Fifty-one year-old, Matt Mauser of Huntington Beach, CA shared his heartbreaking story and crooning talent on America’s Got Talent sixth audition episode on Tuesday night (Read our full recap HERE). Matt described how he retired from teaching to do music full time. Meanwhile, he wife got to coach girls basketball with NBA star Kobe Bryant.
Matt’s lost his wife in the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
Most of you know how the rest of this story goes. Matt’s wife Christina died in January 2020 in the helicopter crash that also took the life of Bryant, and his daughter Gianna. She was one of nine people who died in the crash. Matt didn’t mention this in his package, but he also worked for Kobe by composing music for his podcast. Matt has done a number of interviews since Christina’s passing including one with Access this past week. Watch it HERE.
Matt met Christina in a dive bar when he was playing there. Eventually, she became his greatest supporter. His mom told him that he would be “stupid” if he did not marry her. They were married for 15 years and had 3 children. She said “I love you” before leaving the day of the crash, and those were her last words to him. After the tragic accident, Matt’s focus turned to his children. He stressed to the judges panel–Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Sofia Vergara–that she would “want me to carry on” and for their kids to have “happy lives.” Matt knows it’s going to be hard but he is determined to try for his kids.
Matt sang an emotional rendition of “Against All Odds”
Matt performed a croony rendition of often covered Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds.” The refreshing thing about his crooning style is how clear his enunciation is. Lyrics like “just a memory of your face” and “I’ll still be standing here” and “that’s what I’ve got to face,” seem so applicable to Matt’s challenging life. It’s not the most dynamic version I’ve heard of the song, and Matt isn’t the best singer this season, but he knows his limits and performs in a very seasoned manner.
Howie said “we felt your emotion” and notes his ability to move strangers. Heidi said that the emotion went inside of her and that it was “special”. Sofia thanks him for being there. Simon asks what he would like to do if he makes it far on the show, and Matt states that he is unsure, but then goes on to say, “that grief is not going to define who we are” and that they (his children) must still go on and chase their dreams. Howie shares how this is Christina’s legacy and the panel gave Matt, 4 yeses sending him onto Judges Cuts. Matt says that he felt Christina in his heart and wanted to make her proud.
Check out the song, “Lost”, Matt wrote about the loss of his wife Christina HERE.
