A 16-year-old street musician from Thailand has won America’s Got Talent, and she closed the show trading vocals with Linkin Park’s Emily Armstrong. Nene Royal was named the winner on Wednesday night, and her finale performance with the band was a fitting send-off for a contestant who brought metal energy to the AGT stage all season.
Royal wowed the judges and viewers throughout the competition with her impressive guitar and vocal skills. She performed with Linkin Park just before being crowned champion, singing and playing guitar on “The Emptiness Machine.”
The Finale Performance
For the finale, Royal and Linkin Park shared the stage for a performance of the latter’s “The Emptiness Machine.” The teen played guitar while trading vocals with Linkin Park singer Emily Armstrong. It was a powerful moment that showed the judges why she had earned the title.
Royal’s guitar work kept pace with the band’s sound, and her confidence on stage was clear from the first note.
What Came Before the Finale
The night before, Royal delivered a heavy rendition of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” live onstage. That performance is available to watch below, alongside her finale performance with Linkin Park.
She also jammed with Mexican rock trio The Warning in a pre-packaged segment. Earlier in the competition, she performed Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” and The Cranberries’ “Zombie.”
Each performance proved her versatility as a musician.
How She Got Here
Royal started out as a street musician in Thailand before gaining a following on YouTube. Prior to AGT, she built her audience through her music.
As this season’s winner, she gets $1 million and a showcase at a venue on the Las Vegas Strip.
Linkin Park’s Documentary
Linkin Park’s new documentary, Unshatter, chronicling the band’s comeback story following the passing of singer Chester Bennington, will hit movie theaters on September 30th.
The film tells the story of the band’s recovery after losing one of its founding members.
The Verdict on Royal
Royal’s win is a reflection of her skill and her stage presence. She consistently impressed the judges with her guitar playing and her vocals, and she never seemed intimidated by the competition.
Her performances across the season showed a deep connection to the music she plays. Whether she was tackling a classic rock song or a metal track, she brought genuine passion to every performance.
The finale performance with Linkin Park capped off a strong run. It was a reminder of what made her stand out: her raw talent and her fearless approach to performing.
Royal’s win is a reminder that talent can come from anywhere. A teenager from Thailand with a YouTube following was able to compete with professional performers and come out on top.
Her path from street musician to AGT winner is an inspiring story. She worked hard and found a platform where she could shine.
Both performances are available to watch below.
Here is the order of Royal’s AGT performances as described in the source:
- Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun”
- The Cranberries’ “Zombie”
- The Warning jam session
- The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”
- Linkin Park’s “The Emptiness Machine”
See the video the story is built around at Consequence.
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