Nene Royal may have looked shy when she first walked onto the America’s Got Talent stage, but within moments, the 16 year old transformed into a full fledged rock star.

The teenage musician traveled from Phuket, Thailand, with her father to audition for the hit competition, hoping to take the next step toward her dream of performing around the world.

“I started playing guitar when I was 7,” she told the judges before her performance. “My biggest dream is to become a superstar on tour.”

Although it was the largest audience she had ever performed for, Nene showed little sign of nerves once the music began.

Instead of choosing a typical pop ballad, she surprised everyone with a hard hitting version of Zombie, the iconic 1994 hit by The Cranberries.

Opening with a powerful guitar riff, Nene quickly captured the audience’s attention before launching into an emotional vocal performance that balanced haunting melodies with gritty rock intensity. She also showcased impressive guitar skills, adding energetic solos and headbanging moments that turned the audition into a concert atmosphere.

Her confidence continued to grow throughout the performance, encouraging the audience and even several judges to sing along during the famous chorus.

By the time she delivered one final soaring note and an electrifying guitar finish, the entire theater had erupted into applause.

The judges were equally impressed.

Sofía Vergara called the audition “spectacular” and told Nene she had a real chance of going far in the competition.

Howie Mandel praised her unexpected stage presence, saying she already looked and sounded like a genuine rock performer.

Mel B highlighted both her vocal ability and guitar playing, calling the combination a perfect match.

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell admired the authenticity of her voice, adding that even the slightly rough edges of the performance made it feel more genuine.

The unanimous praise led to four yes votes, sending the young guitarist through to the next round. After the decision, Nene quietly thanked the crowd, returning to the shy personality she displayed before stepping into the spotlight.

Despite her age, Nene has already built an impressive music career.

She began teaching herself guitar by watching online videos and learning songs by ear. Her talent soon earned recognition across Thailand, including second place in the prestigious Overdrive Guitar Contest in 2023 and an Outstanding Player award at the King Power Band Competition in 2025.

She is also a featured artist with Enya Music and has built a social media following of more than three million followers while regularly performing weekend shows in Phuket.

As she continues competing on America’s Got Talent, Nene is also preparing to release her debut EP, marking another milestone for the rising rock musician whose audition introduced her talent to millions of viewers worldwide.