This Teenager Dedicated Her Performance To Terminally Ill Dad, And Her Song Will Make You Bawl Your Eyes Out
Evie Clair stands out from the typical 13-year-old in more ways than one. With a celestial voice, this American teenager brought not just her talent but also an incredibly moving narrative to the America’s Got Talent stage. During her audition, Evie chose Christina Perri’s “Arms” as her song, dedicating her performance to her father Amos, who was fighting stage four colon cancer at the time.
Under the excited eyes of her parents offstage, Simon Cowell encouraged her to give her all, urging her to deliver the “best vocal you’ve ever done.” Evie rose to the challenge, offering a performance that was both emotionally charged and beautifully sung.
The audition began on a lighter note, with Evie sharing a bit about her hometown of Florence, Arizona, humorously noting its high number of prisons and her dad’s job at one of them. Simon’s playful response, “Well he hasn’t got much choice,” elicited laughter from both Evie and the audience, setting a relaxed tone.
However, the mood turned more serious as Evie shared her deeper motivation for appearing on the show. Holding back tears, she revealed her father’s dire health diagnosis from a year prior and his ongoing struggle, emphasizing her desire to perform for him. Evie’s journey continued with a poignant cover of Macy Gray’s “I Try” in her second performance.
Evie shared that she chose “Arms” for her audition as a way to bring comfort and strength to her father during his tough days, singing by his side to uplift his spirits and ease his pain. Simon Cowell praised her courage in sharing such a personal story before she delivered an audition that left a lasting impression.
The teenager’s heartfelt performance earned her unanimous approval from the judges, securing four yeses. Despite being offered a chance to pause her participation due to her father’s illness, Evie chose to persevere in season 12 of America’s Got Talent. She made it all the way to the finals, performing her original song “Okay Day,” before her journey ended just shy of the top five. Tragically, her father, Amos Abplanalp, passed away during the season, just two weeks before her final performance.
Since her memorable stint on America’s Got Talent, Evie’s musical journey has flourished. She released her debut album, also titled Okay Day, a year after the show, showcasing her talents as both singer and songwriter across 10 tracks.
Evie has remained active online, frequently updating her YouTube channel, which boasts 157k subscribers and 19 million views, with a variety of content. From covers and original songs to unique videos like singing Disney tunes while making lasagna, her channel is a vibrant showcase of her evolving artistry. To dive deeper into Evie Clair’s world, consider subscribing to her YouTube channel, or visit her official website for more information.
