Houstonian plane crash survivor sends message of hope to Hurricane Harvey victims

On America’s Got Talent, 28-year-old Kechi Okwuchi from Houston, Texas, graced the stage and sang Katy Perry’s “By the Grace of God,” a song with a message of hope and perseverance. The lyrics seemed particularly poignant and fitting for the Nigerian-born woman. One of two survivors of a plane crash, Kechi has endured multiple operations and her body is covered with scars. She sang, “I put one foot in front of the other, and I looked in the mirror and decided to stay. I wasn’t gonna let love take me out that way.”

The crowd gave Kechi a standing ovation for her performance, leaving her overwhelmed and in tears. The judges were very moved by Kechi’s talent and strength, and they felt that the Houstonian’s story of survival was inspirational for the Hurricane Harvey victims. Mel B said, “You are a survivor, you are an inspiration; you give people hope and passion and belief.” Howie Mandel said, “I think it’s serendipitous that you’re also living in Houston. They need you — you are a symbol.”

In the end, Kechi had a message for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, saying she hopes her song might inspire them to keep going. “Hopefully, they see it another time, and they feel something positive and feel the strength to move on,” she said.

America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Watch clips and full episodes of America’s Got Talent free on Yahoo View.

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