Nene Royal, Phuket rocker, wins America’s Got Talent and a million dollars

The 16-year-old Thai guitarist Nene Royal becomes the first Thai winner of America’s Got Talent, after a rock final in Pasadena.

Nene Royal, whose real name is Rattikarn « Praew » Amloy, has won season 21 of America’s Got Talent. The result was announced in the early hours of 24 September 2026, Thai time, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles. The young woman from Phuket beat magician Geno Ploeger and takes home the million-dollar prize, around 33 million baht. She is the first Thai contestant to win the competition.

Born on 14 March 2010 in Phuket, she began playing the guitar at seven, starting with a 1,600-baht instrument and largely teaching herself. Before the United States, she performed at Naka Market with local bands Ozone and Miniheart. She had already appeared in Thailand, notably on Super 10, and came second in the Overdrive Guitar Contest in 2023. At the audition, still a little shy in front of the judges, she turned heads from the first notes of « Zombie » by the Cranberries: four « yes » votes and a clip that became the most-watched of the season.

She then performed « Hysteria » by Muse at the judges’ request and « Black Hole Sun » by Soundgarden in the quarter-finals. Mel B pressed the Golden Buzzer live, sending her straight to the final. For the final competitive show she covered « Seven Nation Army » by the White Stripes, a song she already played busking in Phuket, dressed in red with Thai silk from Ban Krua. On results night she sang « The Emptiness Machine » with Linkin Park.

« You should win. Give her the million, America! Give her the million! »

That is what judge Howie Mandel shouted after the final. Mel B praised her « mysterious » presence and recalled that she came from Phuket. When her name was announced, Nene and her parents fell to their knees. At Khajornkiat Suksa school in Kathu, pupils and teachers watched the verdict together. The dream she had repeated since childhood — to become a rock star and tour — has, for now, found its global stage.