After a lifetime of “close calls” in the music business, 62-year-old Virginia legal assistant Ronee Martin took the stage on America’s Got Talent. She was eager to show that age is just a number after years of pursuing a record deal that never quite came to pass. But when she started singing “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” the audition got off to a rough start. For a brief minute, it appeared as though her dream was going to end in front of the judges, and the performance felt flat.
Simon Cowell did what he does well when he senses that anything is wrong: he turns off the music. He asked Ronee if she had anything else ready and told her straight out that the song selection wasn’t appropriate for her. Most artists would have crumbled under such pressure, but Ronee maintained her composure and proposed “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” The energy in the room completely changed as soon as she hit the first few notes of the soul classic. Her voice changed, displaying a strong, rich tone that astounded both the judges and the audience.
It was truly a miraculous reversal. After the first song, Mel B acknowledged that she was prepared to say “no,” but she was astounded by how Ronee’s voice “transformed into something amazing.” Simon emphasized that the show is all about providing gifted people the opportunities that others might have denied them while praising her wonderful voice and enthusiasm. Ronee demonstrated that it is never too late to discover your spotlight with four resounding “Yes” votes.
