Britain's Got Talent star receives life-saving surgery days before semi-final
Britain's Got Talent star CJ Emmons received life-saving surgery just days before his live semi-final performance.
The singer appeared on this Saturday's episode of the talent show, performing 'It's a Man's Man's Man's World' by James Brown. Following his impressive rendition, CJ shared just how much the competition meant to him, having recently undergone surgery.
"Two weeks ago, I was in the hospital receiving life-threatening surgery, and I fought for that, and I'm fighting for this. I want this so bad," he told hosts Ant and Dec.
Prior to the live show, CJ revealed that he was recovering from major gallbladder surgery, but insisted: "I won't let it stop me from my dream and goal."
"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,'" he explained to the Mirror. "So there's still a bit of pain. But I can tell it's getting stronger and stronger."
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After returning home to California following his audition, the star suffered severe abdominal pains and took himself to the hospital where he was given emergency surgery.
"My gallbladder was completely dead," said CJ. "It was turning [gangrenous] 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."
Related: Britain's Got Talent star performs spontaneous audition song with "a twist"
Despite the major operation, CJ expressed his determination to face the live semi-finals, adding: "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."
He continued: "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."
Unfortunately, CJ didn't make it through to next week's final but could still return to the competition if selected as a Wildcard.
Britain's Got Talent airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
Read more Britain's Got Talent news on our dedicated homepage
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Paris had been a 70-minute train ride from Evreux during Dembele's childhood and he had happy memories of going to watch games with his friends at the Parc des Princes. Advertisement It helped, too, that Dembele already knew PSG's newly appointed coach. While coach of Barcelona, Luis Enrique had enquired about the winger's availability following his breakthrough at Rennes, only for Dembele to inform him that he had already given his word to Dortmund. Seven years on, their paths finally converged. 'Luis Enrique was fiercely protective of him, right from day one,' says a source close to the PSG coach. 'He was confident that he had something magical in his hands and that under him, Dembele was going to flourish.' After claiming a league and Coupe de France double alongside Mbappe in his maiden PSG season, Dembele was one of the players expected to step up to the plate when his long-time friend left the French capital for Real Madrid last summer. Things did not get off to the best start when he was dropped on disciplinary grounds for PSG's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in the Champions League in October. Dembele had questioned Luis Enrique's possession-heavy tactics during a team briefing and subsequently reported late for a training session, although a source close to him suggests that he was primarily axed for the trip to the Emirates Stadium in order to send a message to the rest of the squad. Yet only two months later, Luis Enrique happened upon a tactical innovation that would reinvigorate PSG's season — and transform Dembele's career. The decision to deploy Dembele as a false nine for a 3-1 home win over Lyon in mid-December proved the spark for a stupendous run of goal-scoring form in which the France international racked up 27 goals in only 22 appearances. Amassed in the space of only three and a half months, it represented twice as many goals as he had ever previously mustered over the course of an entire season. Dembele, who has scored 33 goals in all competitions, attributes his improved fortunes to the fact that his central role means he has to expend less effort in order to get into shooting positions, enabling him to take aim at goal with fresher legs. Sources close to him additionally point to the hours of work he has spent on his finishing in training over the last 12 months, as well as input from a personal video analyst. Advertisement As the deliberately elusive focal point of a deliberately loose-limbed starting XI, the super-fit Dembele also plays a pivotal role in PSG's build-up play and their formidable pressing game. Having turned 28 earlier this month, Dembele is one of the senior figures in the PSG squad. Although grand speeches have never been his style ('a connector rather than a leader' is how one source describes him), he fulfils an important function in the club's youthful, multilingual changing room. 'He speaks several languages, which facilitates links with his team-mates,' says a source close to the PSG squad. 'He's also someone who's very jovial, who likes taking the mick, and that helps to create a good atmosphere and bind the squad together.' Dembele's performances have also benefited from the fact that, away from the pitch, he has moved into a more settled phase in his life. He married Moroccan influencer Rima Edbouche in December 2021 and they had a baby daughter in September 2022. A practicing Muslim, PSG's No 10 is scrupulously discrete about his private life and describes himself as 'casanier', meaning 'a homebody'. Though fatherhood and the demands of elite-level football have inevitably reduced the amount of free time on his hands, he remains a committed Football Manager player and watches as much live football as he can. 'I watch practically every championship,' he confided to Le Parisien last year. Few would have bet on him emerging from the current campaign with a stronger claim to the Ballon d'Or than Mbappe. But according to those who know him, until he has the Champions League trophy in his hands, thoughts of individual glory can wait. 'For him, the most important thing is to win the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, because it would be something historic,' says best friend Diatta. Advertisement 'And it'd be deserved, when you look at his journey. He's been through tough times, people have spoken ill of him, about the injuries and things like that, but he's never complained. He's just kept working.' One more assured first touch, one more thumping finish, and a little boy's dreams will all come true. Additional reporting: Pol Ballus (Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Franc Fife / Getty, Aurelien Meunier/ Getty Images, Franco Arland/ Getty)
