Amy Lou Smith, a contestant on this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, has expressed her gratitude to the medical staff who helped deliver her newborn daughter, Aida. The aspiring singer, who wowed judges and fans alike with her powerful performance of Beyonce’s Listen during her pre-recorded audition, gave birth to Aida on Saturday.
The 34-year-old new mother had no idea that her audition was set to air during the opening episode of this year’s series, just four hours after giving birth. However, thankfully she was able to watch her audition on her phone for the first time while being treated “like royalty” in the hospital ward. Watch her wonderful performance below:
Amy’s joy at the safe delivery of her daughter is in stark contrast to her experience giving birth to her first child, Hudson. Following his birth, she nearly died from complications with sepsis and credits the quick action of nurses with saving her life. “I cannot say thank you enough to the nurses who brought my baby girl into the world safely,” she told MailOnline.
Amy works at a sunbed shop in Tipton in the West Midlands, UK. She was 30 weeks pregnant when she auditioned in for Britain’s Got Talent back in January. Judges Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden were impressed by her vocals and thought she might give birth during the audition. They were unaware, however, that her audition would be airing that weekend. Aida arrived “healthy in every single form” at 15:59 on Saturday afternoon, shortly before her mother’s audition aired.
The new season of Britain’s Got Talent, which premiered on Saturday night, was the highest-rated program of the year so far for ITV. The show features new judge Bruno Tonioli, who gave the series’ first golden buzzer to a children’s dance group from Uganda. Amy’s stunning cover of Beyonce’s Listen also caught the judges’ attention, earning her four yeses and a place in the competition’s live semi-finals.
Amy charmed the judges with her humble demeanor, telling them she mainly sings in local pubs and “whoever will have me, really”. Accompanied by her parents and partner, she began her rendition of Listen to a clapping audience and took the judges’ breath away with her powerful voice. “I love being a mum and I’m beyond grateful and blessed that I’ve been able to welcome Aida into the world,” Amy told the Mirror. “It all feels like a dream right now and I keep having to pinch myself to make sure it’s not.”