{
  "id": 9589594,
  "title": "16-year-old Thai rocker wins America’s Got Talent $1m grand prize",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/16-year-old-thai-rocker-wins-americas-got-talent-1m-grand-prize",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T17:12:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/16-year-old-thai-rocker-wins-americas-got-talent-1m-grand-prize/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sixteen-year-old Thai rockstar Nene Royal has triumphed in America’s Got Talent, securing the $1 million grand prize and becoming the first contestant from Thailand to do so. Royal, whose birth name is Rattikarn Amloy, wowed the audience and judges with her rendition of \"Seven Nation Army\" by The White Stripes during the season finale in California. She outperformed nine other finalists, which included magicians, animal acts, and a robot dance troupe. \"I'm very happy and emotional right now,\" she said. Royal's rise to fame began with her audition performance of \"Zombie\" by The Cranberries, which has garnered 20 million views. She performed \"Black Hole Sun\" and \"The Emptiness Machine\" with Linkin Park before the final. Royal began playing guitar at the age of seven and aspires to become a touring musician. Her victory was celebrated by the people of Naka Weekend Market in Phuket, where she was known to perform. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul praised Royal for bringing honor to Thailand and instilling pride in her countrymen.",
  "summary": "Sixteen-year-old Thai rocker Nene Royal has won the latest season of America’s Got Talent, becoming the first contestant from Thailand to win the $1m prize Read More: https://punchng.com/16-year-old-thai-rocker-wins-americas-got-talent-1m-grand-prize/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Teen rocker Nene Royal becomes first Thai to win America’s Got Talent",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/teen-rocker-nene-royal-becomes-first-thai-to-win-americas-got-talent-9560670",
        "published": "2026-09-24T12:40:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "16-year-old Thai rocker wins America’s Got Talent $1m grand prize",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/16-year-old-thai-rocker-wins-americas-got-talent-1m-grand-prize-9590530",
        "published": "2026-09-24T17:16:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}