"You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy," says the latest America's Got Talent singer, who's also battling cancer.
Jane Marczewski from Ohio goes by the stage name Nightbirde when she sings. On June 8, 2021, she took the stage on the popular network show.
"I'm 30 and tonight I'll be singing an original song called 'It's Okay,'" says the singer before her performance.
One of the judges, Howie Mandel, asks what the song is all about.
"It's about the last year of my life. Last time I checked I had some cancer in my lungs, my spine, and my liver," she says.
The four judges went silent in shock as the grim news was shared.
"It's important that everyone knows I'm so much more than the bad things that happen to me," says Nightbirde.
After singing her haunting melody with a soft voice, the singer received a standing ovation. This made Simon Cowell's next words seem out of place.
"There have been some great singers this year," says Cowell. "And I'm not going to give you a yes."
Then the judge stood up and pressed the golden buzzer, something that happens rarely on the show. It signifies the contestant automatically moves to the next round, regardless of what the other judges say.
"That felt like the most authentic thing I've heard this season," says Mandel after the performance.
Nightbirde's diagnosis isn't good, but her positive attitude far outweighs that.
"I have a two per cent chance of survival, but two per cent is not zero per cent. Two per cent is something, and I wish people knew how amazing it is."
Tue, Apr 23, 1:20 PM
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