A 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Knoxville, Tennessee named Johnny Shelton took the stage at America’s Got Talent (AGT) to tell a very personal and tragic tale. On the child’s fifth birthday, he disclosed that he had lost his young son to rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer. He had long since ceased performing because of the “empty hole” this terrible loss had left in his life. But he started singing again two months before his audition, believing that it was the closest he had been to his son since his death. His major objective for the audition was to make his son proud by performing a song that would fill that hole with something nice.
“That’s Love,” an original song that Johnny wrote 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. The song’s moving backstory and his unvarnished, sincere performance made a truly moving moment in the auditorium. His bravery and the lovely homage to his child clearly touched the judges and the crowd. His lyrics were genuine and true, and everyone in the room held on to every word he said.
The heartfelt performance was praised by all of the judges. The song and Johnny’s performance of it were “nothing more moving,” according to Howard Stern, who broke down in tears. Mel B, a mother of four, called the song “beautiful” and thanked him for sharing his tale. Howie Mandel praised Johnny’s remarkable tone 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 unanimous “yeses,” Johnny Shelton exited the stage, carrying on his son’s legacy into the following round.
