Widower of Kobe Bryant crash victim wows America's Got Talent judges with emotional Phil Collins audition

Publish Date: Thursday, 8 July 2021, 11:59AM

Prepare to have your heartstrings tugged at ...

Taking to the America's Got Talent stage this week, Matt Mauser - who lost his wife in the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant and six others last year - wowed the judges with his emotional performance.

The 51-year-old musician held back his tears as he belted out a soulful cover of Phil Collins' 1984 single, 'Against All Odds.'

Matt and Christina's three children were at the audition to support their dad from the wings of the stage, and cheered their father on as he began his audition.

Following his performance, he was met with a standing ovation from the entire audience and all four judges.

"We felt your emotion," Howie Mandel said after the number. "If you're able to move strangers, and we can feel it in our hearts... there aren't words to describe it."

"It was very emotional, very touching," Sofia Vergara added. "Thank you. Thank you for being here."

When asked by Simon Cowell what he'd like to get out of being on AGT, Matt considered the question for a moment and said, "I'd like to make sure that my children see that, in spite of the grief that we've been through this year, that that grief is not going to define who we are as a family.

"And that my children see that you have to find joy in life and you have to continue."

Moved by his touching performance, the judges gave Matt the four yes votes needed to move on to the next round of the competition.

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