America's Got Talent star Nightbirde has sadly passed away at the age of 31.
The family of the beloved singer - real name Jane Marczewski - confirmed that the star had passed away from her cancer diagnosis on February 19, telling NBC: "We, her family, are devastated by her passing and unimaginable loss."
Nightbirde won the support of fans all over the world last year following her stunning audition on the popular NBC reality TV show. She performed her original song 'It's Okay', which won her the 'Golden Buzzer' from judge Simon Cowell. As of this writing, the YouTube video of her performance has amassed over 39 million views.
During her first audition, she told the judges that she had been battling cancer in the her "lungs, spine, and liver" and had been given a "two percent chance of survival".
Watch Nightbirde's first performance here:Back in November, Nightbirde also shared a lengthy heartfelt post to her Instagram followers, in which she wrote: "It’s been a while since I have felt fully awake. Pain can be so surreal and disorienting that I often feel like an observer of my own life, and not a participant of it.
"In the past 20 months, my most vibrant hopes and deepest fears have been poured onto the same canvas. I stare into the chaos of it. My ears are ringing. The universe offered herself to me, then cut off my hands."
Speaking about her dreams, she continued: "I think about the dreams my heart has carried since I was little. Dreams of singing to the whole world at once; writing words that sink so deep they don’t need to be remembered; being a truth-teller, a hope-holder, a strength-sharer. Wait, am I in the dream?
It’s not how wanted it, but this is the dream. I’m in it. It’s happening now.
I thought it would be sparklier than this. I didn’t imagine standing before the world with so many bruises. I didn’t imagine that in my shining moment I’d be suffering in front of an audience. I’ve always expected miracles. I thought the miracle would be that I could skip to the end, spared of pain. I thought the miracle would make me scar-free, brand new.
"I did get a miracle—just not the one I wanted. I get to look for light and find it. I get to see how much love can endure. I get to walk the journey with thousands of people like me, who can’t stop hoping, no matter how hard we try."
She concluded the post by explaining: "If we only take the miracles that taste sweet, I don’t think we’ll ever taste one. If we wait until we have the perfect song, I don’t think we’ll ever sing. Don’t miss it—it’s now. We are in the miracle, we are in the dream."
NBC has since released a statement regarding the singer's passing, telling CNN: "Your voice, your story, and your message touched millions. Nightbirde will always be a member of the 'AGT' family. Rest In Peace, Jane."
Our thoughts are with Jane 'Nightbirde' Marczewski's family, friends, and fans at this time.
