Popsugar Entertainment Viral Videos Kechi Okwuchi's America's Got Talent Golden Buzzer Video After Surviving a Plane Crash, This Talented Singer Earned Simon Cowell's Golden Buzzer on AGT 29 January 2019 by Victoria Messina Image Source: NBC Kechi Okwuchi elicited a standing ovation and plenty of tears on Monday when she delivered an emotionally charged performance on America's Got Talent: The Champions. At age 16, Okwuchi survived a plane crash that killed 107 of the 109 passengers aboard, leaving her with third-degree burns and what doctors predicted to be a 30 percent chance at survival. Now 28, the Texas native is back on the America's Got Talent stage after making it to the finals of the NBC show back in 2017 — and she's definitely in it to win it. During Monday night's episode, Okwuchi brought the audience (us included!) to tears when she sang a touching rendition of "You Are the Reason" by Calum Scott. Once judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, and Heidi Klum gave high praise for her performance, Simon Cowell threw the crowd for a loop when he said, "I'm gonna be honest with you — I didn't really like it that much." After a long, dramatic pause, he added, "I actually loved it," before smashing the golden buzzer. Phew, don't play us like that, Cowell! Read on to watch Okwuchi's entire tear-jerking performance and witness her heartfelt reaction to seeing Cowell award her with his coveted golden buzzer. Related: Stop Everything and Watch This 11-Year-Old's History-Making America's Got Talent Performance Watch Her Performance 1 / 11 I will never ever forget this moment and this feeling. Not ever.I’m incredibly grateful to God for giving me yet another performance to look forward to on the @AGT stage. Whatever happens, I’m humbled.❤️❤️🙏🏼 #AGTChampions https://t.co/FLc1yiT5Ab— Kechi Okwuchi (@Kechi) January 29, 2019 2 / 11 See How Everyone on Twitter Reacted They say that 99% of success is showing up, and you do so much more than that, @Kechi. You're more than a champion of singing; you're a champion of life! Congratulations. #AGTChampions pic.twitter.com/6Q2IwdFU6b— Howie Mandel (@howiemandel) January 29, 2019 3 / 11 This BEAUTIFUL young lady survived a plane crash and deserves ALL THE LOVE and Simon’s #GoldenBuzzer! @kechi, you are a powerful voice and an inspiration. PROUD! pic.twitter.com/t2feYllnoj— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 29, 2019 4 / 11 I just ugly cried! That was amazing! Kechi you deserved that golden buzzer girl! #AmericasGotTalent— Joan Grzesinski (@jcgtink) January 29, 2019 5 / 11 @Kechi congrats on the golden buzzer! Great song choice! Great voice! Amazing person!— Benjamin Delcamp (@DelcampBenjamin) January 29, 2019 6 / 11 Literally sitting here crying as @Kechi just got @SimonCowell golden buzzer! @AGT 😭😭😭 no one deserves it more!!— SammySays (@SammyJLoveee) January 29, 2019 7 / 11 @Kechi is an inspiration and she totally deserves that golden buzzer from @SimonCowell So beautiful. So powerful. So inspiring! #AGTChampions @AGT ❤— Kim M. (@musica1307) January 29, 2019 8 / 11 Howie Mandel described her perfectly...”a champion of life”@Kechi is such a inspiration, such a powerful, powerful girl ❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/XgzCu4F8m2— The Law (@AdakuUfere) January 29, 2019 9 / 11 You are absolutely wonderful Kechi!! Thank you for inspiring me- and for the goose bumps! Thrilling!!! ❤️— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) January 29, 2019 10 / 11 Me, crying when that Golden Buzzer gets hit on AGT for Kechi: pic.twitter.com/jhoHSrMVf9— 𝓥𝓮𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓪 (@veronicacarca) January 29, 2019 11 / 11 Viral VideosAmerica's Got TalentSimon CowellReality TVTV