If you’ve ever heard Nightbirde’s song “It’s Okay”, you know it hits different. There’s something about the way she sings it—warm, hopeful, and raw all at once—that makes you stop and really listen. But the story behind “It’s Okay” is even more powerful than the song itself. This is a tale of terminal cancer, divorce, finding hope in the darkest moments, and a woman who decided to write the song she desperately needed to hear.
In this post, we’re diving deep into the heartbreaking and inspiring story behind Nightbirde’s “It’s Okay”—from her early days singing in church to her Golden Buzzer moment on America’s Got Talent, and the legacy she left behind after passing away in 2022.
Who Was Nightbirde?
Before we get to the song, let’s talk about the person behind the music. Nightbirde was the stage name of Jane Marczewski, an American singer-songwriter from Zanesville, Ohio, born on December 29, 1990.
Her Early Musical Journey
Jane’s love for music started incredibly early. She wrote her first lyrics at just 6 years old, helping her mother compose a song about the Christmas star that she performed for over 800 people at their rural Ohio church.
Most of her musical foundation came from her church background, but during college, she found her own voice. She wasn’t quite good enough to make it on her campus church’s stage at first, so she started writing music that wasn’t meant for church at all.
Her early releases included:
- Lines (2012): A 3-song acoustic EP that gained attention in her college town
- Ocean & Sky (2013): A 6-song folk EP with an organic, optimistic vibe
After moving to Nashville in 2015, she took a break from performing. Two years later, she was preparing to launch music under the name “Nightbirde”—but life had other plans.
The Cancer Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Just as Jane was about to release new music as Nightbirde, she was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer at age 26.
First Remission and a Dream Fulfilled
Against the odds, Nightbirde went into remission in 2018. She immediately hit the studio to record “Girl in a Bubble”, a song about the alien experience of illness.
In 2019, she opened for Grammy-winning artist Tori Kelly in the same arena on her college campus where she’d once felt not good enough to perform. She called it “the resurrection of a dream” and felt like it was “a wink from God.”
The Devastating Second Diagnosis
The glory didn’t last long. Months later, she was diagnosed again—this time with cancer that had spread to her lungs, spine, and liver.
Doctors gave her:
- 3-6 months to live
- A 2% chance of survival
To make things worse, this happened during the global pandemic and she went through an explosive divorce. She felt lost, disconnected, and confused.
How “It’s Okay” Was Born
“It’s Okay” was written during the darkest period of Jane’s life—in 2020, after her terminal diagnosis.
The Song She Needed to Hear
Jane explained the song’s origin beautifully:
“The song ‘It’s OK’ was written about the story of my life in 2020. In the beginning of 2020, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I was given three to six months to live. Then, I went through a divorce not long after that. In that time, I never felt so lost, disconnected, and confused. This was the song that I myself needed to hear so I wrote it for myself.”
The lyrics capture the essence of her message: you don’t have to wait for everything to be okay to be happy. She said, “You can be happy and also going through something really hard at the same time. You don’t have to pick one or the other.”
Key Lyrics That Hit Hard
The chorus delivers the song’s core message:
- “It’s okay, it’s okay, if you’re lost. We’re all a little lost and it’s all right”
- “It’s all right to be lost sometimes”
The song acknowledges that things may never be okay, but it’s okay to be okay with not being okay.
Nightbirde’s iconic Golden Buzzer performance on America’s Got Talent
The America’s Got Talent Moment That Broke the Internet
In 2021, despite her health struggles, Jane auditioned for America’s Got Talent Season 16. When she performed “It’s Okay,” something magical happened.
Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer
Jane’s performance was so moving that Simon Cowell pressed his Golden Buzzer, sending her directly to the live shows. The moment sent shockwaves across the globe.
Her audition went viral instantly:
- “It’s Okay” reached #3 on US Digital Song Sales
- It hit #1 on Canadian and Australian sales charts
- It reached #1 on the US iTunes Song Sales charts
Why It Went Viral
The song resonated because it was authentic. People could feel the real pain and real hope in every word. Jane wasn’t performing a persona—she was sharing her actual life story.
The Tragic Ending and Lasting Legacy
Her Passing
Unfortunately, the grasp of cancer was too strong for Jane’s body to overcome. She had to withdraw from the AGT competition due to health complications.
Jane Marczewski (Nightbirde) passed away on February 19, 2022, at age 31.
Her Posthumous Album
Her debut album “It’s OK” was released posthumously in March 2023. The album includes both the original version and a pop version of the title track.
Official lyric video for “It’s OK” from her posthumous album
The Nightbirde Foundation
Jane left behind a lasting legacy of hope. The Nightbirde Foundation continues her mission, impacting lives through her music and foundation work. You can visit nightbirdefoundation.org to learn more.
Why “It’s Okay” Still Matters Today
More than three years after Jane’s passing, “It’s Okay” continues to resonate with people around the world. Here’s why:
- It validates struggle: The song acknowledges that being lost is normal
- It offers hope without toxic positivity: Jane doesn’t say everything will be fine—she says it’s okay even when it’s not
- It’s deeply personal: You can hear the real emotion in her voice because it came from real experience
- It reminds us we’re not alone: “We’re all a little lost” is such a comforting truth
Live performance from Maple House Sessions
Conclusion: The Nightbirde Story Behind “It’s Okay”
The story behind Nightbirde’s “It’s Okay” is one of the most heartbreaking and inspiring stories in modern music. Jane Marczewski wrote this song while facing terminal cancer, divorce, and a 2% chance of survival—but instead of giving in to despair, she created something that would bring hope to millions.
What makes “It’s Okay” so powerful is that Jane didn’t wait for everything to be okay before she found hope. She wrote a song that said it’s okay to be lost, it’s okay to struggle, and it’s okay to still find moments of joy even in the darkest times.
Though Jane passed away in February 2022, her legacy lives on through her music, her Golden Buzzer moment on AGT, and the Nightbirde Foundation. Every time someone hears “It’s Okay” and feels seen in their struggle, Jane’s mission is fulfilled.
As Jane herself said: “When I was in the thick of illness, I swore to myself that I would write the songs that people need to get through those times, and that’s what I’ll do.”
And she did. “It’s Okay” is exactly the song we all needed—and it still is.
FAQ: Nightbirde and “It’s Okay”
1. What is Nightbirde’s real name?
Nightbirde’s real name is Jane Marczewski. She was born on December 29, 1990, in Zanesville, Ohio.
2. When did Nightbirde pass away?
Jane Marczewski (Nightbirde) passed away on February 19, 2022, at age 31, after battling breast cancer.
3. What type of cancer did Nightbirde have?
Nightbirde was initially diagnosed with stage III breast cancer at age 26. Later, she was diagnosed again with cancer that had spread to her lungs, spine, and liver, with doctors giving her only a 2% chance of survival.
4. What happened on America’s Got Talent with Nightbirde?
During her AGT Season 16 audition in 2021, Nightbirde performed her original song “It’s Okay”. Judge Simon Cowell was so moved that he pressed his Golden Buzzer, sending her directly to the live shows. Her performance went viral and the song reached #1 on iTunes.
5. What does “It’s Okay” by Nightbirde mean?
“It’s Okay” is about finding hope while still going through hard times. Jane wrote it during her terminal cancer diagnosis and divorce, saying it was the song she needed to hear. The message is that you don’t have to wait for everything to be okay to be happy, and it’s okay to be lost sometimes.
6. When was Nightbirde’s album “It’s OK” released?
Her debut album “It’s OK” was released posthumously in March 2023, more than a year after her passing. The album includes both the original and pop versions of the title track.
