Will the Detroit Youth Choir reach the semifinals of "America's Got Talent"? Now it's up to voters.

The young singers from the Motor City so impressed show host Terry Crews back in June that he automatically advanced them under the show's rules by hitting the golden buzzer.

On Tuesday night's live episode, the choir opened the show with a powerful rendition of "The Champion," a Carrie Underwood song featuring Ludacris.

Its lyrics — "I am invincible, unbreakable/ Unstoppable, unshakeable/ They knock me down,/ I get up again/ I am the champion" — echoed the words of a taped introduction for the group, which described how some choir members had come from single parent homes, faced tragedy or fallen in with the wrong crowd.

"Despite adversity, you haven't let it beat you down. You have stood strong and you have stood together. ... This is the moment. Tonight is the night," it went.

The performance wowed the crowd and the quartet of judges.

More:Meet the 'America’s Got Talent' group that moved Terry Crews to tears

"Oh my word, oh my word, hallelujah!" said judge Gabrielle Union after the performance. Union thanked the choir "for coming out here and killing it and inspiring a nation."

Judge Howie Mandel told White that his introduction "spoke to the world," while judge Julianne Hough called the choir's message and talent "bigger than 'AGT.' "

"You are bloody fantastic and actually better tonight than your first audition," said judge Simon Cowell, referring to the group's June appearance.

Only seven of the 12 acts featured Tuesday night will advance to the semifinals. The results will be revealed during Wednesday's hour-long episode of "America's Got Talent," which will air at 8 p.m. on Channel 4 (WDIV-TV), Detroit's NBC affiliate.

Since leaving Detroit for Los Angeles last week, the 52 choir members have been busy with "numerous rehearsals, very, very technical rehearsals where we pick apart our music and try to solidify everything," according to choir director Anthony T. White. During a Monday phone interview, he described the choir as focused and enthusiastic about the reality competition.

"The kids have been very energetic, very in tune to what we're doing here and the reason why we're here."

The Detroit Youth Choir could make "AGT" history by becoming the first choir to win the NBC reality competition.

Founded in 1996, the choir is made up of metro Detroit students ages 8-18. It's a nonprofit group focused on teaching young people about music, theater and dance.

The group auditioned for "America's Got Talent" in November, when the show held open tryouts at the newly renamed TCF Center in Detroit.

In June, the group made its debut performance for season 14, delivering an uplifting version of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Can't Hold Us."

Before the group sang, White told the judges: "We're here to let the world know we have some beautiful young people in the city of Detroit. They all have great grades and they're all talented."

More:Viral hit Detroit Youth Choir back on 'AGT' tonight in quarterfinals

After that performance, Crews grew emotional as he spoke about identifying with the choir members.

"Every man and woman on this stage represents me and where I came from. I remember sitting at my window dreaming about wanting to make it and wanting to be here — and they are here," said Crews.

The YouTube video of the choir's June performance went viral. It has received nearly 10 million views so far.

Voting closed at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds: 313-222-6427 or jhinds@freepress.com.