Wrongfully Convicted Louisiana Man on America’s Got Talent

A Louisiana man wrongly sentenced to life in prison was on the season premiere of America's Got Talent last night.

Archie Williams sailed through with four yes votes after singing Elton John's Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.

Elton took to Twitter, saying the performance brought him to tears.

In 1983, Williams was 22 years old when he was arrested for raping and stabbing a woman in Baton Rouge. He was charged with attempted murder, aggravated rape, and aggravated burglary. During his trial, none of the DNA evidence matched him. Also, several people took the stand to testify that Williams was asleep at home at the time the crime took place. However, he was convicted and sent to Angola State Prison and served 37 years before the same DNA evidence that locked him up would eventually set him free.

The Innocence Project picked up his case in the '90s and, after years of working on his case, they were able to get Williams exonerated by DNA evidence in March of last year.

To keep mentally strong while in prison, he started singing in the prison praise and worship band. Williams said he would watch America's Got Talent in prison and imagine himself performing on the AGT stage.

What an absolutely terrible but beautiful story. We need all of Louisiana to join together and vote for Mr. Williams to show him some love every week of the competition.

America's Got Talent airs on Tuesdays at 7:00pm on NBC.