Evancho sang with opera singer Sarah Brightman.
About The Author: Steven Rogers
Steven Rogers is a senior entertainment reporter for Reality TV World and been covering the reality TV genre for two decades.