Thai Guitar Prodigy Earns Golden Buzzer, Advances to AGT Final
Sixteen-year-old Thai musician Nene Royal, whose real name is Rattikarn 'Praew' Amloy, has advanced directly to the final of America's Got Talent season 21 after judge Mel B hit her Golden Buzzer during the live quarterfinal shows. The Phuket-born singer and guitarist performed a cover of Soundgarden's 'Black Hole Sun', impressing judges with her vocals, guitar playing and stage presence.
The Golden Buzzer sent Nene straight through to the final without needing to wait for the results of a public vote, a rare distinction reserved for standout performances during the live rounds. Mel B praised the teenager's voice, musicianship and overall stage presence, saying she had everything needed to go all the way in the competition.
Viral Audition Cover of 'Zombie' Set the Stage for Her Run
Nene first captured attention on AGT with her audition performance of The Cranberries' 'Zombie', which became the most-watched audition clip of the season and earned her four yeses from the judging panel. She followed that with a cover of Muse's 'Hysteria' in the judges' callbacks round, further building her profile as one of the standout acts of the season.
Beyond AGT, Nene was named Best New International Artiste 2026 at the Phil Lynott Convention in Dublin, Ireland, earlier this month, adding to a breakout year for the teenage rocker. The two-part America's Got Talent finale is scheduled for September 22 and 23, with finalists performing on the first night and host Terry Crews revealing the winner on the second.
