16-Year-Old Nene Royal Rocks Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” and Earns Mel B’s Golden Buzzer on AGT

Nene Royal walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage carrying a guitar. By the time she finished Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” Mel B had seen enough.

The 16-year-old singer and guitarist from Phuket, Thailand, delivered one of the defining performances of the Season 21 live quarterfinals on August 25, combining powerful vocals with commanding guitar work and a solo that turned the television stage into something closer to a rock concert.

Then came the moment that changed her entire path through the competition.

Mel B pressed the Live Golden Buzzer, sending Nene directly into the America’s Got Talent final without having to rely on the public vote or compete in the semifinals.

Mel B Sent Nene Royal Straight to the Final

Nene entered the second live quarterfinal with considerable expectations already surrounding her.

But “Black Hole Sun,” Soundgarden’s 1994 alternative-rock classic, gave her another opportunity to demonstrate that she was not simply a vocalist who happened to play guitar.

Her instrument was central to the performance.

Nene balanced the song’s dark atmosphere with her own vocal approach before letting her guitar take a prominent role, including an extended solo that showcased the musicianship behind her stage persona.

The judges responded enthusiastically.

Howie Mandel went so far as to suggest that NBC should give her the show’s million-dollar prize immediately, while Sofía Vergara told the teenager she believed she could win the competition.

Mel B’s reaction proved even more consequential.

Although she acknowledged that this style of rock was not normally the kind of music she gravitated toward, she praised Nene’s vocals, guitar playing, appearance, energy and overall presence.

“Your vocals are on point. Your guitar is on point. Your look, your energy, your vibe, how could I not do this?” Mel B told her.

She then hit the Golden Buzzer.

Gold confetti filled the stage as an overwhelmed Nene dropped to her knees before celebrating the moment with her family.

Under the Season 21 live-show format, that decision carried enormous weight. Rather than waiting for America’s vote and potentially facing another elimination round, Nene secured an automatic place in the final.

The Teenager Behind Nene Royal

Behind the stage name is Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy, a 16-year-old musician from Phuket.

Long before millions of viewers discovered her on American television, she had already spent years developing her abilities in Thailand.

Her early experience included performing for crowds at local markets in Phuket, giving the young musician practical stage experience well before she stepped onto the AGT stage. Thailand’s Government Public Relations Department described her rise as one that began with performing at local markets before expanding to competitions and a rapidly growing online audience.

Those beginnings help explain one of the most striking elements of Nene’s AGT appearances: despite her age, she rarely appears intimidated by the size of the stage.

Once the guitar is in her hands, the shy teenager viewers first encounter can quickly transform into an assured rock performer.

“Zombie” Introduced Nene to an International Audience

Nene’s road to the Golden Buzzer began with a song that immediately established the kind of artist she wanted to be.

For her audition, she chose The Cranberries’ “Zombie.”

The performance combined her vocals with guitar playing and introduced viewers to a teenager whose musical identity was rooted firmly in rock rather than the conventional pop repertoire often heard on television competitions.

The audition earned four “Yes” votes from the judges and helped turn Nene into an international talking point.

Instead of changing direction as the competition progressed, she doubled down on that identity.

During the Judges’ Callbacks, Nene performed Muse’s “Hysteria,” once again combining singing with intricate guitar work. The performance earned her a place in the live shows.

That created a clear musical progression through her AGT journey:

The Cranberries for her audition.

Muse for the callbacks.

Soundgarden when the competition went live.

Rather than treating rock as a novelty, Nene made it the foundation of her run.

“Black Hole Sun” Became Her Biggest AGT Moment Yet

For the quarterfinal, Nene chose one of Soundgarden’s most recognizable recordings.

Written by Chris Cornell, “Black Hole Sun” originally appeared on the band’s 1994 album Superunknown and became one of the defining alternative-rock songs of the decade.

Taking on a song so closely associated with Cornell presented an obvious challenge, but Nene approached it as a performer rather than attempting simply to reproduce the original recording.

Her rendition retained the darkness of the song while allowing her own guitar playing and stage energy to take center stage.

It also represented another significant step in her progression through the competition.

During her audition, Nene had to convince the judges she belonged on the show.

During the callbacks, she had to prove she deserved a place in the live rounds.

With “Black Hole Sun,” she was performing for something much bigger: a path toward the final.

Mel B’s Golden Buzzer provided exactly that.

Nene’s Guitar Playing Has Become Central to Her Appeal

Nene’s success also stands out because she has refused to separate herself as a singer from herself as a guitarist.

During the “Black Hole Sun” performance, she played an Ibanez MC300, further emphasizing that the guitar was not merely a visual accessory to the act.

Her performances consistently give the instrument substantial space.

That combination has helped distinguish her from more conventional singing acts on the program. Nene can move between restrained vocal passages and much more aggressive instrumental moments without abandoning the musical identity she established at her first audition.

It is also part of what has impressed the judges.

Mandel and Vergara both highlighted the completeness of her act after the quarterfinal performance, while Mel B’s Golden Buzzer ultimately provided the clearest endorsement possible.

From Phuket to the AGT Final

Nene’s rise has also attracted considerable attention back home in Thailand.

Her journey from Phuket performer to AGT contestant has been followed closely by Thai media, and her Golden Buzzer became a major milestone: a 16-year-old Thai rock musician had earned direct passage to the final of one of America’s biggest television talent competitions.

Before the quarterfinal triumph, she had already received significant recognition in Thailand. In July, Nene visited Government House, where she met Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and performed guitar during the visit.

But the Golden Buzzer moved her story onto another level.

The teenager who had once built experience playing for local crowds in Phuket no longer needed to fight through another round of the competition.

Her place in the final was secure.

A Rock Artist Rather Than Simply a Talent-Show Contestant

Perhaps the most compelling part of Nene Royal’s AGT journey is how consistent her musical choices have remained.

“Zombie,” “Hysteria” and “Black Hole Sun” come from different artists and eras, but together they have allowed her to build a recognizable identity.

She has not abandoned the guitar to focus solely on vocals.

She has not softened her musical direction simply to fit a television format.

Instead, Nene has continued presenting herself as a young rock singer and guitarist — and the competition has rewarded her for it.

At just 16, she arrived on AGT from Phuket with a guitar and a clear idea of the musician she wanted audiences to see.

Three major rock performances later, Mel B pressed the Golden Buzzer and sent her directly to the biggest stage of the competition.

Now Nene Royal will enter the America’s Got Talent final not simply as the teenager whose “Zombie” audition caught viewers’ attention, but as one of Season 21’s confirmed finalists — and a young guitarist who has managed to make classic alternative rock feel completely at home on one of television’s biggest talent-show stages.