Thai teen guitarist Nene Royal wins $1 million on America’s Got Talent

Teen guitarist Nene Royal, legally Rattikarn Amloy, emerged as the winner of America’s Got Talent, earning a US$1 million prize after impressing the panel with high-octane guitar solos and soaring rock vocals. The victory marks the first time a Thai contestant has taken the title, prompting Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who was in New York for the UN General Assembly, to send his congratulations and praise the achievement as a source of national pride, according to deputy government spokeswoman Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan.

During the finale, Nene performed alongside the American rock group Linkin Park, and her earlier covers of classic alternative tracks such as “Zombie” and “Black Hole Sun” had gone viral across Thai social media. Her school in Phuket organized watch parties and lauded her as an “extraordinary talent with a bright future,” while the local night market hailed her as an inspirational figure for dreamers. Nene, who began playing guitar at age seven and learned mainly through online videos, collapsed with emotion on stage after the announcement, expressing her happiness and gratitude.