You know that feeling when you're scrolling through YouTube and a thumbnail just grabs you? It’s usually some flashy trick or a person hitting a high note that makes the glass break. But then there’s Jane Marczewski. Most of us know her as Nightbirde. When she walked onto the America's Got Talent stage in 2021, the room felt different.
She was thin, with a shaved head and a smile that seemed to defy the literal weight of what was happening inside her body. Honestly, it's one of those moments that redefined what reality TV could actually do. It wasn't just a "talent" show anymore. It was a lesson in how to be human when everything is falling apart.
That "It's OK" Moment on America's Got Talent
When Simon Cowell asked her what she did for a living, Jane didn't lead with her medical chart. She lead with her art. But then, the truth came out. She had cancer in her lungs, her spine, and her liver. She told the judges she had a 2% chance of survival.
The math was brutal. But Jane just looked at them and said: "Two percent is not zero percent. Two percent is something, and I wish people knew how amazing it is."
She sang an original song called "It's OK." It wasn't a power ballad designed to win a competition; it was a diary entry. It was catchy, sure, but it was the lyrics that stayed in the air long after she finished. When the golden confetti finally fell—Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer—it felt like the whole world took a breath for her.
Why Nightbirde chose that name
A lot of people think "Nightbirde" is just a cool stage name, but it’s actually kinda poetic and heartbreaking. Jane had a recurring dream where birds were singing outside her window at 3:00 AM. In the dream, it was still pitch black outside, but the birds were singing as if the sun was already up.
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She wanted to be that bird. She wanted to be someone who could sing while it was still dark, believing the morning was coming even if she couldn't see it yet. That's some heavy stuff to carry, but she did it with so much grace.
The Struggle Nobody Saw Off-Camera
We saw the three-minute audition, but the reality was a lot messier. Before she ever set foot on that stage, Jane had been through the ringer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. She went into remission, but it came back. Then it came back again.
While she was fighting for her life, her marriage ended. Her husband of five years, Jeremy Claudio, asked for a divorce right after her second diagnosis in 2019. Can you imagine? You’re told you have months to live, and then the person who is supposed to be your "forever" leaves.
Jane admitted she had a "catatonic mental breakdown" during that time. She basically stopped eating and talking for months. But she got back up. On her right forearm, she had seven dots tattooed. It was a reference to a Bible verse about a righteous person falling seven times and getting back up. She was living that out in real time.
What Really Happened After the Golden Buzzer?
The high from the Nightbirde America's Got Talent audition was massive. "It's OK" went to #1 on iTunes. She was a global sensation. But the tragedy of her story is that she never actually got to perform on the show again.
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In August 2021, just as the live shows were starting, Jane had to pull out. Her health had taken a turn for the worse. She posted on Instagram that the "fight with cancer is demanding all of my energy and attention." It was a gut-punch for fans who were rooting for her to win the whole thing.
Simon Cowell actually stayed in touch with her. He told her she didn't need the stress of the competition. Even though she wasn't on the stage, the show kept her spirit alive. In 2022, the Lebanese dance group The Mayyas used her song and story as inspiration. In 2023, the Mzansi Youth Choir sang a cover of "It's OK" that earned the first-ever "Audience Golden Buzzer."
The Legacy That’s Still Growing in 2026
Jane passed away on February 19, 2022, at the age of 31. It felt like a collective loss for everyone who had followed her journey. But here’s the thing: her music didn't stop.
Her family and the Nightbirde Foundation have been incredibly busy making sure her voice stays in our ears. They’ve released posthumous music that Jane had been working on before she got too sick.
- Posthumous Album: In 2023, the album It's OK was released.
- Ethical AI Projects: In early 2025, they released Still Got Dreams, which used ethical AI to help finish vocal tracks she hadn't been able to complete.
- The Foundation: The Nightbirde Foundation now provides grants and "Boxes of Hope" to young women specifically battling breast cancer.
How to apply Jane’s "Rebellious Hope" today
Honestly, the biggest takeaway from her life isn't about being a "warrior" or a "hero." Jane actually hated those labels sometimes. She just wanted to be a person who chose to be happy.
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If you're going through something heavy, her advice was basically to stop waiting. "You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy," she said. It sounds simple, but it's the hardest thing in the world to do.
Actionable Insights from the Nightbirde Journey:
- Don't wait for the "all clear": If you have a dream or a goal, don't wait for your circumstances to be perfect. They never will be.
- Redefine your 2%: Even if the odds are against you in a job search, a health battle, or a relationship, 2% isn't zero. Focus on the possibility, not the probability.
- Use your pain for art: Jane turned her most "brutal" years into songs that helped millions. Whatever you're feeling, find a way to express it. It makes the weight easier to carry.
- Support the cause: You can still contribute to the Nightbirde Foundation to help other women get the treatments Jane fought so hard for.
Jane Marczewski was a lot more than just a viral contestant. She was a reminder that even when the night is at its darkest, there’s still a reason to sing.
To keep her legacy going, you can listen to her posthumous album Still Got Dreams on all major streaming platforms or visit the official Nightbirde Foundation website to see how they are helping women with medical grants in 2026.