Seventeen-year-old rock vocalist Nene Royal has claimed victory on America’s Got Talent, marking a historic milestone as the first contestant from Thailand to win the long-running television competition. The finale, held on Tuesday in California, saw her triumph over a diverse field of nine other finalists, which included a magician, canine performers, and a robotic dance crew.
Born Rattikarn Amloy, Nene impressed audiences and judges throughout the season with her powerful rock performances. During the final show, she delivered a renditions of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” Earlier in the week, she had shared the stage with the band Linkin Park to perform their 2024 track “The Emptiness Machine.” Her journey to the top began with a viral audition video where she sang The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” which has since accumulated 20 million views online.
Upon being crowned the winner of the show’s 21st season, Nene broke down in tears on stage. She told the audience, “I’m very happy and emotional right now,” expressing her gratitude for the widespread support she received. The champion’s prize includes a $1 million payout, equivalent to approximately £755,000.
The victory has sparked celebrations across Thailand, with many citizens expressing pride in seeing a compatriot reach one of the world’s most prominent entertainment stages. Although the broadcast was not available on Thai television networks, fans followed the results via YouTube livestreams. Some viewers experienced brief technical difficulties when the stream was interrupted during the announcement, but relief and jubilation quickly followed as news of her win spread.
The Thai government’s public relations department issued a statement on Thursday praising Nene’s achievement. “What makes this win special is that Nene carried her Thai identity with confidence onto one of the world’s biggest stages,” the department said. They added that she demonstrated how talent and determination could emerge from anywhere, highlighting her background as a young girl from Phuket with a guitar and big dreams.
Nene began playing the guitar at age seven with the ambition of becoming a touring musician. Before her international fame, she was a familiar face in her hometown of Phuket, a popular tourist destination known for its beaches, where she would busk at the Naka Weekend Market. Piyarat Na Songkhla, a local tour guide who has watched her perform since she was young, told the BBC he was “so elated and happy” for her success.
Local institutions have also rallied behind the teen star. The Naka Weekend Market posted a tribute on Facebook, stating, “Everyone at Naka Market is so proud to see you shine on one of the biggest stages in the world.” Meanwhile, Kajonkiet International School, where Nene is a student, shared a video of students and staff cheering and chanting her name as they watched the final performance together.
Linkin Park collab was fire! Hope her million dollars helps her finish school and tour more.
Wait, was it season twenty-one? I thought that was last year. The timeline seems a bit off to me.
Incredible to see a sixteen-year-old rock star from Phuket take home the top prize. Truly inspiring!