Kodi Lee made his debut on the talent show earlier this week, accompanied by his mother, Tina Lee
The California mum explained to the judges and the audience that her son is blind and autistic, while her son told them that he was going to “sing a song for you on the piano”.
https://youtu.be/pDPdRYF7hTQ
Kodi, 22, received a standing ovation from everyone in the studio, judges included, when he finished his performance of Donny Hathaway’s A Song For You.
His mum explained that her son developed a love of music, and an incredible singing talent, “very early on” in his life, sharing that she knew he was “an entertainer” from a young age.
“We found out that he loved music really early on,” she said. “He listened and his eyes just went huge. And he started singing, and that’s when I was in tears, because I realised he is an entertainer.”
Tina later told NBC Nightly News that her son’s talent, news to the world, is something she’s always known about and been proud of.
“There’s this other part of him, it is like two people. You put him on stage and all of a sudden, it’s like the flip of hat, and he has no disabilities on stage,” she said.
According to Kodi’s official website, the talented young man was born with optic nerve hypoplasia, a congenital condition which means the optic nerve has not fully developed, and had to undergo life-saving surgery when he was just five days old.
“Born with optic nerve hypoplasia, surviving a life-saving surgery at five days old, and being diagnosed with autism at an early age has never stopped Kodi from reaching for his dreams,” his online biography states.
America’s Got Talent newest judge, Gabrielle Union, pressed the coveted “golden buzzer” — using up her only opportunity to do so for the season.
“I’m a new judge this season and I’m also a new mom this year. It’s the toughest job I’ve ever had and the most rewarding job I’ve ever had,” an emotional Union told Kodi and Tina.
As Kodi moves forward in the competition – he progresses straight to the live finals in Hollywood.
