Singer-songwriter Johnny Shelton, a 25-year-old from Knoxville, Tennessee, took the stage of America’s Got Talent (AGT) to tell a painful and intensely personal tale. He disclosed that on the child’s fifth birthday, he lost his young son to a type of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. He had stopped performing for a long time after this terrible loss left a “empty hole” in his life. But he started singing again two months before his audition because he felt that it was the closest he had been to his son since his death. In an attempt to make his kid proud, his primary objective for the audition was to sing a song that would fill that hole with something constructive.
“That’s Love,” an original song that Johnny penned for his son, was the one he performed. The song’s lyrics discussed the eternal, unbreakable nature of love and emphasized that it is the one thing in the world that neither death nor money can take away. An incredibly moving moment was produced in the auditorium by his honest, passionate performance and the stirring backstory of the song. His bravery and the lovely homage to his child clearly touched the judges and audience. Because they understood the sincerity and authenticity of his lyrics, everyone in the room paid close attention to what he said.
The emotive performance received widespread accolades from the judges. The song and Johnny’s performance of it were “nothing more moving,” according to Howard Stern, who broke down in tears. Mother of four Mel B praised him for sharing his tale and described the song as “beautiful.” Howie Mandel praised Johnny’s remarkable sound and phrasing, calling him a “real artist” and an inspiration. The panel’s sentiment was summed up in a last, impactful moment when Howard told Johnny that his son’s spirit was with him and that, despite the loss of loved ones, “no love is stronger than a parent has for a child.” With four resounding “yeses,” Johnny Shelton exited the platform and continued his son’s legacy.
