Thai teenage musician Nene Royal is quickly becoming one of the breakout stars of this season of America’s Got Talent after delivering a powerful audition that earned four enthusiastic “Yes” votes and captured the attention of millions of viewers online.
The 16 year old singer and guitarist, whose real name is Rattikarn “Praew” Umloy, took the AGT stage with a fearless performance of The Cranberries’ classic hit “Zombie.” Blending soaring vocals with confident guitar playing, Nene brought the audience to its feet as all four judges gave her a standing ovation before sending her through to the next round.
Her audition quickly exploded across social media. Within just 24 hours, the video posted on America’s Got Talent’s official channels had attracted around 1.5 million views, an impressive milestone even by the show’s standards. Fans from Thailand and around the world flooded the comments with praise, calling her one of the season’s most memorable rock performers.
Music has been part of Nene’s life since childhood. She began teaching herself guitar at just six years old by watching online videos before continuing to develop her skills through years of practice. Her dedication has helped her build an audience of more than three million followers across social media, while also earning recognition as a featured artist for global instrument maker Enya Music.
Long before appearing on the American stage, Nene had already become a familiar face in her hometown of Phuket. She regularly performed at the city’s popular Naka Weekend Market with her bands OZONE Band and Miniheart, entertaining crowds with rock and metal covers. She also gained national attention after appearing on Thailand’s television program Super 10, where she performed alongside legendary Thai rock singer PooH Anchalee.
Her growing list of achievements includes finishing as first runner up at the 2023 Overdrive Guitar Contest and receiving the Outstanding Player award at the 2025 King Power Band Competition.
During her AGT audition, Nene proudly introduced herself as being from Phuket, Thailand, and shared that filming was taking place just one day before her 16th birthday. The touching moment prompted both the judges and audience to surprise her by singing “Happy Birthday” on stage.
Asked about her biggest dream, Nene answered simply that she hopes to become a superstar who tours the world.
The judges praised not only her vocal ability but also her commanding stage presence, describing her as having genuine rock star energy. They noted that although her performance retained a raw edge, it made her even more authentic and exciting to watch.
After receiving unanimous approval to continue in the competition, Nene celebrated the moment with her father, who had traveled with her to support her audition.
While preparing for the next stage of America’s Got Talent, the young musician is also working on her own original songs. She is collaborating with professional producers and musicians on her debut EP, which she sees as an important step toward building an international career and turning her lifelong dream into reality.
