{
  "id": 9564646,
  "title": "Thais hail teen rocker Nene Royal for 'America's Got Talent' win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/thais-hail-teen-rocker-nene-royal-for-americas-got-talent-win",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T12:43:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/music/thais-hail-teen-rocker-nene-royal-for-americas-got-talent-win-1.500686003"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bangkok: A 16-year-old Thai rock singer and guitarist, Nene Royal, claimed victory on America's Got Talent, bringing joy to her home country and garnering praise from her principal. The aspiring musician, whose real name is Rattikarn Amloy, earned a $1 million prize after captivating the judges and viewers with her powerful guitar solos and rock ballads. Hailing from Phuket, Nene has become a national figure in Thailand due to her participation in the competition. She had previously performed alongside Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in July.\n\nUpon her final performance being broadcast, Nene's schoolmates and teachers celebrated her at a watch party. At Kajonkiet International School Phuket, the entire student body, from age two to 18, cheered for her during the show. Principal Gareth Eynon expressed his admiration for Nene's talent and humility, noting that she is content with helping and encouraging less experienced students.\n\nNene, who began playing guitar at age seven, was left emotional when she learned of her win. She stated that she fell in love with the instrument the moment she played her first chord. Nene honed her skills primarily through online videos and received a music scholarship at her private international school. She admitted that her initial chord ignited a desire for her to become a rock star.\n\nThe Phuket night market hailed Nene as an inspiration, expressing that her victory serves as a beautiful reminder of the achievements possible when someone wholeheartedly pursues their dreams. Principal Eynon mentioned that Nene's opportunities are now boundless, but emphasized that the school stands by her, supporting her every step of the way.",
  "summary": "Thais hail teen rocker Nene for 'America's Got Talent' win",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}