Northwell Nurse Choir With 2 Long Islanders Gets Golden Buzzer

LONG ISLAND, NY —On Tuesday night a choir of 18 nurses from the Northwell health system in New York inspired the "America's Got Talent" judges and made it into the next round. On the premiere of the musical competition show, now in its 16th season, the nurses sang "Lean On Me."

Winne Mele is a Westbury resident who works at Plainview Hospital and Christian Montanez is a Deer Park native working at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. On the show Mele says "what makes this choir so special is we're all front line nurses. We're not professional singers."

Montanez said "nursing is in my blood." His parents and siblings are also nurses.

The nurses work in New York City, Westchester and Long Island. They reflected on the difficult year working during the pandemic in emotional interviews before the performance.

The "golden buzzer" is awarded to an act that inspires the judges. Howie Mendel said it was the most inspiring moment he had all year.

"This choir has been a beacon of hope for us," Mele said.