Nene Royal Makes America’s Got Talent History
Nene Royal has made history by becoming the first Thai winner of America’s Got Talent, taking the title after a series of heavy metal performances that made her a fan favourite throughout the competition. The 16-year-old performer, whose real name is Rattikarn Amloy, won the show’s 21st season in California.
For the final, Nene Royal performed Seven Nation Army by American rock duo The White Stripes. Her performance helped her overcome nine other finalists, whose acts included magicians, canine performers and a robot dance crew.
Her victory comes with a $1m (£755,000) prize, with the teenager breaking down in tears and kneeling on stage when the result was announced.
“I’m very happy and emotional right now,” she said while thanking supporters who had backed her throughout the competition.
Nene Royal’s Viral Audition Built Huge Following
Nene Royal became a standout performer early in the competition after her audition went viral. She stunned the judges with a powerful rendition of Zombie by The Cranberries, with footage of the performance later receiving 20 million views.
Her heavy metal style quickly attracted supporters in Thailand and beyond. The teenager’s success became a major talking point in her home country, where fans followed the competition closely despite being unable to watch the live broadcast on NBC.
Many Thai viewers instead watched a YouTube livestream of the results. When that stream unexpectedly stopped during the announcement, fans were left worried before news spread that Nene had won the competition.
“History made!” one Thai social media user wrote on Facebook, while another praised the teenager’s talent and celebrated her achievement on an international stage.
Nene Royal Performs With Linkin Park
Before the winner was announced, Nene Royal also appeared on stage with Linkin Park. Together they performed The Emptiness Machine, a 2024 rock song by the American band.
The performance added another major moment to a competition that had already established Nene as one of its most recognisable young performers. Her combination of guitar playing and heavy metal vocals had helped distinguish her from the other finalists.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul congratulated Nene after her victory, saying she had “brought honour to Thailand” and “instilled pride in the Thai people”.
The Thai government’s public relations department also described the achievement as significant because Nene had carried her Thai identity onto what it called one of the world’s biggest stages.
Nene Royal Began Playing Guitar at Seven
Nene Royal’s journey began years before her America’s Got Talent appearance. She says she started playing guitar when she was seven and dreamed of eventually becoming a touring musician.
In Phuket, where she grew up, she became known for performing at Naka Weekend Market. The tourist destination is known for its beaches and seaside resorts, but the market became one of the places where the young musician developed her performance skills.
Piyarat Na Songkhla, a 43-year-old tour guide in Phuket who says he had watched Nene perform since she was young, told the BBC he was extremely happy about her success.
“She’s so adorable,” he said. “I feel so elated and happy for her. It’s unbelievable that she has gone this far. So proud of her.”
Thailand Celebrates Nene Royal Victory
Nene’s victory has prompted celebrations across Thailand, with supporters praising the teenager for representing the country internationally. Naka Weekend Market also published a tribute celebrating the performer after she won.
Her school, Kajonkiet International School in Phuket, joined the celebrations. The school shared footage showing students and staff watching Nene’s final performance together, cheering and chanting her name.
The achievement has turned a young Phuket musician who once performed at a local market into the latest America’s Got Talent champion. For Nene Royal, the $1m prize marks the beginning of a new chapter in a career that began with a guitar at the age of seven and a dream of becoming a professional touring musician.