Kodi Lee Is The Blind Contestant With Autism Who Just Won “America’s Got Talent”

The new winner of America’s Got Talent is blind, autistic and truly one of a kind.

AGT’s new winner is 22-year-old #KodiLee who charmed the judges and the country Wednesday night with his singing and piano-playing skills. Lee beat out the Detroit Youth Choir, who came in second. 

Lee will be taking home $1 million worth of award money, and he will get the chance to headline shows at the Paris Hotel Casino in Las Vegas from November 7-10. Lee said he felt “unbelievable.” The judges this year included #SimonCowell, #GabrielleUnion, #JulianneHough and #HowieMandel. ““I feel so amazing,” Lee said as he stood on stage with his mother, Tina.

Last night, Lee performed “Lost Without You” by Freya Ridings. He also sang and played the piano with “X Factor” winner and three-time Grammy nominee Leona Lewis, singing Calum Scott’s “You Are the Reason.” Lee first came on to the scene back in May when he performed a rendition of Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You. Cowell considered the performance unforgettable. “What just happened there was really extraordinary. I’m going to remember this moment for the rest of my life.”

Lee’s mother said her son continues to push forward even when met with adversity. “Through music and performing, he was able to withstand living in this world because when you’re autistic, it’s really hard to do what everybody else does. It actually has saved his life, playing music.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK8NMtO9ssA