Whenever I see a headline about a contestant on a talent show having a heartstring-tugging backstory, I roll my eyes, so you’re excused.

After all, it almost seems mandatory to have some kind of emotional angle to work over the judges and the crowd.

In the case of Archie Williams, the man now tipped as the favourite to win America’s Got Talent, it really isn’t an act, and he’s earned every bit of good fortune that comes his way.

Archie’s rendition of Elton John’s ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ wowed the judges, but before we get to the performance, let’s cover what came before.

Sky News reporting below:

He was accused of raping and stabbing a 30-year-old white woman at her home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1982, even though his fingerprints were not found at the scene.

Three people also testified that Williams was at home at the time of the crime, however the following year he was sentenced to life in prison without parole…

After spending more than 10 years in maximum security prison Louisiana State Penitentiary, the Innocence Project took up his case.

The non-profit legal organisation works to overturn wrongful convictions through the use of DNA testing.

After campaigning for 24 years, a new analysis of fingerprints at the scene identified a serial rapist as the man responsible for the crime – proving Williams’s innocence.

Seven days after those findings, in March 2019, Williams was released after 37 years in prison. You can read more on his story here.

After his audition was posted on YouTube last week, Williams has become a national sensation, especially in light of what is currently happening in America following the murder of George Floyd.

Here he is, appearing in front of Simon and the other judges:

Tough not to become emotional whilst watching that.

The performance even caught the attention of Elton himself, who tweeted this:

It’s reported that Archie is now a front-runner to win the competition, with others going as far as to say he’s the outright favourite.

Whatever happens, he’s certainly earned a healthy dose of good fortune.

[source:skynews]