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Kechi  Okwuchi is a Nigerian-born Texas based plane crash and burn survivor, a singer/songwriter, an author, an inspirational and TEDx keynote speaker and bullying prevention advocate. Kechi found her true voice after her accident — a plane crash that took the lives of 107 of 109 passengers in Nigeria in 2005.

Journey To Survival

 Though the  journey was difficult, a third degree burns over 65% of her body and arrived at the hospital with a 30% chance of survival, She spent four months in the ICU and then three more months at the hospital in what she calls her “patchwork era” because “they were just patching me together and keeping me alive,” and was sustained by her faith, family and music.

Kechi Okwuchi

 Early Days

She resumed high school in 2009 and then went on to University, where graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2015 with a Bachelor’s in Economics .  She began to sing and perform at her church, at burn and trauma fundraisers, galas and at family events, sharing what she loved with those she wanted to inspire.

America’s Got talent

In Season 12 of the  America Got Talent, she shared her story of surviving a plane crash that killed 107 out of 109 passengers, that  music was an escape for her as she recovered from her injuries. Kechi sang “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, earning four “yes” votes, she made it to the Finals.

Kechi Okwuchi
Kechi Okwuchi | Image: Instagram page

Becoming a finalist on America’s Got Talent was Kechi’s dream realized and on June 10th, 2018, she released her first single, “Don’t You Dare,” on all music platforms. She has since become a traveling artist, inspirational speaker and burn survivor advocate for multiple burn survivor organizations, including Shriners Burns Hospitals.

In 2019, she became a finalist on America’s Got Talent: The Champions through Simon Cowell’s “golden buzzer.” Kechi has now chosen to forge ahead on a path that allows her to explore both business and artistic opportunities.

Since then, she has become an active ambassador for multiple organizations such as WEMovement, Be Strong Global and the United Nations Foundation #TOGETHERBAND project, advocating for various global causes such as youth empowerment, bullying prevention advocacy, and sustainable living.

Kechi released her summer single All the Time on May 2021, and a powerful duet ‘All My Love’ with The Texas Tenors. She is signed with Baker Publishing Group for the publication of her memoir titled ‘More Than My Scars’ in Spring, 2022. She hopes to use her voice and her story to ignite hope and courage all over the world within those that need it.

American actress, Gabrielle Union-Wade has reportedly been fired from ‘America’s Got Talent.’

According to reports from LoveBScott, the 47-year-old actress who used to be a judge on the show was fired for speaking up about ‘problematic’ situations, including racism, sexism, and many more.

NBC sources told lovebscott.com that “[Gabrielle’s] contract was not renewed after being the #1 talent on the show, NBC and network TV. She set the record for her Golden Buzzer. They only replace the women and blacks at Simon’s whim. She wouldn’t walk away from $12 million because she’s ‘busy.’ Based on weekly interactions on social media, by the time AGT finale aired Gabrielle was the #1 talent on network TV for 2019. Why not pick up someone’s option in extreme success?”

The report also claimed that Gabrielle Union was fired from the program alongside her fellow Judge Julianne Hough.

The NBC sources continued:

“Social media engagement is the new measuring stick for talent and Simon isn’t on social media. Juliane and Gabrielle were both way higher ranked/engaged than Howie. The idea the network wants to ‘switch things up’ only applies to women and Black folks.

The NBC insiders added that Gabrielle’s firing is merely a continuation of their problematic tendencies.

“Let’s just say they didn’t start the racism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia etc. in season 14. They were quite comfortable with it all by the time Gabrielle got there. Remember Nick said ‘NBC stands for N*gga Be Careful.’”

This comes two years after Nick Cannon took to Facebook to announce that he was ‘threatened with termination by executives’ after he made a racial joke about NBC on his Showtime stand-up special. He later quit his job as host of ‘America’s Got talent,’ saying

“My soul won’t allow me to be in business with corporations that attempt to frown on freedom of speech, censor artists, and question cultural choices.”

 

 

Credit: LIB

America’s Got Talent contestant Kechi Okwuchi is an inspiration.

Kechi survived the 2005 Sosoliso Airlines plane crash in Nigeria that took the lives of over a 100 persons on board. She is one of the two survivors.

After such a harrowing experience, music became her escape as she lay on her hospital bed, bandaged head to foot, not being able to move.

Watch her beautiful rendition of Ed Sheeran‘s Thinking out Loud:

https://youtu.be/iUP9lehOji0