16-Year-Old America’s Got Talent Winner Nene Royal Performs with Linkin Park on Finale: Watch
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Nene Royal, a 16-year-old Thai musician, won America's Got Talent on Wednesday night and performed with Linkin Park on their track "The Emptiness Machine" during the finale, marking a significant moment for a young rock musician on a mainstream variety platform. She received the season's $1 million prize and a Las Vegas Strip showcase, cementing her rise from street musician to international competition winner.
Throughout the competition, Royal demonstrated versatile rock credentials with performances including Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun," The Cranberries' "Zombie," a heavy rendition of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," and a collaboration with Mexican rock trio The Warning. In the finale performance, she played guitar and shared vocals with Linkin Park singer Emily Armstrong on "The Emptiness Machine." Royal built her initial following as a street performer in Thailand before gaining a YouTube audience, and her victory represents a notable success for a young artist bringing metal sensibilities to the AGT stage.
- Thai teen Nene Royal wins America's Got Talent with rock guitar and vocal performances
- Performed finale duet with Linkin Park on "The Emptiness Machine" with singer Emily Armstrong
- Receives $1 million prize and Las Vegas showcase deal as competition victor
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America's Got Talent is a major television competition that invites performers from around the world to compete for a million-dollar prize and a performance residency on the Las Vegas Strip. The show features many types of performers, though rock musicians and young international contestants have historically been relatively uncommon among its winners.
Nene Royal is a 16-year-old Thai guitarist and vocalist who began as a street performer in Thailand before building an international audience through online platforms such as YouTube. Her participation in this year's America's Got Talent competition marked her emergence on an international mainstream platform.
Throughout her musical career, Royal has performed rock songs spanning multiple decades, from classic bands like Soundgarden and The Cranberries to more contemporary acts such as The White Stripes. She has also worked with established rock musicians, collaborating with groups including the Mexican rock band The Warning.
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