The young artist behind a cover of the Leon Russell-penned "A Song for You" bagged the first Golden Buzzer of the season on the latest America's Got Talent.
Kodi Lee, 22, took the stage with his mother Tina before performing the track, riveting the audience and judges in equal measure.
"Kodi is blind and autistic," Tina told judges including Gabrielle Union and Howie Mandel. "We found out that he loved music really early on. He listened and his eyes just went huge. He started singing and that's when I was in tears because I realized, oh my gosh, he's an entertainer! Through music and performing he was able to withstand living in this world . . . It actually has saved his life, playing music."
Union later reflected on the performance on Instagram, again praising Lee as more than worthy of her Golden Buzzer distinction. "I am honored, humbled, and still have CHILLS over this performance," she said. "You are going to change the world!!!! Thank YOU for being my #goldenbuzzer. This is what #AGT is all about!!!
Lee has been performing publicly for quite some time now, as evidenced by the behind-the-scenes bits found on his increasingly popular Instagram account. Back in January, for example, he and Midnight Satellites hit the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) convention in Anaheim.
