Entertainment
Simon Cowell’s AGT Golden Buzzer act Nightbirde reveals why she tried to avoid mentioning cancer diagnosis: ‘I want to know that I’m good enough’
When Jane ‘Nightbirde’ Marczewski stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage for her headline-making audition, the singer was doing all she could to avoid mention of her ongoing cancer battle.
Due to the fact she personally has a low tolerance for ‘sob story’ contestants on reality competition shows, the AGT star explained to Metro.co.uk that she wanted to ensure she would progress in the competition based on the strength of her audition.
Indeed, when the Ohio native took to the stage, she reluctantly explained to judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandell, Sofia Vergara, and Heidi Klum that she had been through a tough couple of years after battling cancer in her ‘lungs, spine and liver.’
Determined not to have the panel and the audience pity her, she insisted she was powering through her 2% survival rate diagnosis and explained she used her life struggles to inspire her audition track.
As she sang the moving lyrics of her song, titled It’s Okay, Nightbirde’s clear talent and determination to fight for the good things in life led head judge Simon to make her his Golden Buzzer act.
Opening up to Metro.co.uk about her reluctance to tell the judges about her cancer battle, Nightbirde explained: ‘First off, I absolutely hate the sob story. Partly just because of the way I was raised and just the way I am. I don’t feel sorry for myself. I am no a whiner or a complainer so I don’t ever enjoy that kind of attention at all.
‘They actually had to cut things short for the episode but they actually had to ask a few more questions for a lot longer before I would reveal that I had cancer. I was doing my best not to mention it because I wanted to know that I’m good enough to be here.’
She continued: ‘To know that my song can stand on its own two feet, that I can stand on my own two feet. I approached the audition like, “I’m not here for people to feel sorry for me. I’m here to sing.” Obviously it did come up but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing the sob story thing.’
The singer explained further: ‘I’ve always hated the idea of being nothing more than the sad story that I’ve had on my own over the last year because I’ve wanted so much for my life. Now I’m being looked at like this hero that overcomes tragedy, but that’s it.
‘It made me think, “Okay, well, my life is just gonna be hard thing hard and hard thing because this is just who I am and this is just my story.” But I’m grateful that people don’t see me as someone who is just having a pity party. I am also grateful for the impact my story does have because I wouldn’t be here at this point without what I have experience.’
Nightbirde mused: ‘Maybe there would have been another way for me to reach many people but it would never be what it is. But it possibly wouldn’t have meant as much, and my song would never hit as hard had it not been coming from someone who really has been lost. So, in the end, it’s all worked out for good.’
As viewers of the NBC series saw, Nightbirde was overwhelmed with just how well her audition went.
Falling to her knees with joy after Simon pressed the Golden Buzzer, the singer was nearly in tears as she processed the fact she’s been given a ticket straight to the live finals.
Looking back at the moment she got Simon’s seal of approval, she told us: ‘He’s the judge to impress because he doesn’t say a compliment unless he really means it. I did not expect to get that from him.
‘I didn’t think I would get criticism but I didn’t expect him to get emotional or to hit the buzzer for me. It is a huge compliment and I can’t even think of a greater person to get that compliment from, honestly.’
She revealed that the pair also shared a few words together off stage as she continued: ‘We had a short conversation but it was really special to me, because talking off-camera just gives everything he says that little extra credibility.
‘There’s no obligation to approach me off stage or to say anything at all. But he was very kind and just complimented me again about my voice and the way I wrote my song. Talking with him on stage meant just as much as the golden buzzer moment.’
America’s Got Talent continues Tuesdays on NBC, while it is available to stream on Netflix in the UK.
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