Cancer Survivor Brings Simon Cowell To Tears With Surprise ‘AGT’ Appearance
on Aug 11, 2021
Jane Marczewski, also known as Nightbirde, inspired us all with her beautiful America’s Got Talent audition performance earlier this season. But, the singer was forced to withdraw from the show due to her ongoing cancer battle.
During Wednesday night’s AGT episode, Marczewski made a surprise virtual appearance where she shared a touching moment with host Terry Crews and judges, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara.
Crews welcomed the singer then asked if she ever imagined that her performance of her self-penned song, “I’m Alright,” would have such a profound impact.
“There is no way I would have ever imagined that. It’s a song I wrote for myself in the middle of the night when I needed those words so bad,” Nightbird said. “It’s beautiful to see the world welcome that song to their own dark night…I’m overwhelmed by it.”
Howie Mandel called the singer a “poster human for courage in the face of adversity, for poise, beauty and for fight.”
The already touching interview took an emotional turn as Simon Cowell, who awarded the singer the Golden Buzzer during her audition, spoke to her and got so choked up that he couldn’t talk.
“You made the decision, rightly so, that your health is your priority right now. And I know the last time we spoke you actually said you feel like you let people down. Well, I just want to say, on behalf of all of us, you haven’t let anyone down,” Cowell shared. “Even though you haven’t competed, you have already won.”
Cowell struggled to maintain his composure as the singer responded to his comments, saying: “I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity to have a moment to share my story,” Nightbirde told the judges. “…it’s restored my faith in humanity a whole lot to see people come together just over the fact that we all hurt, we all suffer and we all have the potential to overcome. This is the most beautiful thing that’s ever happened to me in my life.”
Nightbirde earned a coveted Golden Buzzer during her audition which allowed her to move directly to the show’s live competition rounds. The 30-year-old revealed on August 2nd that she would no longer be able to perform during the live rounds due to her failing health.
“Since my audition, my health has taken a turn for the worse and the fight with cancer is demanding all of my energy and attention,” she wrote. “I am so sad to announce that I won’t be able to continue forward on this season of AGT. Life doesn’t always give breaks to those that deserve it—but we knew that already…Stay with me, I’ll be better soon. I’m planning my future, not my legacy. Pretty beat up, but I’ve still got dreams.”
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Following her announcement, Nightbirde appeared on CNN’s Cuomo Prime Time where she gave a detailed health update.
“I got shocking news less than a week ago about cancer regrowth that has taken over my lungs and liver. So my liver right now is mostly cancer,” she shared. “More cancer than liver in there right now. But like I said, I’m planning my future, not my legacy. Some people would call that blind denial. I prefer to call it rebellious hope. And I’m not stopping anytime soon.”
Watch Nightbirde’s emotional reunion with the America’s Got Talent judges in the video below.
