Elton John was “moved to tears” by wrongfully convicted ‘America’s Got Talent’ contestant.
Los Angeles, United States of America (31 May 2020) – America’s Got Talent Season 15 premiered last week with one of the most heart-wrenching performances. Nearly four decades after being wrongfully convicted, Archie Williams got the chance of a lifetime to fulfil one of his long-held dreams.
He gave a stunning performance of Elton John’s “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” to a standing ovation on the show but before he sang for the judges on Tuesday night’s episode, Williams revealed a shocking story.
“I was just incarcerated for 37 years for somebody else’s crime,” he told the judges onstage.
Williams shared that he was freed from prison after a DNA test cleared his name of the 1982 crime. He shared that, while in prison, the show prevented him from falling into despair.
“I watched America’s Got Talent in prison and I would visualize myself there,” Williams explained. “I always desired to be on a stage like this, and now I’m here.”
Williams also candidly spoke about the crime he was wrongly convicted of, saying that a 30-year-old white woman was assaulted and stabbed in her home. She wrongfully identified him as her rapist.
Now, he wants to turn his life around by moving forward and fully realizing his dream.
At the end of his soulful performance, all four judges sent him through to the next round. His rendition of the song also moved Sir Elton John to tears who tweeted about it.
“I was moved to tears when I heard Archie’s story and saw him perform “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me”. The courage and forgiveness shown by him is truly inspiring. The same spirit that the world found so inspiring with Nelson Mandela. Love, E xx”
Watch the unforgettable performance below:
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