“I love everything about you,” Simon Cowell revealed after Calysta Bevier finished her stirring rendition of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song”. He was so impressed and moved by the 16-year-old’s performance that he not only gave her his only golden buzzer, but he also went up on stage to hug her and her mother.
Watch the performance that brought the entire audience to their feet:
After walking out on stage, the singer from a small town in Ohio introduced herself as Caly and shared her amazing story with the “America’s Got Talent” judges. Following a complement from Howie about her “look”, Caly noted that her haircut, “wasn’t really my choice. I’m a survivor of stage 3 ovarian cancer,” she continued.
“I kinda came her today to show people that no matter what you’ve gone through to keep chasing your dreams,” Caly explained.
And that’s exactly what she did. By the time Caly hit her last note the entire audience, along with the four judges, were all on their feet, with Simon Cowell at the end giving the talented 16-year-old two thumbs up with a huge grin on his usually expressionless face. All of the judges had amazing things to say about Caly and her voice, but none quite as influential as Cowell’s.
“I just had this feeling when you walked out — I can’t explain it. Just your spirit, your choice of song, your voice…I think you’re really special,” he told her.
“I’ve just got this really incredible feeling about you. I really do. I think everyone in this room felt it.”
It wasn’t long after those words that Simon got up from his seat and hit the golden buzzer for Caly before meeting her and her mother on stage with a huge hug.