It’s typically a great sign for contestants on America’s Got Talent who get a golden buzzer and receive a standing ovation, and Nightbirde stole the show recently for performing an original song. Nightbirde’s real name is Jane, and she says that she only uses that stage name when singing.
Before singing her heart out on America’s Got Talent, Nightbirde told the judges that she had written an original song and was going to perform it. The song had to do with her recent cancer diagnosis, having received treatment for a year. The judges were very surprised to hear that, but at the end of her audition, Nightbirde’s voice really captivated everyone sitting in the audience.
As a whole, Nightbirde’s “It’s Okay” swept the America’s Got Talent audience by storm and went viral in a matter of days. Once Nightbirde finished singing the song, one could hear a pin drop before the applause erupted and a standing ovation followed. In the end, Simon not only gave Nightbirde a Golden Buzzer but he also insisted that this was one of the top-ranked Golden Buzzer moments of all time. Unfortunately, Nightbirde also disclosed that she has a two percent chance of survival from cancer. You can watch Nightbirde’s performance below.
It helps that Nightbirde a very strong person despite her cancer diagnosis. When Simon asked how her condition is, Nightbirde answered that she has cancer, but even if her body wasn’t okay, she still wanted to show that she’s more than her health. It wasn’t an attempt to get a pass from the judges in any way – she was simply disclosing information about the context behind the words she was about to sing. As a whole, Nightbirde’s attitude showed modesty and grace. The song, “It’s Okay”, is quite raw despite her sweet singing voice. The judges called it an “authentic” song, that conveyed an emotional experience. Rather than show optimism, it shows realism matched with a positive attitude.
Nightbirde also brought out Simon Cowell’s soft side, after he recovered from back surgery himself. Many people know him as a harsh judge, but in truth, he just wants to see performers who have some substance to them. And after hearing Nightbirde’s life story, Simon expressed real sympathy toward her. Due to his many years on American Idol and America’s Got Talent, many people don’t expect this level of respect and grace from Simon. But after Nightbirde’s performance, Simon started to cry on camera. Whenever Simon presses that Golden Buzzer, the contestant has done more than wow him – he wants to make sure that this moment can last for as long as possible. Simon then went up to the stage to help out Nightbirde, who was collapsing from joy, and hug her.
