Thailand has a new rock star to celebrate.
Nene Royal, the 16-year-old guitarist and singer from Phuket, has been crowned the winner of America’s Got Talent Season 21, becoming the first Thai contestant to win the long-running competition.
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Ahead of the results announcement, Nene joined Linkin Park onstage for 'The Emptiness Machine', playing guitar and trading vocals with the band’s Emily Armstrong.
The performance capped off a breakout run on the show for Nene, whose real name is Rattikarn Amloy. For the finals, she delivered a heavy rendition of The White Stripes’ 'Seven Nation Army'. Throughout the competition, she also performed Soundgarden’s 'Black Hole Sun' and The Cranberries’ 'Zombie', with the latter earning her widespread attention after her audition went viral.
Nene also jammed with Mexican rock trio The Warning during the finale.
Before making it onto America’s Got Talent, Nene started playing guitar at seven and performed as a street musician in her hometown of Phuket, including busking at the city’s Naka Weekend Market. She has since built an online following through her performances on YouTube.
Following her victory, Nene thanked everyone who supported her, saying: “I’m very happy and emotional right now.”
As the season’s champion, Nene takes home US$1 million and earns a showcase on the Las Vegas Strip.
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