Jerry Springer, last season's host of "America's Got Talent," applauds after a performance by The Wright Kids.

Photos by JARED SOARES The Roanoke Times

TV personality Jerry Springer visits with The Wright Kids and their parents Friday evening at Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar in Roanoke.

For The Wright Kids, it was a total surprise.

As the young bluegrass act from Franklin County sat at a table in Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar on Friday, a black stretch limousine pulled up in front of the Memorial Avenue shop. Out of the back stepped one of their newest and surely most famous friends.

It was Jerry Springer, host last season of the hit NBC show "America's Got Talent." The kids -- Sage, 12, Baruch, 9, and Levi, 6 -- didn't win the show, but they had impressed many, including the host. Springer, best known from the wild daytime scrapfest "The Jerry Springer Show," had promised them on air that he would come and see them play one day at Pop's.

"Oh, look at that," Springer said as he walked in, past a brown velvet rope set up to prevent the crowd from getting too large in the tiny restaurant. "How are you?"

There were hugs all around for the Wrights and the man they had come to call "Uncle Jerry."

Pop's co-owner, Anna Robertson, had said previously she was skeptical that Springer would fulfill that TV show promise. But here he was.

"Go figure," Robertson said. "I'm just glad we were able to surprise them."

The kids hadn't seen Wednesday's edition of The Roanoke Times, which advanced Springer's appearance, and their parents had deflected questions about the velvet rope.

"I was like, uh, I couldn't believe it," Sage said. Baruch said that his mom had even pre-read an early birthday card he received from an aunt, to make sure there was no word of the visit.

A waitress brought beverages -- orange rickeys for the kids and a chocolate malt for Springer. As TV cameras rolled, he gave the restaurant the best free advertising it is likely ever to receive.

"Boy, that is one great malt," he said, holding it toward the cameras and grinning. "Oh my gosh, I've gone to heaven. I'll do a commercial for your malts."

Later, he said it was important to him to keep his word to the children, with whom he had developed a bond.

"What I like most about them, these are not your traditional stage kids. It's not like they're being shoved against something they love doing, which sometimes happens with overzealous parents wanting their kids to be stars ... they're just normal kids who happen to love music and are learning how to play it," he said.

He had asked Sage if the kids were going to do his favorite song, "God's Coloring Book." In a 45-minute set, they played that song and plenty of others, sounding tight both instrumentally and vocally.

Sage sang a rich and heartfelt version of "Wayfaring Stranger," drawing a post-song "wow" from Springer. Baruch debuted some quickly evolving banjo skills and sang "I'm a Believer" with a couple of crisp, crowd-pleasing high notes. Little sister Selah, 4, sat in to sing "Keep on the Sunny Side." Sage, Baruch and Levi went a cappella on the old spiritual "Talk About Suffering."

At least 30 people were outside, peering in the windows at Springer and the Wrights. Inside, about 30 more clapped along and cheered. When it was over, Springer led a standing ovation and asked for an encore. He got one, then walked to the corner where the kids had been playing and gave them hugs.

"You were great, just as great as I recall," he said, then turned to little Levi. "Next time I see you, you'd better be bigger than that bass."

Springer will be back for a 19th season of "The Jerry Springer Show." But he won't be back on "America's Got Talent" this year. Among the reasons: He will be in London's West End, doing his stage debut, dancing and singing the role of Billy Flynn in a production of "Chicago." He said he'd love to come back, if producer Simon Cowell wants him.

"I have told many people that my best experience in television is hosting 'America's Got Talent,' " he said.

The Wright Kids won't be back on the TV show, either. Their mother, Suzi Wright, said one season was enough.

"One time's a big ordeal, you know," Wright said. "I think you need to have a little time to grow and regroup and do something totally new and different."

Go to this story at roanoke.com to hear audio of our interview with Springer.