“That’s a voice for a 15-year-old!” Britain’s Got Talent fans impressed by emotional performance of schoolgirl Whitney Houston after her mother gave up on her own audition
Viewers of Britain’s Got Talent were stunned on Saturday night’s show after a mother gave up her own audition to give her daughter a chance.
Schoolgirl Tia Connolly, 15, thought she would accompany her mother Claire to The London Palladium, and planned to support her backstage, but ended up stunning the audience with an emotional rendition of Whitney Houston.
In a first for the talent show, Claire announced that she would not be performing her song and would instead give up her audition for Tia.
Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon were shocked by the kind gesture as they welcomed Tia onstage as the audience erupted in cheers.
A nervous Claire explained, “I brought my 15-year-old daughter today, she thinks it’s me auditioning.”
Astonishing: Viewers of Britain’s Got Talent were stunned on Saturday night’s show after a mother gave up her own audition to give her daughter a chance
Singing: Tia Connolly, 15, thought she accompanied her mother Claire to The London Palladium, and planned to support her backstage, but ended up stunning the audience
In tears she continued, “But she got me through some very hard times in my life and I feel like I owe her something. So I’m giving up my audition for my daughter.
“She’s amazing and she’s an incredible person. This girl doesn’t know how good she is!’
The judges gave Tia a little time to practice and invited a few more acts to the stage before seeing her return.
“I usually sing in the shower, so this is the greatest thing I’ve ever done,” said the schoolgirl anxiously.
When Simon Cowell called out Whitney Houston’s I Didn’t Know My Own Strength, Simon Cowell was seen uttering “wow” in shock as Tia performed.
She received four yeses from the judges after her emotional song and advanced to the next round.
Fans back home praised Tia for her performance saying she was “older than her years” and loved watching her “confidence” grow.
Child: In a first for the talent show, Claire announced she would not be performing her song and would instead give up her audition for Tia
Unbelievable: Fans back home praised Tia for her performance saying she was ‘older than her years’ and loved watching her ‘grow confidence’
One person shared, “I loved how she was all nervous at first, but when she realized that all the spectators and judges love her singing, she suddenly felt more confident.”
Another added, “Wow, her voice is more mature than her years. Fab,” while someone else wrote, “That’s a voice for a 15-year-old added another.”
“Tia’s audition is amazing and proof that mother-daughter love is the best in the world!” placed a fourth person.
Another fan commented, “It’s a Saturday night and I’m lying in bed crying over this BGT audition.”