Arts & Entertainment

Arizona Teen Stuns 'America's Got Talent' With Song For Cancer-Stricken Dad

Before Florence teen Evie Clair performed, she told the judges the song was for her dad, who is battling Stage 4 cancer.

FLORENCE, AZ — Evie Clair dabbed her eyes to preserve her eye makeup through tears. The 13-year-old choked back sobs as she told the hard-boiled Simon Cowell and a national audience for 'America’s Got Talent' that her father had been given a 5 percent chance to live. The Florence native then stood before the judges panel and delivered a touching performance of a pop song, with her dad watching just around the corner.

The song—Christina Perri's 'Arms'—is one Clair sings to her father on "rough days" during his battle with Stage 4 colon cancer. He was diagnosed a year ago, she told the judges.

After joking about her small hometown with "five prisons ... not even a grocery store," her composure weakened as she spoke of her father and his courage.

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"He continued working and supporting our family," Clair told the panel. "I sing him this song to make him feel better and give him comfort and strength to continue fighting.”

The audience was brought to tears after Clair overcame her own. Cowell gave her time to gather herself. The teen dried her eyes, sipped from a bottle of water, took a breath, and belted out the ballad.

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Her performance brought the audience and judges to their feet. She received four "yeses," advancing her in the competition.

"I felt like America and everybody here at ‘AGT’ wants to take our arms and wrap them around you and tell you, ‘You are home,'" Judge Howie Mandel told Clair.

Cowell praised the teen for her bravery and vocal chops.

"You’re one of the ones we’re gonna remember."

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