Nene Royal
Thai musician (born 2010)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rattikarn Amloy[a] (born 14 March 2010), known by the stage name Nene Royal[b] and the nickname Praew,[c] is a Thai rock musician and singer. She is best known for winning the 21st season of America's Got Talent in 2026.
14 March 2010
- Musician
- singer
- Vocals
- electric and acoustic guitar
- keyboard
Nene Royal เนเน่ รอยัล | |
|---|---|
Nene Royal in 2026 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Rattikarn Amloy 14 March 2010 Phuket, Thailand |
| Genre | Rock |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2022–present |
| Award | Winner of America's Got Talent (2026) |
| Website | neneroyal |
Biography
Nene was born on 14 March 2010[1] in Phuket,[2][3] Thailand, to Narong Amloy and Chuanpit "Oom" Poonkerd.[4][5][6] Known by a nickname Praew,[7] she has a brother 12 years her junior.[6] She began playing guitar at six or seven years old, and according to her bio, is largely self-taught through YouTube videos.[8][7][9][10][11][12] Her parents had hoped that she would take up business as a career,[13] and she wanted to study computing as a co-curricular subject. However, she learned that there was no more accommodation in the computer class, so she enrolled in music instead.[14]
She adopted her stage name, Nene Royal, when she began playing in public at age 12.[8] In 2022, she participated at the Thai talent programme Super 10, performing with Thai rock artist PooH Anchalee.[7] In 2023, she competed in the Overdrive Guitar Contest and won the second prize and was named "Best Musician" and "Best Vocalist". The same year, she received the Trang Music Award.[15] In 2025, she appeared at the King Power Band Competition and given an "Outstanding Player" award.[16][17]
In 2026, she was in Grade 11 at the Kajonkiet International School in Phuket.[18][19] She is a featured artist with Enya Music and is recording for her debut EP.[20] She is in two bands, the OZONE Band and Miniheart, both of which perform at the Naka Weekend night market in Phuket.[7]
In August 2026, Nene was awarded the "Best New International Artiste 2026" at The Phil Lynott Convention held in Dublin, Ireland,[21] one of the only two awards given at the convention, the other being the "Lifetime Achievement Award".[22]
America's Got Talent
Audition
In 2026, Nene was invited to perform on the America's Got Talent season 21. Among the last contestants to audition for the season, she performed "Zombie" by the Irish rock band The Cranberries.[23] She used an Ibanez Musician Series MC300 1978 model guitar which was given to her in 2024 by Strit Bram, a Danish fan.[18][24] Her performance was aired on 7 July 2026[25] and became the most-viewed of the season auditions posted to social media.
Reactions
Nene received four "Yes" votes from Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Mel B.[8] Vergara called the performance "spectacular". Mel B said: "You're like a match made in heaven. You're brilliant."[23] Mandel said, "You are such a surprise [with your] energy and the rock 'n' roll. You are a rock star, young lady, you really are."[25] The audition went viral on YouTube, Instagram and Tiktok.[20] It had 1.5 million views within 24 hours on YouTube,[7] and 100 million views on other social media by the second day.[26][27] NBC said her performance was the most-viewed video of all the season's auditions.[8]
Thai television and cable network company TrueVisions, which broadcasts America's Got Talent, promoted the show and invited Thai people to support her. TrueVisions chief Ong-Ard Prapakamol said, "When a Thai artist brings her talent, creativity and determination to shine before a global audience, it inspires people across Thailand to send their support beyond borders."[28] On 14 July, she was invited to a Cabinet meeting of the country's prime minister at Government House in Bangkok. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul joined her to perform the song "Som San".[29] At the event, tourism and sports minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul announced that the government will support Nene including financing expenses for AGT performances.[30] The government will also discuss her appointment as an ambassador for tourism promotion.[29] The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security announced plans to giver her the Inspirational Youth honorary plaque on National Youth Day on September 20.[31]
On 15 July, Phuket governor Chotnarin Kerdsom presented Nene an appreciation certificate in a ceremony at the Phuket Provincial Hall.[32] On 12 August, on the ceremony for National Mother's Day 2026 in Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn honoured her with a certificate citing her as an "outstandingly filial child.[6][33]
Judges' Callbacks
For the 2026 season, AGT introduced a new round called Judges' Callbacks in which each judge calls an act back for a performance.[34] Nene was called up by Mandel and performed "Hysteria" by the British rock band Muse for Mandel and guest judge Nikki Glaser.[35] The broadcast was scheduled for 11 August 2026,[36] but aired as an "early release" on AGT YouTube channel on 8 August.[37] Her performance was an instant hit again,[38] with over 2.1 million views within 24 hours of release on YouTube.[39] Mandel and Glaser chose her as one of the acts going through to the AGT Live Shows.[35]
Quarterfinals
On August 25, Nene performed "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden in the live quarterfinals competition.[40][41][42] Her attire reflected Thai culture: a sleeveless jacket in Tita style of Phuket's Baba-Peranakan[43] and a silk fabric called Manjakiri brocade or Sompak Pum, worn over trousers.[44]
Reactions
Mandel was the first to comment, saying, "I know I'm not supposed to say this. NBC, give her the million right now."[42] Vergara said, "Nene, I think you could really win this competition... You can play that guitar...insanely."[41] Mel B said, "How could I not do this" and gave Nene the Golden Buzzer, sending her directly to the final.[45][46]
Vicky Cornell, widow of Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, praised Nene's performance, describing it as an exceptional rendition and an honour to her late husband.[47] On 29 August, Thai rock musician Aed Carabao announced on Facebook that he would give Nene 1 million baht (~$30,000) for her journey on AGT.[48] On 5 September, she was awarded a continuing scholarship from Thailand's largest private company, the CP Group.[49] Nene's family received a 98-square-metre luxury condominium in Bangkok as a congratulatory gift from the Chearavanont family, which owns CP group and is the second-richest family in Thailand.[50]
Finals
The final round of AGT was held on 22 September 2026. Nene performed a cover of "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes.[51] She was accompanied AGT house drummer Ashelee Nicole Nino representing the duo, Jack White and Meg White, who made the original recordings.[52][53] An all-female-sibling rock band The Warning paid her a visit during rehearsal and together performed the band's new song "Kerosene".[52][54][55]
Reactions
Mel B said, "Well, I'm glad that I pressed my golden buzzer. Because not only do you have such mysterious, mystical stage presence… If you don't win this, I'm gonna sell Howie's new house."[56] Mandel urged the Americans to vote for Nene: "The biggest, most talented, most viral talent to be on that stage... You should win. Give her the million, America. Give her the million."[57]
Finale
On 23 September, Nene and Linkin Park performed the band's 2024 single "The Emptiness Machine." Frontman Mike Shinoda called Nene "incredible, incredible."[54] Nene was declared the winner. Her prize of US$1 million will be paid as an annuity: $25,000 per year for 40 years or a single payment of the annuity's present value of about $300,000.[58][59][60]
After her AGT win, Nene was booked to open for US heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold at their 13 October 2026 show in Singapore.[61]