‘America’s Got Talent’ is known to pull on some heartstrings when auditionees have ‘sob stories’ to tell. This week’s sing, Matt Mauser opened up about his wife, Christina’s death during his audition package and on stage when speaking with the judges.
Christina died in January 2020 in the same helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others.
‘America’s Got Talent’: Audition that Left No Dry Eyes in the House
Matt explained that be and his wife of 15 years were both schoolteachers but retired to pursue their dreams- Christina’s was basketball coaching (with Kobe), Matt’s was singing.
Their dreams, however, were cut short on January 26 of last year when the helicopter carrying the 9 souls crashed into a Calabasas, California hillside.
Matt and Christina’s three children, Penny, Ivy and Thomas stood in the wings with an emotional Terry Crews, the host of America’s Got Talent, as Matt crooned Phil Collin’s power ballad Against All Odds.
The rendition was haunting and by the end of the performance, Matt couldn’t get the last line out as he broke down in tears.
All four judges, Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofía Vergara and Howie Mandel praised the father of three for his strength, saying his performance moved them. He earned four ‘yes’ votes from the judges, moving him on to the next round.
Matt said of his audition, “I would like to make sure that my children see that, in spite of the grief that we’ve been through this year and that grief is not gonna 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,” he said. “And if this can anyway help my children to chase their dreams, then I’ll take it.”
Talking to Entertainment Tonight after his audition aired, he further explained how his kids have watched their father grieve and he was glad that they were present to see their father start to live his life again.
“They are my whole world and I wanted to show them that you have to keep moving forward despite tragedies in life. I want them to look back in 20 years and think ‘Dad didn’t give up, Dad fought.’ ”
Matt has said he is glad he put himself out there, if only to bring attention to the Christina Mauser Foundation, a charity that supports high school senior female athletes with athletic scholarships.
“If I were blessed enough to win the show, 100 percent of my earnings would go to Christina’s foundation. Christina loved nothing more than to empower young females in life so this is a great way to keep her legacy alive.”
America’s Got Talent airs on NBC on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
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