Known professionally as Nightbirde,[1] was an American singer-songwriter.
Host and judges pay tribute to ‘America’s Got Talent’ contestant who lost battle to cancer.
Jane Marczewski, a singer known by her stage name Nightbirde, who earned a legion of followers after being a contestant on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” has died after a battle with cancer, her family confirmed.
“We, her family, are devastated by her passing and unimaginable loss,” the Marczewski family said in a statement, provided by NBC. Marczewski fought cancer for four years and died Feb. 19, her family said.
The singer caught the attention of many after delivering a stunning audition
last year on “America’s Got Talent,” performing an original song called “It’s OK.”
During her performance, she disclosed to the judges that she was battling cancer
that had spread to her lungs, spine and liver. She impressed judge Simon Cowell
with her positivity and resolve.
“You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy,”
she told the judges. Cowell awarded Marczewski a coveted “golden buzzer,”
which advanced her to the next round of competition.
She ultimately had to drop out, but during a virtual interview aired on the show,
Marczewski said it was “beautiful to see the world welcome that song into their
own dark night.”
“I’m overwhelmed by it,” she said, of the reaction to “It’s OK.”
“Your voice, your story, and your message touched millions.
Nightbirde will always be a member of the ‘AGT’ family.
Host Terry Crews and judges Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell also paid tribute on
their own social media accounts. “Heart breaking news to hear about @_nightbirde,
she was an extraordinary person, so brave, so talented,” Cowell wrote on Twitter.
“She made a huge impact on AGT and the world. Her determination to fight this
terrible illness was remarkable. Rest in peace, Jane. I am sending my love to her family.”
Her family added in their statement that those who knew Marczewski “enjoyed her larger-than-life personality and sense of humor.”
“She had a witty joke for every occasion – even if the joke was on her,” her family added. “Her lasting legacy will be the gift of hope she gave to so many through her music and the strength she found in Jesus. We thank everyone for their messages of love and support.”
Previously having released two EPs and several singles, Nightbirde auditioned on America’s Got Talent in 2021, where she received a Golden Buzzer for her original song “It’s OK”.[2] However, she decided to withdraw from AGT before the quarterfinals, because of worsening health due to cancer.[3] Marczewski died on February 19, 2022, after keeping the battle with cancer a secret. She was 31 years old.[4][5]
Early life and education
Marczewski was born on December 29, 1990.[6] She was originally from Zanesville, Ohio,[7][8] and had three siblings. Marczewski started songwriting at age six,[9] when she helped her mother finish the lyrics for a song.[10]
As a young Christian,[11] she volunteered and participated in various church ministries.[12]
Marczewski was a 2009 graduate of Licking County Christian Academy,[13] and graduated from Liberty University[14][15] (in Lynchburg, Virginia) with a marketing communications degree.[16]
Music career
Marczewski uploaded her first songs, and gave her first live performance in 2011,
while a student at Liberty University.[17] She released a three-song EP in 2012, called
Lines, on which she sang and played acoustic guitar.[10][16]
In 2013, she released Ocean & Sky, a six-song EP that she funded on Kickstarter.[14]
Remaining in Lynchburg after graduating, Marczewski was a popular performer locally.[17] She returned to Ohio in 2014, and following her marriage, moved in 2015 to Nashville, Tennessee (where she later resumed performing under her married name, Jane Claudio, with her husband acting as her producer).[18]
Credited as Jane Marczewski-Claudio, she contributed music for the 2015 documentary film, Leonard Knight: A Man & His Mountain.[19] Nightbirde adopted her professional stage name based on a recurring dream, in which birds sang outside her window at night in anticipation of the morning.[20]
She explained: “It felt so poetic that these birds were singing as if it were morning,
and yet there was no sign of it yet, and that’s what I want to embody.”[21]
When asked the meaning behind her name by a fan on Instagram, Nightbirde responded:
Woke up in the night three times, dreaming of birds singing in the dark.
The third time, I went to the window and they were there singing morning songs at 3am.
