Nene Royal advances to America's Got Talent live shows

Nene Royal, a 16-year-old singer and guitarist originally from Phuket, Thailand, has advanced to the live shows of America's Got Talent Season 21. After initially gaining attention for a cover of The Cranberries' ‘Zombie’ during the audition phase, Royal participated in the newly introduced ‘Judges' Callbacks’ round.

During the callback, she performed a cover of Muse's ‘Hysteria,’ incorporating both lead guitar and vocals. The performance earned her ‘yes’ votes from all four judges, who described her as ‘a real rock star.’

Royal's popularity has surged on social media, gaining over three million followers since her appearance. The upcoming live shows are scheduled to take place at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California, with quarter-finals running from August 18 through September 9.