America’s Got Talent season 21 crowns its $1M champion

Guitars blaring and a sea of red-and-white lights, 16-year-old Nene Royal ripped through “Seven Nation Army” in the live finale and walked off with $1 million on September 23. The Phuket, Thailand teen capped a season of arena-size rock covers with a finale performance that had the room on its feet before the confetti even started falling.

Her sprint to the finish was fueled by a midseason boost: Mel B’s Live Golden Buzzer in the quarterfinals, which sent Royal straight to the finale. She’s been playing guitar since she was seven, and it showed—every round leaned into heavy riffs and big-voice choruses that turned the AGT stage into her own club gig.

Her road to the crown

• Audition — The Cranberries’ “Zombie” (punk rock cover)
• Judges’ Callbacks — Muse’s “Hysteria”
• Quarterfinals — Soundgarden ’s “Black Hole Sun” (earned Mel B’s Live Golden Buzzer)
• Finale — The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” (standing ovation)

“The biggest, most talented, most viral talent to be on that stage,”

judge Howie Mandel said after her finale turn.

Backed by family

Born Nong Praew Rattikarn Amlai, Royal had visible support in the crowd all season from her father, Narong Amloy, while her mother, Chuanpit “Mae Oom” Poonkerd, cheered from home in Thailand. On Thairath TV Channel 32’s Khao Sai Khai program, Royal and her dad video- called her mom, who beamed with pride and urged Thai viewers to keep backing her daughter.

Music runs deep in the household. Royal’s father introduced her to the guitar and even built a rehearsal space at their home, according to the Bangkok Post.