7 things you should know about the Irish singer “Please Don’t Go”

(Spoiler alert: This contains spoilers from America’s Got TalentSeason 19, Episode 4.)

America’s Got TalentThe search for the winner for season 19 continues as auditions continue on NBC, and the latest episode introduced Irish singer Stephanie Rainey.

The singer received a standing ovation for her audition and secured a spot in the next round after receiving yeses from all the judges, including Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum. Moved to tears by her musical performance, Vergara wasn’t the only judge to get emotional from Rainey’s song, as Cowell took the time to walk on stage and tell the hopeful, “That was what I call a moment. The song is so beautiful, thank you so much for coming by.”

Just before going on stage, Cowell had told Rainey from his chair: “Of all the new songs I’ve heard this year, this is by far the best, and even though it’s about something really sad, it’s real, and your voice is beautiful. A lot of people are going to resonate with this song and you. I absolutely love that.” The song in question was “Please Don’t Go,” a tune that, she revealed, had received several views when it was released years ago, but her career hadn’t quite gone to plan. Below, we explain everything you need to know about this song. America’s Got Talent Competitor to keep an eye on this season.

Where does Stephanie Rainey come from?

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Rainey introduces herself as a singer from Ireland and comes from Cork on the south coast of Ireland. Cork is the third largest city in Ireland after Dublin and Belfast.

How long has Stephanie Rainey been performing?

According to her casting introduction, Rainey, currently 36, has been on stage since she started performing professionally at around the age of 18, but has never competed in a competition series such as America’s Got Talent until now. “I would say I’ve had a rollercoaster career,” Rainey told the judges during her performance. She noted that after the success of her original song “Please Don’t Go” in Ireland, she “signed a contract after the song came out. I don’t think I fully knew who I was back then when I signed the contract. The road from then to now has been tough. It’s a tough industry, you know. You have to be resilient and I think when the low points come, sometimes you have to be ready to get back up. And here I am.”

How popular is Stephanie Rainey?

Although she is a new artist to American audiences, Rainey is not exactly unknown in Ireland and on the internet, as she currently has over 85,000 followers on Instagram and more than 14,000 subscribers on YouTube. And yet, with songs as good as “Please Don’t Go,” America’s Got Talent could take it to the next level, as this single song has been viewed over two million times online.

“It’s hard to make a name for yourself and take risks in Ireland, but I have this one song that I really want to get out to as many people as possible,” Rainey explained on stage as she was introduced to the judges. Despite her nerves, Rainey easily won over the judges and the audience.

What is the story behind “Please Don’t Go”?



As Rainey explained, the tune was inspired by the loss of her young nephew. “I wrote it about the loss of my nephew when I was a teenager. He was about to turn one and it was the day before his first birthday and he passed away,” Rainey told the judges. “It took me a long time to write about it. Honestly, I was about to give up on music, so I thought I wanted to create something for myself that I believed in. So this song means more to me than I can actually describe.”

Rainey saw a resurgence in the song’s popularity when she began posting it on TikTok and sharing it on other social media over the past few years, but hopes to keep it afloat with the America’s Got Talent Perfomance.

Who supports Stephanie Rainey?

When the judges asked Rainey who she would be playing with on stage, she explained that it was her best friend Sarah. “She is here with me today and has been with me every step of this journey from the beginning.” Rainey’s friend is Sarah Power, an Irish composer and pianist.

What happened to Stephanie Rainey’s nephew?

In a video on her Instagram account, Rainey explained that her young nephew died of meningitis, which is an inflammation of the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord due to an infection. Meningitis can be caused by various bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites and must be treated by a medical professional.

Is Stephanie Rainey still a signed artist?

As mentioned above, Rainey revealed that after the initial success of “Please Don’t Go,” she signed a deal, but her record label in the UK dropped her in 2017. Since then, she has been working as an independent artist.

America’s Got TalentTuesdays and Wednesdays, 8/7c, NBC