A timid teenage girl steps onto the Americas Got Talent stage, her voice barely above a whisper, The judges exchange doubtful glances, then, out of nowhere, she erupts

From the moment 13-year-old Courtney Hadwin stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2019, the judges—Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Mel B, and Heidi Klum—were visibly skeptical. Her nerves were evident, prompting Mel B to reassure her, “Don’t be nervous. You’re here for a reason, so go for it and good luck.”

But within seconds, Courtney shattered all doubt. Launching into a fiery, soulful rendition of Otis Redding’s “Too Hot to Handle,” she transformed from a shy teen into a fearless powerhouse. The judges were stunned, their skepticism replaced with awe as she commanded the stage with a voice far beyond her years.

The defining moment came when Howie Mandel, completely blown away, slammed the golden buzzer, sending her straight to the quarter-finals. “Oh my gosh, you’re not from this era; you’re from a whole different era,” he marveled. Simon Cowell added, “You were this shy little thing when you came out, and then you sing and you’re like a lion.”

While Courtney didn’t take home the top prize, she secured a place in the top ten, consistently wowing audiences with each performance. Her electrifying final act—Tina Turner’s “Nutbush City Limits”—was met with thunderous applause. “You are on fire, you’re amazing, you’re a superstar,” Howie declared.

Though her AGT journey ended, it was only the beginning. With five original singles, an upcoming debut album, and an American tour on the horizon, Courtney Hadwin is proving that her music career is just getting started.

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