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Courtney Hadwincaptivated viewers on season 13 ofAmerica’s Got Talentwith her love for 70s music and Janis Joplin-style vocals.
Despitecontroversyduring the competition, the 14-year-old from Durham, England, quickly became a fan-favorite. EvenwinnerShin Limadmittedpost-show: “We all thought Courtney was going to win from the get-go.”
Though she failed to land in the top 5 of the NBC reality competition, the teenager tells PEOPLE, “It was the best experience of my life,” adding, “I didn’t see myself as a fan favorite at all. I just felt so lucky to be there in the final and to be in the top 10 doesn’t really feel like losing to me.”
Week after week, Courtney impressed fans and judgesSimon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel — who named her his Golden Buzzer winner — with her soulful renditions of Tina Turner’s 1988 classic “River Deep – Mountain High,” Steppenwolf’s 1969 hit “Born to Be Wild,” James Brown’s “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” and Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle.”
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Staying true to herself and her musical taste also garnered her some famous fans. “I’ve had some messages from some famous people which have been so unreal that they know who I am. I had support from Paloma Faith,Luke Evans, Stevie van Zandt, Jojo Siwa andSharon Stone. It was amazing that so many big names had been talking about me,” Courtney shares.
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However, some were already familiar her due to her previous appearances onThe Voice U.K., in which she landed in the top 10 as well.
“The Voice Kids U.K. was great, but it wasn’t a big show likeAGT,” she explains, adding that “the size of the audience, the show, the production, but mostly the exposure” were completely different.
“People know who I am now and what I can do, and it’s all thanks toAGT.It was never about winning for me. I just love to perform, and that’s it really,” Courtney says.
As for what’s next in her career, Courtney and Cowell talked about her future,reportedlyto sign with his record label, one day after theAGTresults show.
“I had a meeting at Simon’s house as well and met his dogs,” the singer confirms. “It’s been so busy since the final, but I have heard from Simon and Howie, which was really nice.”
On the prospects of signing a record deal, Courtney says, “That would be my absolute dream, but I’m just taking things one step at a time and working on some original music at the minute.”
Courtney will join Lim during his string of headlining Vegas performances at the Paris Theater at Paris Las Vegas from Nov. 2-4. Also featured will be fellow season 13 finalists: comedians Vicki Barbolak and Samuel J. Comroe as well as violinist Brian King Joseph and trapeze coupleDuo Transcend.
Season 14 auditions forAmerica’s Got Talentare currently underway, and interested acts can register atwww.AGTAuditions.com.
source: people.com
