America’s Got Talent has officially crowned its newest champion. Rock singer and musician Nene Royal has secured her spot as the 21st winner of the show. Talent Recap was able to speak to Nene after winning the series, about her reaction, what she plans to achieve after the show, and what she’s most looking forward to upon her return to Thailand.
Nene Royal Never Thought She’d Win America’s Got Talent
This 16 year old rocker went viral soon after her audition aired during the fifth set of auditions. At the time of writing, her audition has amassed nearly 20 million views on YouTube. She then returned to the show during the Judge Callbacks round, Quarterfinals, and Finale.
Although for many Nene was slated as the clear winner (due to her virality), the rocker herself wasn’t looking at the numbers. During the Finals, she admitted to us that she “didn’t know that I’m viral.”
“I didn’t expect…to be [the] winner,” she said a day after the AGT Finale. “I’m just being myself and I said what ever happened, it’s totally fine. I’m proud of myself.”
Nene even called the moment that Terry Crews called her name “unbelievable.”
“The moment was, amazing… it was honestly unbelievable. When they call[ed] my name, my mind went completely blank,” she said. “I really wasn’t, expecting it. I was shocked, happy, emotional, everything at the same time.”
Understandably, the 16 year old fell to the ground after receiving the news that she won the series. Truthfully, she “didn’t know how else to react.” Apparently she had rehearsed many poses, but completely blanked in the moment.
“It was one of the craziest and happiness moment of my life and I’ll never forget it,” she said.
The Rocker Wants to Create Her Own Music Amid Return to Thailand
Now that the competition has officially concluded, Nene plans to return to Thailand and continue her education. Even with the win under her belt, Nene is excited to return to school with her friends, who celebrated her win, regardless of the fact that it was 7 a.m. when it was announced.
“All of my friends, all of the primary kids, secondaries, just watching my performance and the result, and when Terry Crews announced my name that I won, everyone [was] just screaming,” she said. “They went crazy. Like, literally went crazy.”
Nene is especially excited for the party waiting for her at her home airport, which she expects to be crazy. After celebrating with fans, she then wants to eat her favorite Thai cuisine.
As for her music career, Nene hopes to begin her journey as a recording artist with the show’s one million dollar prize.
“I just plan on creating some songs, my own songs and also going on tours,” she said. “I hope that I’m going to collaborate with the legend bad artists, Linkin Park, Avenged Sevenfold, Metallica, or, Slip Knot, System of a Down and even more.”
Nene Thanks Fans for Support
Nene Royal walked on the America’s Got Talent stage as a 15 year old with a dream of performing music. Now, she’s gone viral online (multiple times) and is bringing the America’s Got Talent champion title home to Thailand.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s voting [for] me and sharing me and, supporting me,” she said. “I just want to say, I love to everyone.”
It’s clear that Nene is extremely grateful for the America’s Got Talent experience, and for winning the series as a whole. She called the winning moment “unforgettable,” then went on to admit that wasn’t really the best part of the competition.
“My favorite part was performing on that stage every single time. I collaborated with Linkin Park, and performed myself, it’s crazy… incredible,” she said. “Each round gave me a chance to try something different and grow as an artist, and getting the Golden Buzzer from Mel B, was also one of my favorite moments. I’ll never forget all that.”
Be sure to follow Nene Royal on social media to stay updated on her journey post AGT. Right now, NBC hasn’t officially confirmed America’s Got Talent‘s return for Season 22, but there have been murmurs of the show considering a move. It’s likely the show will be returning for Season 22, but in a location other than Los Angeles, California.
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.
