Then, with the diagnosis that he has, he has some light perception and can see big letters, like 2 inches away. Tina Lee: No, he was actually completely blind. So if I keep talking, it helps the anxiety not to get worse, if that makes sense. Tina Lee: There are a lot of things I say to him when he’s sitting there, waiting, because waiting is a really hard thing for him, especially with autism. I was telling him, “Oh, my gosh, here we go, you’re gonna find out who the winner is.” And I think I also said, “We’re all winners.” And I did that because, no matter what, Kodi would have been happy. Tina Lee: I think there were a lot of things I was saying to Kodi, actually. What did you say to him in all that suspense? Tina, in the moments onstage before Terry announced the winner, you leaned in close and said something to Kodi. I thought it would be great if Kodi could meet Simon, but I never thought we would actually make it there. That’s when I really wanted to get him to sign up, because he loved Simon so much. We watched it with him, and he actually started watching “X Factor” at the time. Tina Lee: It was probably when he was 9 years old. Tina Lee: Yes, it became my goal just to get him on the show. We went on the show because Kodi wanted to go on the show.Īnd you were there to make sure he realized that dream, of just performing on “AGT”? We didn’t go on the show thinking we were going to win. I never really thought it would go as big as it did. But the thing is that, because of his disabilities, you think people will see him and be inspired, but then pass on him. Tina Lee: In raising him, I have known Kodi’s always been a really good entertainer - this was true even when he was very young - and that he would change so many hearts whenever he played for people. Tina, did you think Kodi could win the show when he auditioned? I was super-happy, but I was very shocked. What did you think when you got the Golden Buzzer during “AGT”? “You know you make me wanna shout!” Yes! That one is one of my favorites. Kodi Lee: There was “Joy to the World,” and also “Shout!” What were some of the first songs you remember playing I love being able to share my music with the world. I love making my fans happy.ĭid you ever imagine in your life that you would be on a stage, playing for fans, on the Las Vegas Strip? Johnny Kats: How do you like Las Vegas so far? During a phone chat last week, with his mother and leading supporter, Tina, at his side, he recounted his inspiring rise to fame. Lee returns to the show Sunday after a scheduled holiday break. The show is a production partnership of Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment company, Fremantle, Simon Painter’s The Works Entertainment Company (which is a Cirque du Soleil acquisition) and MGM Resorts International. And fulfilling a lifelong dream, he’s a Vegas headliner, in the cast of “America’s Got Talent Live” at Luxor. Show host Terry Crews named Lee the winner onstage alongside runner-up Detroit Youth Choir. 18, 2019, finale, “You Are the Reason” a second time, with guest artist Leona Lewis. Playing to standing ovations with each advancing round, Lee performed Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Calum Scott’s “You Are the Reason,” Freyda Ridings’ “Lost Without You” and, in the Sept. The YouTube clip drew 50 million viewers within two weeks. The 25-year-old Lee is considered a musical savant, which he displayed immediately in his “AGT” audition of Leon Russell’s “A Song for You.” Judge Gabrielle Union hit the Golden Buzzer, sending Lee straight to the show’s live performances. He is also an entertainment marvel, a wondrous singer with seemingly limitless range and virtuoso piano skills. He was also diagnosed with autism and has Addison’s disease. He is the first autistic and developmentally challenged performer to win the title in the show’s 16-year history.Īs viewers of “AGT” know well, Lee was born with optic nerve hypoplasia and is legally blind. Lee captured the hearts of the “America’s Got Talent” TV audience, soaring to the Season 14 championship. One of the first songs Kodi Lee sang and played on the piano when he was a little boy was the Three Dog Night hit “Joy to the World.”įor Lee, it was a forecast for his life, and his passion for music. Kodi Lee is the Season 14 champion of "America's Got Talent" and co-star of "America's Got Talent Live!" at Luxor.
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