03/08/2025
KODI LEE
THE FIRST BLIND PERSON TO WIN AMERICA’S GOT TALENT IN 2019
Ninth in a series of articles about famous people with disabilities by Tina Jackson
You may not have heard of Kodi Lee, but he is a powerful disability advocate. The singer, songwriter, and pianist rose to international fame after becoming the first blind person to win America’s Got Talent (AGT) in 2019. Born on July 7, 1996, in Temecula, California, Kodi is legally blind due to Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH), a congenital condition where the optic nerve is small or underdeveloped. Optic nerves help you see by sending messages between your eyes and brain. ONH can lead to vision problems like vision loss and irregular eye movement. Kodi was also diagnosed with autism and Addison’s disease at an early age.
Kodi faced significant challenges from the start, but music became his outlet, his passion, and his superpower. Kodi’s love for music began at two years old when his parents discovered his extraordinary talent for playing melodies on the piano by ear. What makes his musical journey even more remarkable is his audio-photographic memory; he can recall and reproduce music after hearing it just once. This ability to retain and reproduce sounds with extreme accuracy is like photographic memory, but applies to sound. It is like having a mental jukebox. Kodi’s brain essentially “records” music like a high-fidelity audio device, allowing him to replay it internally and express it through the piano. With perfect pitch, Kodi was a savant whose gift was evident from the beginning. He has performed for years at local venues like restaurants and wineries and his dream has always been to be a “rock star” performing for thousands of people.
He biggest opportunity came when his AGT audition performance of Leon Russell’s “A Song for You” earned a Golden Buzzer from Gabrielle Union and went viral, amassing over 300 million views. His repertoire spans pop, rock, jazz, R&B, and classical music—from Chopin to Journey. He has performed at Carnegie Hall and headlined America’s Got Talent Presents Superstars Live in Las Vegas. He often performs with his family and shares a close bond with his best friend, singer Makayla Phillips.
Kodi’s journey is a powerful example of how disability does not define limits; it redefines possibility. His performances have helped raise awareness for autism and disability rights. His success continues to inspire millions around the World and has sparked conversations about disability representation. His visibility has helped shift public perception and stereotypes and he has supported many disability-inclusive initiatives.
