AMERICAN'S Got Talent icon Nightbirde's family has teamed up with judge Simon Cowell for a new project after her death, her brother has exclusively told The U.S. Sun.
The singer, 31, , and her family has found peace in knowing that her brave cancer battle and passion for life through music "transformed" many lives.
In an exclusive interview, her brother Mitch detailed how Simon, along with AGT and NBC bosses, have supported his sister's desire to help change the world with the , which aids women in their breast cancer battles.
Simon was pivotal in helping singer, whose real name was , and Mitch, now CEO, set up her dream of the non-profit, which partners with integrative cancer clinics to help young women get the treatment they need.
The father of one and media mogul is also lending his support for the cause's next project, a book of poems.
"We're publishing a book of Jane's poetry, pulled from her journals and writings that she hasn't released," Mitch, 34, told The U.S. Sun.
"Simon was gracious enough to write the forward, which was amazing and generous.
"It's just a testament to just how her words and just to who she was really moved him as a person.
"Jane was obviously a very talented individual. There's lots of nice people out there that don't have the talent to be able to do what Jane did, but somehow Jane embodied both this vulnerability, strength and talent all in one.
"Mitch, from , went on "I wish that we were doing the Foundation together, ’cause I miss her. She was my little sister and best friend for most of my life."
Nightbirde was deeply moved by the cover of her song It's Okay by the Mzansi Youth Choir, from - months before the group appeared on AGT.
Simon, along with millions of NBC viewers, were breathtaking vocal tribute performance during the premiere of season 18 premiere.
Nightbirde found their version "amazing" when they sent it via Facebook to her in late 2021 and her brother said his "baby sister" would be "so proud.
"I believe she's looking down now watching all of this, so proud to see that group do such an amazing job with her song," he said.
"She had seen it before. They had posted it on her . I remember her calling me about it, and was like, 'Oh, this choir did this thing. It was amazing.'
"She was so excited. Not only did it inspire those people to do good in their community, but it inspired them to go to AGT to honor the way that she had impacted them.
"She replied back to them at being humbled and excited they’d put together a cover so beautifully."
Simon made headlines worldwide for sobbing after the Mzansi Youth Choir’s performance.
He later said: "This brought back so many memories for me. I know how much this would have meant to her.
"Right until the end she was passionate about sharing her music. And this has gone all over the world. And you have come back here with the most amazing tribute. It was just breathtaking honestly."
Nightbirde never sought fame from her journey, which Simon last year named as his greatest golden buzzer moment of the last 17 years.
Mitch said: "To reach the end of her life, having her song transform the world in a lot of ways, brought her a lot of fulfillment.
"It wasn't about the fame, money, or the success and those sorts of senses.
"It was the fact that nine year old girls were covering the song for talent shows and they were finding meaning in it and that her music had reached all the way to South Africa.
"One thing Jane consistently said to me growing up, as we would sing in the car together everywhere, was she wanted her music to impact the world in a really positive way.
"So her stardom really wasn't built around anything more than just wanting to inspire people with her music. I'm thankful that her legacy lives on."
Nightbirde made headlines with her powerful summer 2021 audition, when it emerged she was battling a third bout of incurable breast cancer after being diagnosed with the disease in 2017.
Simon was "devastated" when she had to withdraw from the series as her condition worsened, but stayed in touch with the creative talent, even inviting her to spend time with his family at his home.
Mitch added: "When I saw Simon getting teared up [on Tuesday] during that particular moment in the audition last night, I just lost it.
"Jane and Simon had a really special connection. Jane saw Simon as a human being with thoughts and feelings and emotions and dreams and all, everything that every single one of us has.
"Jane had the ability to look past the fame, stardom, TV personality, and look straight into the person that he is.
"That connection really resonated with him because she was able to tackle something that was truly insurmountable, facing down her death, but she was able to still have so much life and so much hope and so much optimism in the midst of that.
"It's not only just inspiring to Simon, but inspiring to all of us in a lot of ways."
