At 16, Nene Royal has already experienced the kind of career-changing moment most musicians spend years chasing. Her Americaโs Got Talent journey took her from performances in Phuket to the biggest stage of her young career, with each round revealing more of the rock singer and guitarist behind the name.
But her Season 21 run was about more than reaching the finale. From a viral audition and a Live Golden Buzzer to a performance alongside Linkin Park, Nene built a path that eventually placed her in a historic position for Thailand.
Nene Royal wins Americaโs Got Talent Season 21
The result was announced during the Americaโs Got Talent Season 21 finale in California on Wednesday, September 23, U.S. time.
Nene Royal, whose real name is Rattikarn Amloy, ultimately finished ahead of the nine other finalists after the winner was decided through America’s public vote. Her victory earned her the show’s $1 million grand prize and made her the first Thai contestant to win Americaโs Got Talent.
The finale itself featured a wide range of performers, including magicians, canine performers and a robot dance group, making Nene’s eventual victory the final chapter of a competition filled with very different acts.
Before the winner was revealed, Nene returned to the stage with The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”, once again putting her rock-focused musical identity front and centre.
When her name was announced as the winner, the teenager became visibly emotional and eventually knelt on the stage as the reality of what had happened appeared to sink in.
“I’m very happy and emotional right now,” Nene said while thanking everyone who had supported her throughout the competition.
Her win immediately took on significance beyond the AGT stage. Nene had become the first Thai winner in the show’s history, while also securing the $1 million prize after winning over viewers through the public vote.
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Nene Royal’s AGT Season 21 journey at a glance
| Stage | Performance/Event | Result |
| Audition | The Cranberries’ “Zombie” | Viral breakthrough |
| Judges’ Callbacks | Muse’s “Hysteria” | Continued competition |
| Live Quarterfinals | Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” | Mel B awarded Live Golden Buzzer |
| Grand Final | The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” | Final competition performance |
| Results Show | “The Emptiness Machine” with Linkin Park | Performed before winner announcement |
| Season 21 Result | Public vote | Winner and $1 million grand prize |
From โZombieโ to Nene Royal’s Golden Buzzer moment
The performance that first introduced Nene to American audiences came during her audition.
She chose The Cranberries’ “Zombie”, delivering the song with the powerful vocals and rock-driven style that would become central to her competition run.
The performance quickly became a viral moment. According to the BBC’s report, the official Americaโs Got Talent video eventually surpassed 20 million views, giving Nene an audience far beyond the stage where she had first performed.
Rather than abandoning that musical identity as the competition progressed, Nene continued to build around rock and metal. Her use of an electric guitar, combined with her forceful vocals, gave her performances a clear identity.
At the Judges’ Callbacks, she performed Muse’s “Hysteria”.
Then came the live quarterfinals, where Nene tackled another major rock classic: Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun”.
That performance produced one of the most important moments of her entire AGT journey.
Mel B awarded Nene a Live Golden Buzzer, sending the young performer directly to the grand final. The official Thai government account confirmed that the Golden Buzzer secured Nene’s place in the finale without requiring her to advance through another public-vote stage.
The official Americaโs Got Talent YouTube channel also highlighted the performance as Nene’s return after her viral audition and her decision to take on another major rock song.
The Golden Buzzer therefore became a major turning point. Nene was no longer simply the young guitarist who had made an impression with “Zombie.” She had secured a direct path to the season’s final stage.
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Nene Royal performs with Linkin Park before the AGT result
Nene’s finale experience became even bigger before the winner was announced.
During the results show, she performed “The Emptiness Machine” with Linkin Park, the American rock band behind the 2024 song.
The collaboration placed Nene alongside an established international rock act on one of the biggest nights of her young career. According to the BBC, Nene performed with Linkin Park during the results show before she later discovered that she had won Season 21.
It also created a striking full-circle moment for a teenager whose AGT identity had been built around some of rock music’s biggest songs.
Her own final competition performance remained “Seven Nation Army,” but the Linkin Park collaboration gave the results show another major musical moment before the season’s winner was revealed.
Nene Royal’s journey began in Phuket at age seven
Long before American audiences knew her name, Nene was developing as a musician in her hometown of Phuket.
According to the BBC, she began playing guitar when she was seven years old and had already dreamed of becoming a touring musician.
Her early performances took place in Phuket, including busking at Naka Weekend Market.
That local connection remained an important part of the story after her AGT victory. Piyarat Na Songkhla, a 43-year-old tour guide in Phuket, told the BBC that he had watched Nene perform from a young age.
“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.”
The Naka Weekend Market also celebrated the teenager after her historic win.
“Everyone at Naka Market is so proud to see you shine on one of the biggest stages in the world,” the market wrote.
“Your talent, heart, and courage have inspired so many people, and this victory is a beautiful reminder of what can happen when someone truly gives everything to their dream.”
The messages reflected how dramatically Nene’s journey had expanded. The young musician who had once performed at a local Phuket market had now become the winner of an internationally recognised American television competition.
