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Nightbirde's Family Releases Her Debut Album 1 Year After Her Passing
"We're excited to share Jane's debut album with the world," her brother, Mitch Marczewski, says.
It's been a year since one of AGT's most unforgettable Contestants, Jane "Nightbirde" Marczewski, passed away, but her legacy lives on. On February 19th, Nightbirde's family and The Nightbirde Foundation released her debut album, It's OK. The title is based on the original track Nightbirde performed during her original breathtaking AGT Audition.
For context: Nightbirde was an AGT Season 16 fan favorite from the moment she stepped on stage for her performance of "It's OK." During the Audition, Nightbirde revealed to the Judges and crowd that she was battling cancer, with the song lyrics serving as a gentle reminder to stay joyful against all odds.
Judge Simon Cowell was moved by Nightbirde's performance and perseverance, and it earned the singer his coveted Golden Buzzer. Unfortunately, Nightbirde's health forced her to withdraw from the competition. The singer stayed positive, though, and updated her fans on social media until her passing in February 2022.
A year later, Nightbirde's endless optimism and angelic vocals have now been commemorated in a 10-track album of her collected works. The album contains songs from Nightbirde that were recorded during her health journey. Proceeds from album sales will go to The Nightbirde Foundation, an organization she and her brother, Mitch Marczewski, launched to help raise funds for breast cancer treatment. A press statement calls the album a "reflection of her strength and the battle she was fighting in her own words."
"We're excited to share Jane's debut album with the world. Her work has touched the hearts of many because of her honesty and joy in the midst of sorrow," Marczewski tells People. "This album doesn't pit these emotions against one another, but rather it shows joy can come through sorrow. Jane would be so proud of this album, but more than that, she'd be proud of the work that the Nightbirde Foundation is doing to help others find hope and healing in the midst of tragedy."
Nightbirde is Cowell's all-time favorite Golden Buzzer Audition. "What was so special about Jane, in my opinion, was she was always optimistic. She recently passed away, which makes this tough, but all she kept talking about was her music. You know what? It's difficult, I haven't been able to watch [her Audition video] since she passed," Cowell revealed in an AGT video.
"You know, she typifies, I think, what the Golden Buzzer, like you said, is all about. She knew how sick she was and she couldn't make the Finals, but I think watching it back, it makes you feel hopeful," Cowell continued. "Her Golden Buzzer will live on forever. No one else, in my opinion, could be number one."
