On Sept. 30 at 6:00 p.m., Botanic’s Got Talent, a local talent show similar to "America’s Got Talent," began auditions for its fourth season. Auburn-Opelika residents who auditioned performed a short version of their act on stage at Botanic’s Patio for the audience, and 25 to 30 of the contestants were asked to return for round one of the competition on Oct 1. from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Botanic’s Got Talent will then continue for three rounds every Wednesday night in October until the finale on Friday, Nov. 7, at 6:00 p.m. The audience will choose the finale winner, who will be awarded a grand prize of $5,000.
This year's Botanic’s Got Talent is the fourth annual competition, as it began for the first time in October of 2022, just one month after Botanic first opened that September.
“Botanic’s Got Talent was something that was on my mind prior to Botanic even opening,” said Carson Evans, host of Botanic’s Got Talent and head of development and entertainment at Botanic. “We had planned [Botanic’s Got Talent] for a long time, just trying to figure out how [Botanic] could make an opportunity for locals to feel like they’re on TV.”
Although most acts are usually music-related, there are no set limits to what can be performed at Botanic’s Got Talent, as long as the act is family-friendly.
Judges for season four include piano player Kenny on the Keys, season one finalist Deanna Fuller, Grammy Award–winning guitarist Larry Mitchell, former "The Voice" contestant Justin Rivers and Botanic co-founder Stacy Brown.
With multiple accredited musicians as judges, contestants can benefit from being coached by these professionals as the competition progresses.
This season will also introduce a new aspect to the finale, where judges will be performing alongside the finalists.
“Each contestant will have one [act] to themselves, along with [a song] that’s being performed with the judges,” Evans said.
Year after year, Botanic’s Got Talent provides a place for Auburn-Opelika citizens to showcase their talents to their family, friends and the community.
Yvette Mary Barwood Brook, known as The Mary B, is a professional musician who has lived in Opelika for three years. Auditioning with her original music, Brook hopes that Botanic’s Got Talent will help her meet more musicians and introduce herself to the community.
“Music’s [a] common thread of bringing people together,” Brook said.
Katie Abbate, project manager for Military REACH at Auburn University, is another contestant who auditioned during the first round. She is a singer who auditioned with “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele.
“There’s really great talent here in [Auburn-Opelika], and being able to see everybody who’s too passionate about music is a really cool opportunity,” Abbate said.
Botanic’s Got Talent fourth season will be an opportunity for audiences to discover the hidden talents of community members here in the Auburn-Opelika area. All are welcome to watch the competition, whether they are supporting a friend, rooting for their favorite local musician or seeking a music-filled night under the Patio lights at Botanic.
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Amelia Gatzke, freshman majoring in psychology, is from Huntsville, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
