CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte's own Sainted Trap Choir is headed to the finals on NBC's "America's Got Talent: Fantasy League," but for the group's founders, this isn't the first time they've competed on the AGT stage.
This time, it’s different.
As the Sainted Trap Choir makes their way through "America's Got Talent: Fantasy League," founders Dennis Reed and Fannie Mae remember their roots.
In 2011 Reed was part of a different group, Inspire the Fire, that made an appearance on "America’s Got Talent." They were sent home, but not without hope.
"It was lifechanging, but nothing in me wanted to do it again," Reed said. "Except when I got a call from one of the AGT producers."
Nine years later, in 2020, Sainted Trap Choir was founded.
Reed, Mae and Frenchiee Corpening are just three of the group’s more than 25 members.
"You don’t see gospel artists all the time," Corpening said. "So, in my head when I was a church kid, I was just like, 'Let me put this on the backburner.' But I met Dennis Reed when I was 16 years old, and I didn’t even know that I could create choreo."
Corpening wears several titles for the team, including heading up choreography.
The group first appeared on America's Got Talent in 2023, making it to the semifinals.
When they were called back for the show’s fantasy league, Corpening was overwhelmed but has made peace with it.
"I had to realize regardless of what happens, everything that happens is supposed to happen," she said. "So I live without any regrets."
Sainted Trap Choir is further than they’ve ever been, but with or without a win, they have big plans for when the cameras are off.
"We want to do ours, we want to do a Vegas residency, we want to travel, and we want to be able to do this for a living," Reed said.
"Continue to be great," Mae added. "To spread joy. To be creative and to push ourselves to be better."
Because this time, it really is different.
Contact Kia Murray at kmurray@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.