The QUEEN of AGT 2026! Nene Royal's Journey to the Golden Buzzer

Nene Royal came to America’s Got Talent as a shy 16-year-old guitarist, but the second she started playing, the internet found its new rockstar. Her audition cover of “Zombie” by The Cranberries quickly went viral across social media, with viewers obsessed over her huge voice, insane guitar skills, and the way she completely changed once the music started.

Watch Nene’s AGT 2026 journey from her breakout audition to her Judges’ Callbacks performance of Muse’s “Hysteria,” and finally her quarterfinal cover of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” the performance that earned Mel B’s Golden Buzzer and sent her straight to the finals. From viral clips online to one of the biggest live moments of the season, Nene Royal proved she is not just a kid with a guitar. She is a full-blown rockstar.