America’s Got Talent (AGT) has been discovering talent in the US since 2006. Since its premiere, they have crowned singers, ventriloquist singers, dog trick acts, martial arts dancer/mine, and magicians.
And now, for Season 14, they have crowned a pianist/singer, who also happened to be a blind and autistic man. What?
AGT is a great show because they are more concerned with discovering real and raw talent and providing opportunities for them. Other talent competition shows focus on choosing the winner who is sellable and marketable.
And their latest winner, Kodi Lee, proves that AGT is really focused on giving those with the talent with recognition and appreciation.
You see, Kodi Lee is a 22-year-old young man demonstrated his musical prowess at AGT. He was diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia at three months old, which declared him legally blind. Plus he was also diagnosed with autism at four years old.
But if Kodi is legally blind, then how can he play the piano?
For Kodi, he didn’t just start playing the piano and singing. He has been playing this musical instrument for years to master his musical craft.
Kodi also has an audio photographic memory. Because of his, he is able to remember the notes in a piece of music and can easily recall it after one time and play it on the piano. He can do this even for songs in different languages.
According to accounts of other blind pianists, blind people have always learned to do everything without the use of sight.
And since they can’t see, they have used their other senses to help them. To play the piano, they use their sense of hearing to hear the note. They also rely on their sense of intuition. For some of them, they make sure to be familiar with one key and play the keys around that note or key.
This could also be how Kodi masterfully plays the piano but one thing is for sure, he has been doing this for decades.
He has been playing the piano (and six other musical instruments) since he was three years old. In fact, before he appeared on AGT, he’s already played in big venues and events, including the Carnegie Hall in New York City.
“As long as Kodi is playing music, recording music, and performing live, he is in his happy place,” his mom, Tina Lee, said.
That’s why winning AGT or not, it won’t matter to Kodi because he’s already happy, as long as he got to play the piano and sing.
“He is going to go back to what he does and him walking away, either way, is not going to matter to him,” Tina said.
During AGT Season 14, Kodi was a season favorite.
The judges, audience, and viewers were amazed at his talent and continued to root for him every episode.
During his audition, he performed Leon Russell’s “A Song For You,” which not only earned him a standing ovation from the judges and the audience. He also earned a Golden Buzzer from AGT judge Gabrielle Union, which sent him straight to the live shows.
For his AGT finale performance, he performed Calum Scott’s “You Are The Reason.” And everyone fell in love with him even more.
“Kodi has changed the world, he changes every room he enters,” Gabrielle said when Kodi finished his performance. “And when he said ‘I think I’d be lost with you’, I think the whole world would be lost if we hadn’t found Kodi Lee. Thank you for blessing us all, Kodi!”
AGT judge Howie Mandell agreed with Gabrielle.
“I think Season 14 is the season of Kodi and if I have to predict, you’re worth much more than a million [dollars] but I think you’re going to walk out of here with it,” Howie predicted.
And Howie’s prediction came true when Kodi Lee was awarded the top prize on America’s Got Talent Season 14.
Congratulations, Kodi! You have inspired many people with your story and your performance.
Watch the video below for Kodi’s winning AGT performance.
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