Eleven-year-old Tyler Butler-Figueroa was diagnosed with leukemia at age 4. He was bullied at school because of the hair loss caused by his treatment, and he was ostracized because of a rumor that his cancer was contagious.
He got into an after-school program that taught violin, and practice became his refuge. He’s been in remission now for four years, and this was his Tuesday night audition for “America’s Got Talent.” He’s performing Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” with its memorable refrain “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Getting the Golden Buzzer means he bypasses further competition and goes directly to the live shows.
I don’t watch “America’s Got Talent,” but this performance made it into the news media and I saw it there. It feels good to feel good.
Thank you for this! It brought happy tears to my eyes!
It did the same for me.
Mine too :
Beautiful …thanks
Just wanted to make sure everyone got to see it.
I think this kid has been on the news before. How cool he’s on AGT and a shooting star. (A good example why classical music/orchestra should still be offered in the schools – band just may not be the music that every kid needs – and playing a musical instrument has so many benefits.)
I don’t know if his violin class was at school or elsewhere, but it’s wonderful that he found it. Schools have been dropping so many things that kids may not find elsewhere.
You won’t get any argument from me there.
Awesome (a word that is over-used, but definitely applies here)! Thanks for sharing such a happy moment.
Yes, it’s overused, but I use it a lot and can’t think of a better word. I once asked my son and grandkids what word they would use for something that was the best, greatest they could think of, and they all came up with “awesome.” So I’ve stopped feeling guilty for using it so much. Three generations still think it’s irreplaceable.
I watched that. Talented kid.
It was so heart-warming to see him triumph over his unhappy past.