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Stephanie Rainey (right) embraces her friend and piano player Sarah. Screenshot AGT

Irish singer Stephanie Rainey brought the audience to tears on America's Got Talent last night

Needless to say, Rainey got a yes from all four judges on the panel.

IRISH SINGER STEPHANIE Rainey blew the judges and the audience away on America’s Got Talent last night.

Rainey sang her song, ‘Please Don’t Go’, about losing her young nephew when she was a teenager, and it left some of those in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in tears, not to mention one or two judges. 

“This song means more to me than I can even describe,” she said.

Rainey played guitar and sang accompanied by her best friend Sarah on piano.

Simon Cowell even felt the need to come on stage after Rainey received a standing ovation to tell her, “That was what I call a moment. That song is so beautiful.”

He also said ‘Please Don’t Go’ was the best original song he’s heard on this season of the show. 

“Of all the new songs I’ve heard this year, this is the best by a mile,” he said. “I absolutely love this.”

Another member of the panel, actor Sofia Vergara, was visibly moved by Rainey’s performance and called it “a beautiful and heartfelt song”.

“You can tell what you went through. It was very simple and perfect,” she said.

Her fellow judges Howie Mandel and Heidi Klum were equally impressed. 

Klum called the performance “a real special moment” and Mandel said it was “the most emotional, relatable moment” on this season of the show.

Needless to say, Rainey got a yes from all four judges on the panel.

Last week, Rainey posted on X to say she would be participating in the talent show.

“Took a giant leap of faith and did a huge thing with my best friend,” she said ahead of the episode going on air.

“I could not be more proud or excited for you to see it and come along on this journey with us. Let’s go!” 

Simon Cowell and Rainey Simon Cowell comes on stage to praise Stephanie Rainey's performance. Screenshot AGT Screenshot AGT

Before she performed her song, 36-year-old Rainey was asked about the journey she’s been on during her career in music, which began around the age of 18. 

“It’s a tough industry, you know. You have to be resilient. When the downs come you have to pick yourself up,” she said.

She explained that writing ‘Please Don’t Go’ had been a turning point for her. 

“I wrote it about losing my nephew when I was a teanager. He was about to turn one. It was the day before his first birthday when he passed away,” she said.

“It took me a long time to write a song about it. Honestly, I was about to give up music.”

But she said she wanted to make “something for me, that I believe in”. 

Simon Cowell praised her perseverance saying, “Good for you for doing that and not giving up.” 

Yesterday, Rainey announced she would be performing her “biggest headline shows ever” at Vicar Street in Dublin in November and in Cork City Hall in December. Tickets go on sale at 10 am this Friday.

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    Mute bacoxy
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:00 PM

    I wish them the best of luck, really funny and well observed shorts.

    663
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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:11 PM

    Skinny jeans!

    219
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    Mute Ronan Stokes
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    Aug 15th 2015, 9:14 PM

    I wonder how John is gettin on with the Iraqi?

    144
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    Mute Conor Power
    Favourite Conor Power
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:03 PM

    Only complaint I have is that there are not a few more episodes!

    481
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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:23 PM

    More episodes please.

    Hilarious stuff

    292
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    Mute Supernova
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:09 PM

    This and Sminky Shorts are very good.I dont know would the yanks get it though.

    253
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    Mute The Girl
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:01 PM

    It’s times like that I’m proud to be Irish..

    200
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    Mute Aaron Kavanagh
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:59 PM

    I love Martin’s Life!

    I wonder if people outside of Ireland would get the humour, though.

    125
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    Mute Jess Foley
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:31 PM

    hilarious

    117
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    Mute Anthony John Cotter
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:44 PM

    Love the four, we need to roar for more.

    107
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    Mute Fiona Wederfoort
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:23 PM

    ‘A couple of what?’ ‘A couple of gay people!!’ HILARIOUS….we need more!!!!

    105
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    Mute Mac L0ve
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    Aug 15th 2015, 9:18 PM

    How could you not hear “game of throws”?

    94
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    Mute Boxer Alice
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:28 PM

    Martin’s Life is just so funny! Whoever writes it deserves an award of some kind. I do feel only an Irish audience would get it though, but nothing wrong with that!

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    Mute Larry David the 2nd
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    Aug 15th 2015, 10:05 PM

    “Tis’nt it well for them the bisexuals ”

    I bloody love this series!

    74
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    Mute Michael O'connor
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:37 PM

    Very funny. good luck with it lads

    63
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    Mute molly coddled
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:40 PM

    Brilliant, hope you do incredibly well.

    51
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    Mute Louise Morris
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:10 PM

    Too funny, my tummy aches. The only other laugh I got like this is for David O’ Doherty (comedian) . Check him out on you tube if you need more laughs like this. I love being Irish and our accents are the best !

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    Mute Paul Morrissey
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:57 PM

    it’s a small world!!!!!!!

    43
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    Mute eoin o mahony
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    Aug 18th 2015, 8:36 PM
    1
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    Mute sonny red
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    Aug 16th 2015, 2:17 AM

    Jaysus,those dwarfs are comical.I wonder do they get paid.

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    Mute Cheeto Ballsack
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    Aug 15th 2015, 11:17 PM

    This is brilliant

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    Mute Elizabeth Rohan Lenihan
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    Aug 16th 2015, 2:26 AM

    Absolutely love Martin’ Life. Can’t wait for more. My 91 year old mother loves them too!!

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    Mute sonny red
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    Aug 16th 2015, 2:10 AM

    He’s watching a game of throws,with that small fella and mcully culkin.hahaha

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    Mute Sean O'Malley
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:04 PM

    youtube search: morning after night in coppers

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    Mute Stephen Mullan
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    Aug 15th 2015, 10:45 PM

    Thing is anyone can make those cartoons. They’re on a package you buy online for €9.99 a month. You just pick your characters, hair colour, clothes etc and put your voice to it. So to say he’s too lazy to do more of them just makes you think. How lazy is he?

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    Mute Laithbheartaigh
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    Aug 16th 2015, 12:48 PM

    ignorance is bliss to some people i guess, over the top superlatives!

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    Mute Laithbheartaigh
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    Aug 16th 2015, 12:29 PM

    This is done using GoAnimate software and is not hard to do, its the script thats the hard thing, which is very funny in this case.

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