31 May 2023 , 12:18
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Simon Cowell was reduced to tears during the season premiere of America's Got Talent as the Mzansi Youth Choir paid tribute to the late season 16 contestant Nightbirde.
Nightbirde, real name Jane Marczewski, was forced to leave the competition two years ago after being diagnosed with cancer.
She was given just a two percent chance of survival by doctors and sadly died at the age of 31 in February 2022.
Mzansi Youth Choir sang a powerful rendition of her song It's OK during Tuesday night's show, which left the audience chanting for them to receive the golden buzzer.
Simon revealed how, for the first time ever, the audience have been given the power to choose their own golden buzzer winner.
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Simon Cowell was reduced to tears (America's Got Talent/Youtube)"This brought back so many memories for me. Gosh, it was..." Simon said with tears in his eyes, as judge Sofia Vergara placed a supportive hand on his back.
"This is hard. Gosh, give me one second. I know how much this would have meant to her, it would," he continued while choking up.
"Right until the end she was so passionate about sharing her music a. And this has gone all over the world. And you come back here with the most amazing tribute. It was just breath-taking."
Mzansi Youth Choir were given a golden buzzer from the audience (America's Got Talent/Youtube)Judge Heidi Klum explained why the song was so special.
"For anyone who doesn't know we lost a very special person from our AGT family. Her name is Jane. Her nickname was Nightbirde, and she sang the song.
"It has a very special meaning in my heart. It was really beautiful, thank you," she said.
Simon asked the choir why they had decided to sing Nightbirde's song.
"When we heard Nightbirde singing the song on this stage, we were very inspired and touched by her story that we decided to record the song," one of the choir members explained.
Nightbirde was forced to leave the show amid her cancer battle (NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)She continued: "To our surprise she responded so beautifully."
She explained how the song had been "a pillar of strength" for the choir and added how they wanted to pay tribute to Nightbirde's legacy.
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"I'm going to suggest something. We've never done this before, but we've always discussed one day giving the audience something," Simon added as the audience erupted into a standing ovation.
The judges held hands as they pressed the golden buzzer together with host Terry Crews.
They then joined the youth choir on stage and gave the members hugs, with Simon saying: "You have no idea how much that really meant to us."