America’s Got Talent is officially entering into the final week of the Season 21 competition. Among the remaining ten acts is frontrunner 16 year old musician Nene Royal. We sat down with Nene to discuss her nerves heading into the final round of the competition.
Nene Royal is Not Aware of Virality
At only 16 years old, Nene Royal is taking the world by storm. Since her Season 21 audition aired, it has amassed nearly 19 million views on YouTube. Her following performances have been just as successful, amassing 7 million views on her Judge Callbacks performance, and 12 million on her live semi final golden buzzer performance.
Numbers like these often tell a story of how the end of competition will play out. Luckily for Nene, she remains confident, by not looking at the numbers.
“I didn’t know that I’m viral,” Nene said. “It adds a little bit of pressure because suddenly there’s so many people watching me and supporting me. Sometimes I still can’t believe how much everything has grown online… I just want to focus on like giving the best performance and showing people something new.”
Nene has truly become a force to reckon with because of her incredible stage presence. Before the song starts, she is seen as a shy 16 year old. Then, the music begins and she completely comes to life. In case you missed it, Nene is entering the Finals with a Golden Buzzer under her belt. Mel B awarded it to her in the semifinals.
“I didn’t expect… to get a golden buzzer because it’s very hard to get that… I was like completely shocked about that,” she said. “When she [Mel B] pressed the golden buzzer I just, I faded… it’s such an emotional [moment] and because I had worked really really hard to get there.”
She is Asking American Audience to Vote For Her
Right now, Nene has the attention of the whole world because of her viral performance clips. We’ve seen this narrative before with multiple other international acts like Putri Ariani and Marcelito Pomoy, who were insanely popular online, but were unable to clinch the final win.
“I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who has supported me and voted for me… [it] honestly means so much, especially because I came all the way from Thailand and [I’ve] never imagine[d] I would make so far,” she said. “If you enjoy watching my journey and my performance, I would really appreciate your vote.”
Although Nene was unable to give us any insight to her Finals performance, she was able to promise that this performance would be “very very me” with guitar, energy, and a cumulation of everything she’s already brought to the AGT stage.
“I will step on that stage and give everything that I have,” she said. “Making to the final, [is] already my dream. Having America support me, that would mean the world.”
She Hopes to Make Thailand Proud, Launch Career with Prize Money
Going to the Finals, Nene is understandably thankful for the opportunity to compete on AGT. She is hoping to make Thailand proud, and be able to launch her music career with the show’s prize money.
“[Winning AGT] would mean everything to me, I came here from Thailand with my guitar and a dream and I never expected this journey to become this big,” she said. “Winning AGT would be more than just winning a competition. It would show me that like all the year of practicing performing and like working toward this dream were worth it.”
“I would love to make Thailand proud and hopefully inspire other young musicians,” she said. “Being here in the finals really means so much to me and I’m really grateful and I just want to give everything that I have in my final performance. If I win I’m very proud of myself.”
As for the one million dollar prize, Nene would love to compartmentalize it on her music and family. She hopes to record an album, make “really cool music videos” and go on tour wherever the wind takes her.
Nene is set to take the stage for her next America’s Got Talent performance on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. This week, live episodes of AGT air at 9PM ET, be aware of this time change, so you don’t miss Nene’s final performance. Voting opens during Tuesday night’s live episode, and remains open until 7am ET on Wednesday.
Words by:
Corey Cesare Corey Cesare is Talent Recap's Managing Editor and featured YouTube Host. She has a love of all things pop culture and an unhealthy obsession with celebrities. Corey earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Cinema/Screen Studies from the State University of New York at Oswego in 2021. She spends her spare time shooting astro, nature, and portrait photography, and coming up with movie ideas that she hopes to make into a film someday.