Kajonkiet International School celebrates Nene’s AGT victory
Nene’s success was also celebrated by Kajonkiet International School in Phuket, where she studies.
The school shared footage showing students and staff gathering to watch her final performance. The crowd cheered and chanted Nene’s name as they followed the finale.
The school also shared a direct message of support:
“We are so proud of you,” the school said in a Facebook post.
Her victory consequently became a celebration both on the international AGT stage and back home in Phuket.
For the teenager, the path from local performances to American television had become a story that people in her hometown could follow in real time.
Thailand celebrates Nene Royal as its first AGT winner
The reaction across Thailand intensified after the result became known.
Because the finale aired at a time when many Thai viewers could not watch the NBC broadcast directly, some fans followed the result through a YouTube livestream instead. That livestream was reportedly interrupted during the results announcement, briefly leaving viewers uncertain about what had happened.
That uncertainty quickly turned into celebration once news spread that Nene had won.
Among the reactions shared on Facebook were:
“History made!” one Thai social media user wrote.
Another wrote:
“Let the world write it down that this Thai kid is incredibly talented.”
The significance of the victory was also recognised by Thailand’s government.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul congratulated Nene and said she had “brought honour to Thailand” and “instilled pride in the Thai people” through her victory.
Thailand’s government public relations department also highlighted the significance of Nene taking her Thai identity onto an international stage.
“What makes this win special is that Nene carried her Thai identity with confidence onto one of the world’s biggest stages,” the department said.
“She showed that talent, hard work, and determination can come from anywhere, including a young girl from Phuket with a guitar and a big dream.”
Thailand’s official government website likewise described Nene as the first Thai winner in the show’s history and said she won the US$1 million prize after winning over viewers.
From a Phuket market to an international AGT stage
Nene’s story is ultimately defined by how quickly her musical journey expanded.
She entered Americaโs Got Talent as a 16-year-old musician from Phuket, bringing a sound shaped by rock and metal rather than moving toward conventional pop material.
Her “Zombie” audition gave her an immediate breakthrough, with the official AGT video eventually passing 20 million views according to the BBC. Her performances then continued with “Hysteria” and “Black Hole Sun”, with the latter earning her Mel B’s Live Golden Buzzer and a direct place in the finale.
At the final stage, Nene performed “Seven Nation Army”, maintaining the rock-focused identity that had defined her run. Before the winner was announced, she also performed “The Emptiness Machine” with Linkin Park.
Then came the moment that transformed the entire journey.
Nene Royal was crowned the Season 21 winner of Americaโs Got Talent, becoming the first Thai contestant to win the show and taking home its $1 million grand prize.
For a musician who began playing guitar at seven and reportedly dreamed of becoming a touring musician, the victory now represents a historic milestone. It also connects her childhood performances in Phuket, her school community, audiences across Thailand and a global television platform in one remarkable chapter.
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Conclusion
Nene Royal’s Season 21 victory is the culmination of a journey that began years before America’s Got Talent. From playing guitar from the age of seven and performing at Naka Weekend Market in Phuket to delivering major rock songs on American television, the 16-year-old built her run around a musical identity that remained consistent throughout the competition.
Her viral “Zombie” audition, Live Golden Buzzer performance of “Black Hole Sun,” finale performance of “Seven Nation Army” and collaboration with Linkin Park all became milestones along the way.
Now, Nene has made AGT history as its first Thai winner, taking home the $1 million prize while giving Thailand a major moment to celebrate. Her victory has turned a young Phuket performer with a guitar and a touring-musician dream into the newest America’s Got Talent champion.
Disclaimer: This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided with the original verified material, including BBC News, America’s Got Talent, the Thailand Government, Thailand’s Government Public Relations Department, CNA, The Nation Thailand and ABS-CBN Entertainment. The article reflects the information, statements, reactions, performance details and reporting available from those provided sources as of September 24, 2026 and does not imply independent verification beyond the material those sources support.
Sources
- BBC News โ Teen rocker Nene Royal becomes first Thai to win America’s Got Talent
- America’s Got Talent โ Nene Royal’s “Zombie” audition
- America’s Got Talent โ Nene Royal’s Golden Buzzer performance
- Thailand Government โ History Made: Thai Teen Nene Royal Crowned America’s Got Talent 2026 Winner
- Thailand Government Public Relations Department โ Nene Royal Secures AGT Final Spot with Golden Buzzer
- Thailand Government Public Relations Department โ Prime Minister Congratulates Nene Royal on Reaching AGT 2026 Finale
- CNA โ Thai teenager Nene Royal wins America’s Got Talent, sparking celebrations back home
- The Nation Thailand โ 16-year-old Nene Royal rocks from Phuket to AGT 2026 crown
- The Nation Thailand โ Nene Royal wins America’s Got Talent 2026 crown in historic victory
- ABS-CBN Entertainment โ Thailand’s teen rocker Nene Royal wins America’s Got Talent Season 21
Featured Image Credit: YouTube / America’s Got Talent
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