Thai Teen Guitarist Nene Royal Wins Top Prize on AGT Finale
Nene Royal, a 16-year-old singer and guitarist from Thailand, won the season 21 finale of America's Got Talent, earning the $1 million prize. Her finale performance featured a reimagined cover of The White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army' with a traditional dress reading 'Nene Thailand.' The two-hour results show aired on NBC and included guest performances from Linkin Park, Josh Groban, and Steve Aoki.
Nene Royal's path to the AGT crown began with her audition, where she delivered a cover of The Cranberries' "Zombie." She later earned the Golden Buzzer during the quarterfinals for her take on Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun." The teen has played guitar since age seven and has long aspired to become a touring superstar.
Her winning finale performance reworked The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" with an added guitar solo, while she wore a traditional garment reading "Nene Thailand." The two-hour results show on NBC also featured guest appearances from Linkin Park, Josh Groban, Lele Pons, REI AMI, and Steve Aoki.
Nene Royal's victory could inspire young musicians from Southeast Asia and beyond, showing that talent from smaller markets can achieve mainstream recognition on a major American platform. Her win may also encourage broader diversity in televised talent competitions, potentially reshaping what producers and audiences expect from contestants. Given the show's large viewership, her success could introduce guitar-driven rock to a new generation, possibly boosting streaming activity for the songs she covered and opening international touring opportunities for the young artist.