Simon Cowell breaks down in tears after watching Nightbirde’s America’s Got Talent audition for first time since her death: ‘I will never forget this moment’-Adam Miller-Entertainment – Metro

Simon Cowell was in tears as he watched Nightbird’s America’s Got Talent audition again for the first time since her death.

The singer died of cancer in February 2022 aged 31 after being forced to drop out of the reality series last year when her health deteriorated.

On Tuesday night, Cowell watched back some of his favourite auditions from years gone by alongside host Terry Crews.

However, he was brought to tears when Nightbirde’s gorgeous audition performing her own song It’s Okay came on screen, telling the cameras he needed ‘two seconds’ to compose himself.

 ‘The last time I saw her, she did say what that moment meant to her,’ said Simon.

‘All these years she had tried to get recognition as a songwriter, as a singer, and in an instant, everything changed for her.

Simon was brought to tears by Nightbirde’s audition (Picture: AGT/NBC)

‘I promise you, so many people come up to me and talk about what she did, giving people hope and perspective and that lyric of that song and you know… she typifies what the Golden Buzzer is all about.’

The music mogul, 62, also shared a black and white photo of himself with Nightbirde, giving her a hug after the singer won his golden buzzer.

He captioned the snap: ‘Nightbirde was one of the most inspirational people I have ever met. She was so incredibly brave and I am very grateful she chose @agt to show the world her talent.

Simon shared a heartwarming black and white snap of Nightbirde’s audition (Credits: Simon Cowell/Instagram)

Nightbirde won Simon’s Golden Buzzer before she had to leave the contest (Picture: NBC)

‘I will never forget this moment.’

Nightbirde’s self-written track It’s Okay eventually went on to top the US iTunes charts and she was instantly adored by viewers.

During her audition, she told the judges she had a 2% chance of surviving her cancer but stressed but ‘2% is not 0% – 2% is something and I wish people knew how amazing it is.’

The singer died from cancer aged 31 in 2022 (Picture: Instagram)

Speaking to Metro.co.uk about her time on the show, the singer explained that she was initially reluctant to tell the judges about her health issues.

‘First off, I absolutely hate the sob story. Partly just because of the way I was raised and just the way I am,’ she told us. 

‘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.’

America’s Got Talent airs on NBC.

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