I wanted to be one of them singing as if it was morning, though I couldn’t see it yet.[22]
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Nightbirde New Years Eve – Bing video
Nightbirde’s style, a mix of folk and pop,[14] evolved into electropop.[23]
Her first single as Nightbirde was “Girl in a Bubble”, released in March 2019, along with
a music video.[24][23] In April 2019, she opened for Tori Kelly at Liberty University.[17][18]
In August 2020, following her second cancer diagnosis and remission, she released
“It’s OK” (her most popular song).[25]
Nightbirde peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard “Emerging Artists” chart in June 2021.[26]
Her song “New Year’s Eve (The Remix)” peaked at No. 14 on iTunes in December 2021.[27]
It also charted in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.[28][29][30] In March 2022,
Nightbirde’s song “It’s OK” appeared during an episode of Good Trouble.[31]
Her 2021 song “Brave” was officially released posthumously as a single in April 2022.[32]
Her 2019 song “Fly” was officially released as a single by her family on July 4, 2022.[33]
America’s Got Talent
In June 2021, Nightbirde performed during the 16th season auditions on America’s Got Talent. During her appearance, she offered two inspirational statements: 1. It’s important that everyone knows I’m so much more than the bad things that happen to me…
2. You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.[34][35]
Nightbirde subsequently received a Golden Buzzer
from Simon Cowell for her performance of her original song “It’s OK”.[8][35][36]
The song became No. 1 on iTunes[36][37] and No. 2 trending on YouTube.[15]
In August 2021, before she could compete in the show’s quarterfinal round, Nightbirde withdrew from the competition because of worsening health.[15][38][39] Cowell encouraged her not to return to the competition, saying “You don’t need the stress right now.”[40][41]
She appeared via remote broadcast during the live quarterfinals of AGT to express gratitude, and gave an update about her health on August 11, 2021.[42][43]
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Cowell said Nightbirde could
have gone all the way and been crowned champion, if it had been possible.[44]
In July 2022, Cowell ranked his favorite Top 15 Golden Buzzer moments in AGT
history during season 17, and Nightbirde placed first.[45]
ICYMI: Vocalist, cancer warrior Nightbirde scores golden buzzer
at America’s Got Talent (easyrock.com.ph)
Personal life
Marczewski was married to musician Jeremy Claudio.[18]
The couple separated and divorced in 2020, after which she moved
from Nashville to Huntington Beach, California (where she was baptized).[7][46]
Nightbirde sold merchandise on social media, and raised money for medical expenses via GoFundMe.[47][48] She also wrote poetry and painted prior to her death.[49] Frequently posting, the singer’s final message and selfie to social media was on January 11, 2022.[50]
Health and death
Marczewski was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017,[7][17][18] and declared cancer-free in July 2018.[24] Her cancer recurred in 2019,[21] and she was given three to six months to live,[7] but she was again declared cancer-free in 2020.[25][9] Prior to her America’s Got Talent audition, Marczewski was told that the cancer had metastasized to her lungs, spine and liver.[51][1] With only a 2% chance of survival,[35] she gave health updates on CNN and social media.[52][53][54] According to Nightbirde: “I have a two percent chance of survival, but two percent is not zero percent. Two percent is something, and I wish people knew how amazing it is.”[55]
At the age of 31, Marczewski died from the disease on February 19, 2022.[56][57]
She was surrounded by family in her San Clemente residence.[20] The AGT judges and host released condolences on social media.[58][59] A celebration of life, which was livestreamed,[60] was held at Cornerstone Church in Ohio on March 4, 2022.[61]
Legacy and honors
The Marczewski family created the Nightbirde Foundation (nightbirdefoundation.org),
a 501c3 nonprofit that helps encourage and support young women with breast cancer.[62]
America’s Got Talent: Extreme also honored Nightbirde at the end of the “Auditions 2” episode on February 28, 2022. A title card with a photo of her read:
“In Memory of Jane ‘Nightbirde’ Marczewski”.[63]
Inspired by Nightbirde, the Lebanese dance group Mayyas (who received a Golden Buzzer from Sofía Vergara) honored her during the audition episode of AGT’s season 17 on June 21, 2022.[64] Nightbirde’s song “It’s OK” also played in the background, during the beginning and ending of their performance.[65]
SIMON COWELL Relives BEST Golden Buzzer Moments With Terry Crews! | Amazing Auditions.
