A gay singer who was disowned by his
family received a standing ovation on Tuesday's episode of the NBC
reality series America's Got Talent.
“Music is what really helped me
through the hard time,” Allen said in an interview. “My parents
they didn't really support my lifestyle. When I turned 18, they
decided to kick me out for being gay. On my birthday. On my
birthday. It was crazy.”
Allen said he's tried to speak to his
family.
“I haven't seen my parents in about 2
and a half years now. I love them with all my heart. I don't know
if they still love me but … It's been difficult. And music is what
makes me feel like I belong. … You know, I'm not a bad person for
being who I am. I really want them to see that. I just hope I can
make them proud.”
Allen won over the judges with an
amazing rendition of Andrea Bocelli's Time To Say Goodbye.
“That was a great rendition,” judge
Melanie Brown told Allen. “You just made me melt.”
“And well done to you for standing
there proud and confident of yourself,” she added. (The video is
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