Photo Flash: Olate Dogs Crowned Winners of AMERICA'S GOT TALENT!

Related: Photos, Reality TV, America's Got Talent

After months of intense competition and inspiring live performances, NBC's top-rated summer hit AMERICA'S GOT TALENT crowned the winner of its seventh season Thursday night, traveling dog act Olate Dogs, from its home at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC.) Olate Dogs beat out thousands of acts, including finalists sand story artist Joe Castillo from Richmond, KY, comedian Tom Cotter from New York, Earth Harp inventor William Close from Los Angeles, artist David Garibaldi and his CMYK's from Sacramento and dancing group The Untouchables from Miami, to take home the coveted $1 million grand prize and perform in a headlining show in Las Vegas. The grand finale show of "America's Got Talent" featured a night of jam-packed performances and special guest stars, including OneRepublic, Flo Rida, Justin Bieber, Green Day, Ne-Yo, Joan Rivers and Blue Man Group. Olate Dogs will perform live on NBC's "Today" Show Friday morning.

After hearing the results, Olate Dogs said: "This has been the end and beginning to our journey. 'America's Got Talent' has been the most exceptional experience that either of us has ever been on; this is a dream come true after many years of hard work."

Click here to see reactions from Olate Dogs and the "America's Got Talent" judges

Olate Dogs is a high-energy, fast-paced dog act filled with impressive pet tricks led by Richard Olate, 55, and his son Nicholas Olate, 19. Richard grew up in South America in a poor family. A third generation circus performer, Richard has performed since he was 12, and through hard work and constant struggle, he made it to the United States at the age of 33. His dream is to have his own dog variety show, and he currently has four completely different dog acts.

Please like Olate Dogs on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OlateDogsAGT and follow them on Twitter at @olatedogs

Olate Dogs and fan favorites from this season will perform exclusively at The Palazzo Las Vegas Resort and Hotel. The show will open Wednesday, September 26th and run eight weeks through November 17th. Performances are six days a week, excluding Fridays, at 7:30pm in the Palazzo Theatre. Confirmed to participate in the two-hour live event are comedian Tom Cotter, Earth Harpist William Close, Joe Castillo and his Sand Art, Lightwire Theatre, and illusionist Spencer Horseman, as well as other acts to be announced. Tickets to "America's Got Talent Live," are on sale now and can be purchased at www.Ticketmaster.com.

The next season of "America's Got Talent" is right around the corner! To audition and show America and the Judges your talent, visit www.agtauditions.com or www.nbc.com/agt for more information.

"America's Got Talent" is the only talent competition show that is open to any age and any talent. Auditions for season seven took the show to numerous cities in search of one-of-a-kind talent, including New York City, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Austin, and Charlotte in order to bring America the greatest acts available. "America's Got Talent" is the #1 summer series on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49 and total viewers, marking the seventh straight year the show has ranked as the #1 summer series in total viewers. "Talent" has finished as the #1 non-sports primetime telecast on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox in total viewers for 12 of its last 13 weeks on the air (excludes weeks of Olympic preemptions). The Monday edition of "Talent" is averaging a 3.4 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49 and 11.0 million viewers overall, the Tuesday telecast is earning a 3.3/10 in 18-49 and 11.5 million viewers and the Wednesday edition is delivering a 2.8/8 in 18-49 and 10.2 million viewers in "most current" season averages from Nielsen Media Research through September 9.

"America's Got Talent" was created by Simon Cowell's SYCO Television and is co-produced by Syco TV and FremantleMedia North America. Simon Cowell and Georgie Hurford-Jones ("Britain's Got Talent") are executive producers for Syco TV and Cecile Frot-Coutaz ("American Idol"), Jason Raff, Ken Warwick ("American Idol") for FremantleMedia North America.

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