Nene Royal may have walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage looking shy, but the moment she struck the first chords of “Zombie,” the entire room saw something different. The 16-year-old singer and guitarist from Phuket, Thailand, turned a quiet introduction into a full rock performance, leaving the judges, audience, and online viewers stunned by her confidence and power.
Royal, whose real name is Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy, performed The Cranberries’ 1994 classic “Zombie” during her AGT audition. The performance earned unanimous “Yes” votes from all four judges and immediately positioned her as one of the season’s most exciting international contestants.
The transformation was part of what made the audition so memorable. Before the music began, Nene appeared soft-spoken and almost overwhelmed by the scale of the stage. But once she started playing, the nervous teenager disappeared, replaced by a young rock artist with fierce vocals, strong guitar work, and serious stage presence.
Her song choice carried its own weight. “Zombie” is one of the most recognizable rock songs of the 1990s, originally recorded by Irish band The Cranberries and written by lead singer Dolores O’Riordan. Taking on a song with that much history is risky, especially because audiences know the original so well.
Instead of trying to copy O’Riordan’s unmistakable vocal style, Nene brought her own sound to the performance. Her version leaned into heavy guitar, raw energy, and a confident rock tone that made the song feel both familiar and new.
The studio audience responded quickly. MusicRadar reported that the crowd at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium was singing along within the first minute, while host Terry Crews reacted excitedly from the side of the stage. The performance video also gained more than 2 million views in a single day.
The judges praised her after the performance. Howie Mandel called her a rock star, while Sofia Vergara described the audition as spectacular and said she believed Nene had a strong chance to do well in the competition. Simon Cowell also praised the authenticity of her tone, noting that the rough edges made the performance feel more real.
For many viewers, Nene’s AGT audition felt like an overnight breakout. In reality, her journey began years earlier. The Nation Thailand reported that she started playing guitar at the age of six and is largely self-taught, learning through online videos before developing her own style.
That early dedication gave her more than technical skill. It gave her the confidence to perform with a live instrument under pressure, something that immediately separated her from many young singers on talent-show stages.
Before AGT, Nene had already built a reputation in Phuket. She performed as a busker at Naka Weekend Market, where she learned how to hold the attention of passing crowds in a busy, unpredictable environment.
Those market performances became a training ground. A stage like AGT may be larger and more polished, but performing in public spaces teaches an artist how to capture attention quickly, recover from distractions, and keep going no matter what happens around them.
Nene also gained experience through Thai television and music competitions before stepping onto the American stage. Reports say she appeared on Super 10, finished as first runner-up at the 14th Overdrive Guitar Contest in 2023, and received the Outstanding Player award at the King Power Band Competition in 2025.
Her online presence also helped her reach audiences beyond Thailand. Guitar World reported that Nene had already gone viral with covers of Nirvana and System of a Down, helping her build a following of more than three million people across social media platforms.
That background makes her AGT success feel less like a surprise and more like the next step in a journey that has been building for years. Behind the shy smile was a young musician who had already spent much of her childhood practicing, performing, competing, and finding her voice.
Nene is also working on original music. Guitar World reported that she is preparing a debut EP, suggesting that AGT may become only one part of a larger international career.
For Thailand, her audition has become a proud moment. For AGT viewers, it was the introduction of a young artist who can sing, play, and command a stage far beyond her years.
By the end of “Zombie,” Nene Royal had done more than earn four yes votes. She had introduced herself to the world as a serious rock talent, proving that her quiet entrance was only the beginning of a much louder story.
This article was prepared using details from AGT coverage, Thai entertainment reports, and music-news updates about Nene Royal’s audition and early career.
