16-year-old rock god in the making Nene Royal just proved her insanely viral America’s Got Talent audition on “Zombie” was not a fluke. The Thai teen sensation did it all over again with her powerhouse take on Soundgarden classic “Black Hole Sun,” drawing 8.8 million views in a week. Mel B was convinced that the talented singer/guitarist brought the right stuff, and hit the golden buzzer. It was all too much for young Nene, who went to her knees on the AGT stage, crying while overcome with emotion.
This quarterfinals performance really had it all. Nene brought a vulnerable energy during the clean vocal parts on Chris Cornell’s enigmatic masterpiece. She then delivered an electrifying power with a belting chorus, all while pulverizing the crowd with her thunderous riffs and solos. The way Nene brings her own style to the arrangements on these classic songs really shows what a huge potential as an artist she has. The Music Man has to say we’ve never heard Soundgarden done like this!
Fans watching at home on August 26, 2026, were stoked with Nene’s take on “Black Hole Sun.” Viewers added comments such as “I never understood why they called them rockstars instead of pop stars or jazz stars. Now I get it. When a rockstar shines, the energy is so raw and electric that you can’t look away” and “I’ve seen a bazillion rock performers in my almost 70 years, and she’s the best I’ve ever seen. She checks ALL the boxes for what I’ve heard so far. Absolutely fantastic!”
Nene, who is from Phuket, Thailand, became an international star overnight with her debut on America’s Got Talent. She gave a rocking reinterpretation to the Cranberries’ “Zombie,” adding some heavy metal thunder to the ‘90s hit. The viral success of her audition gained her headlines and fans around the world, becoming not only a hit among Thai and American fans but also among international listeners.
The Music Man readers might not be surprised to hear that the America’s Got Talent judges knew that Nene brought something very special to the table. Howie Mandel showed that he was a true believer in Team Nene, and said, “I know I’m not supposed to say this, but NBC, give her the million right now!” Sofía Vergara agreed with Howie, saying, “Nene, I think you could really win this competition. You could sing and play the guitar, insanely. No wonder that everybody on the street asks me about you.”