Nene Royal didn’t play it safe in the America’s Got Talent season 21 finale. The 16-year-old Thailand-born singer and guitarist took on the White Stripes’“Seven Nation Army”and rebuilt it from the ground up, adding a brand-new guitar solo and a whole lot of volume. She also made a statement with her wardrobe, wearing a dress that read“Nene Thailand,”a nod to where she’s from. By the end of the performance, the audience was on its feet.
The judges were just as hyped. Guest judge KSI called the performance“out of this world,”while Mel B, who used her Golden Buzzer on Royal in the quarterfinals after her cover of Soundgarden’s“Black Hole Sun,”praised her stage presence. That Golden Buzzer moment turned Royal into one of the season’s most viral acts, and she’s carried that momentum all the way to the finale, where she’s competing against nine other finalists, including singer Lai Noelle.
The results are decided tonight. The two-hour finale airs Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, and the guest lineup is stacked: Linkin Park, Josh Groban, Lele Pons, REI AMI and Steve Aoki are all set to perform. So after that performance, do you think Nene Royal takes the whole season? Tell us in the comments.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.