'AGT' Singer, 15, Cries After Performance for 'Hero' Father: 'I've Been Scared He Won't Come Home'

After receiving judgeHeidi Klum‘s golden buzzer during theAmerica’s Got Talentauditions, Makayla Phillips was back on stage, this time, with a special tribute.

The breakout star, 15, dedicated her quarterfinals performance on Tuesday to her father Todd, who is a Fire Captain at Mecca Station #40 in Riverside, California.

“My dad is absolutely my hero because he’s a firefighter,” Makayla said before belting out Julia Michaels’ 2017 hit “Issues.”

“His job is so incredibly tough, there have been days where I’ve been scared my dad won’t come home,” the Canyon Lake native explained. “I feel more pressure I just want to make my family proud,” she added.

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“It was better than the original, this is really where you belong,” Klum proudly said. “[Makayla] had this very special something, this star quality,” the supermodel shared of why she pressed the golden buzzer for the teenager.

JudgeSimon Cowellcouldn’t agree more.

“This was way better than your first audition, you sang that song really well,” he said.

On Monday, Makayla gave her father a special shout-out on Instagram.

“My dad has been my biggest supporter since day 1, he’s my personal ATM, the funniest dad in the world, and my rock. My dad works so so so hard for his family to be able to follow their dreams and I am BEYOND thankful to have been blessed with a father like him,” she captioned a father-daughter photo from theAGTrehearsal.

In July, Makaylawowed audienceswith her powerhouse rendition ofDemi Lovato‘s “Warrior” during the auditions.

America‘s Got Talentairs Tuesdays and Wednesdays (8 p.m. ET) on NBC.

source: people.com