Overview
- NBC aired the two-hour special on Tuesday, June 30, instead of a new Season 21 Auditions episode, and the program will stream on Peacock the following day.
- The July 4th episode was a patriotic clip show featuring judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Mel B., Sofía Vergara, and host Terry Crews reflecting on iconic past acts.
- Season 21 will resume regular Auditions on Tuesday, July 7, and live performance shows are scheduled to begin in mid‑August with a two-night finale on September 22–23.
- Through the first four weeks of Auditions the judges and host have advanced about 35 acts and used eight of the season’s 10 Golden Buzzers, with two Golden Buzzers still available and a new Judges’ Callbacks round set to determine Live Show finalists.
- The short, late-announced schedule change drew mixed fan reaction but gave NBC a holiday-themed ratings play and kept new episodes available next-day on Peacock and live via common streaming services.