An emotional tribute to Nightbirde was highlighted during an America’s Got Talent special on July 5, 2022. Judge Simon Cowell and host Terry Crews featured their favorite Golden Buzzer winners, with Nightbirde being ranked the best moment (No. 1), on the retrospective episode.[66]
“There was something really special about Jane. I adored her,” declared “America’s Got Talent” judge Simon Cowell during the July 5 episode that looked back at the Top 15 “AGT” Golden Buzzers of all time. He was referring to Jane Marczewski, known professionally as Nightbirde, who earned the #1 spot on his list.
Nightbirde received the coveted honor during the 2021 season thanks to her original
song “It’s Okay” about living with cancer. The singer-songwriter later withdrew from the
competition due to health complications and passed away six months later at age 31.
Simon broke down while re-watching her Golden Buzzer moment with
host Terry Crews. “You know, it’s difficult, I actually haven’t been able to watch
this” video since Nightbirde died, the British judge confessed with teary eyes.
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WATCH Simon Cowell Breaks Down in TEARS as ‘Nightbirde’ Returns to America’s Got Talent Live Result Show! – Bing video
On the year-old video, Nightbirde remained hopeful about her condition,
telling the “AGT” judges, “It’s important that everyone knows I’m so much
more than the bad things that happened to me.”
Simon continued on, “What was so special about Jane in my opinion was she was always optimistic. But she recently passed away, which makes this tough. All she ever kept talking about was her music.”
After watching Nightbirde finish her performance of “It’s Okay” up on the big screen, Terry and Simon both had trouble speaking. “I don’t know what to say,” Terry stated. Simon instructed someone off-camera, “Give me two seconds.”
SEE ‘America’s Got Talent’: Is Sofia Vergara really a ventriloquist?
One of Nightbirde’s most influential quotes was included in the video package:
“You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”
That’s the moment where Simon decided to push the Golden Buzzer. Watching the scene play out, an emotional Terry noted, “The amazing strength she showed in the midst of incredible adversity, it was a lesson for all of us …
I feel like I’m watching an angel.”
“The last time I saw her, she did say what that moment meant to her,” Simon recalled.
“All these years she’d been trying to get recognition as a songwriter, as a singer, and in an instant everything changed for her. I promise you, so many people come up to me and talk about what she did, giving people hope and perspective with the lyrics of that song. She typifies what the Golden Buzzer is all about. Watching it back, it makes you feel hopeful. Her Golden Buzzer will live on forever. No one else in my opinion could be number one.”
NBC’s reality TV show ended with this note about Nightbirde’s lasting impact on
the world: “Jane’s family has started The Nightbirde Foundation in her memory to
help other young women with cancer. NightbirdeFoundation.org
* H I G H L I G H T S *
10 Facts You Didn’t Know About AGT’s Nightbirde!
Her Marriage, Cancer Struggle, Tattoo and More… – Bing video
Golden Buzzer: Nightbirde’s Original Song Makes Simon Cowell
Emotional – America’s Got Talent 2021 – YouTube
Jane Marczewski (NIGHTBIRDE) before and after she cut off her hair.
Photos down the memory lane – YouTube
Nightbirde’s Celebration of Life Service-Father Mitchell Marczewski
shared Memories Of Raising Her – YouTube
What America’s Got Talent didn’t get a chance to tell you
about Jane Marczewski Nightbirde – YouTube
5 America’s Got Talent Contestants Who Tragically
Passed Away…What Happened? – YouTube
Nightbirde, ‘America’s Got Talent’ contestant,
dies after cancer battle | CNN
GOD IS ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR by NIGHTBIRDE
Jane Marczewski (NIGHTBIRDE) – Search (bing.com)
“FLY” Nightbirde – Official Music Video – YouTube
Nightbirde Playlist – YouTube