Simon Cowell has said he will “never forget” an America’s Got Talent audition by school shooting survivor Ava Swiss.
The 18-year-old singer wowed the judges and the audience with her haunting rendition of Remember by Lauren Daigle.
Explaining why she had picked the song, Ava revealed four students at her school in Oxford, Michigan had been killed in a mass shooting.
A teacher and seven other students were also injured when a student opened fire on November 30 last year.
“I chose this song because my brother and I were part of the Oxford school shooting. We’ve lost four of our students and seven others were injured, one of which was a teacher,” Ava told the judges.
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“And how are you coping with everything, with life itself after that?” asked Simon.
An emotional Ava replied: “It’s been hard. I remember my brother and I were talking and we said there was no way we were ever stepping foot back in the school.”
She received a round of applause from the audience as she continued: “But we’ve actually been in person in the school for about two months now, so things are getting better.”
Simon asked the teenager if she felt music had helped as a form of therapy after what she had been through.
“Yes it definitely has been. When I sing I remember the good. I remember my community, my family, just the love,” said Ava.
“And I remember that it’s all there for me and it will help me get to where I need to be. That’s why I’m so grateful to be here today so I can share it with more people that I ever thought I could.”
As she prepared to sing Simon said everyone was “rooting for her”, adding: “You’re a very special person Ava.”
During her moving performance Simon, along with fellow judges Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Howie Mandel, looked mesmerised.
All four judges and the audience gave the singer a standing ovation as she ended the song with the words “you will always be there with me”.
Giving his verdict afterwards, Simon said: “Listen, I think you are gutsy. I really, really do.
“For me this is one of those auditions I’ll never forget. I really have so much respect for you. And on top of that, you’ve got a great voice.
“You’re somebody I’m so happy to have met. That’s the one thing over the years on this show, we’ve just met the most extraordinary people, every single year.
“And now we’ve just met you. Amazing.”
Fellow judge Howie told Ava: “In life it’s tough to show up, especially after going through incredible trauma. The fact you can break through that and shine the way you did today is so inspirational for every human being.”
“You took my breath away and I think it was the perfect song choice,” judge and former Modern Family star Sofia added.
Unsurprisingly all four judges said yes to putting Ava through to the next round of the talent show.
“I think you’ve got about four and a half thousand yeses over here,” said Simon as a visibly emotional Ava said ‘thank you so much” as she walked off stage.
Other acts to make it through to the next round included tap dancer Bayley Graham, singing fairy Freckled Zelda and dance group RCC Aruba.
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