EXCLUSIVE: Britain's Got Talent singer CJ Emmons has undergone life-saving surgery as he vows to still perform at this weekend's live show despite still being in pain
Singer CJ Emmons has revealed he’s recovering from life-saving surgery as he takes to the Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday night. The musician underwent a major operation less than four weeks ago and says he’s still in pain.
But determined to win a place on the ITV show final, he plans to sing through his agony tonight. “I won’t let it stop me from my dream and goal,” vows CJ, as he recovers from gallbladder surgery.
“They cut into my abdominal wall and every time after that, it's been hurting to sing. But my doctor's like, ‘keep singing, strengthen it, strengthen it, and it's going to get better.’ So there's still a bit of pain. But I can tell it's getting stronger and stronger.
“I’m here to fight. I'm here to win.”
CJ wowed with his first audition, performing Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You. Simon Cowell called it a “masterpiece”. Returning home to California to prepare for the semis, his dreams were thrown into doubt earlier this month.
He took himself to hospital with severe abdominal pains on May 1. Collapsing at the nurse’s station, he was rushed in for tests which found he needed emergency surgery as his life was in danger.
“My gallbladder was completely dead,” he explained. "It was turning gangrene and it was about to explode and turn sepsis, which would have proved fatal.
“They were going to do an emergency surgery that night, but I was so badly infected. They had to pump me full of antibiotics for two days and then I had the surgery on May 3.”
Kept in the hospital for five days, he returned home to recover and was back on stage just a week later.
“I tell you, I'm determined,” he explained. “It can't stop me. I'm ready to hit that stage.
“When I did my first gig on the 14th, that was literally a week after the surgery, I broke down crying because I was so thankful to God that I was able to sing a note. I was able to perform. I found strength in that.”
Professional singer CJ, 42, says it gives him an extra edge ahead of tonight’s performance. “It does add an extra layer because in the back of my mind, when that doctor told me that if I wouldn't have checked myself into the hospital at the time that I did, if I would have waited one more day, it would have proved fatal.
“At that time, I've never felt so human in my life. So this lets me know that I'm supposed to be doing this.”
Singing since he was two years old after his talent was discovered by a babysitter, he once attended a summer camp at Ensemble Theatre with Destiny’s Child stars Beyoncé, Kelly Rowlands.
Celebrating their success, CJ said: “I was always in awe of the girls for having a team behind them to help them rise to success, I think that’s what's held me back from having my big break out moment, I had to do everything by myself till now.”
CJ has gone on to perform on the biggest stages. From the Oscars to the Grammys, where he was a backing singer for Mary J Blige and Sam Smith.
He’s been part of the band in America’s Dancing With The Stars, where he knows Bruno Tonioli from. He says a lot of people hear his voice but they don’t know who’s singing but is using BGT as an opportunity to be firmly in the spotlight.
“I’m like Tina Turner, I will be reborn in my 40’s.” He’s hoping to impress judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno tonight - as well as returning guest judge KSI.
Saturday’s semi-final also sees eight-year-old dancer Binita, Welsh singing duo Han & Fran, magicians Manho Han and Harry Moulding, Manchester lad Jerry Pop, stunt group Lazy Generation and unicyclist Red Panda take to the stage.
Britain’s Got Talent will air on Saturday night at 7pm, ITV
