<P> Season eleven of the reality competition series America's Got Talent was ordered on September 1, 2015 . The season premiered on NBC on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 . Nick Cannon returned for his eighth and final season as host . Howie Mandel returned for his seventh season as a judge, while Mel B and Heidi Klum returned for their fourth season . Simon Cowell replaced Howard Stern as the fourth judge . The live shows began on July 26, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles instead of Radio City Music Hall in New York from previous years . Due to the 2016 Summer Olympics broadcast schedule on NBC, the show took a hiatus from August 9--17 . </P> <P> Dunkin' Donuts sponsored the show for a second season, and this season again featured the golden buzzer for each judge and Cannon . Four guest judges joined the panel for the judge's cuts: George Lopez, Reba McEntire, Ne - Yo, and Louis Tomlinson . Each judge was given a golden buzzer . </P> <P> Grace VanderWaal was announced as the winner on September 14, 2016, making her the second female act and the second child act to win the show since season 1 . Mentalist duo, The Clairvoyants, placed second, marking the first time that females placed in the top two positions . Magician Jon Dorenbos, the NFL Long Snapper for the Philadelphia Eagles, placed third . </P> <P> On October 22, 2015, it was announced that creator Simon Cowell would replace Howard Stern as a judge for season 11 . On January 12, 2016, it was announced that Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel would all return as judges, with Nick Cannon returning as host . </P>

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