British schoolgirl Courtney Hadwin narrowly missed out on being crowned the winner of America’s Got Talent and a $1million prize in last night’s live TV final.
The 14-year-old from the village of Hesleden in County Durham was among the favourites to win the popular talent show but unexpectedly finished in sixth place.
A disappointed Courtney was comforted by host Tyra Banks, who told her that she was ‘proud’ of her achievements on the show and told her she had ‘made it’.
Courtney, who lives in a terraced house with her parents and siblings, unleashed her powerful vocals in a duet with The Struts of Take Another Little Piece of My Heart.
She held her own singing with the English rock band and its frontman Luke Spiller as they performed together in front of millions watching at home.
Scroll down for video
Season finale: Courtney Hadwin failed to reach the top five on Wednesday during the season finale of America’s Got Talent
Rocking out: Courtney rocked out with The Struts to one of their classics before taking on the Dusty Springfield classic with them
Powerful vocals: The 14-year-old singer unleashed her powerful voice during the finale in a duet with The Struts of Take Another Little Piece of My Heart
Ultimate rockstar: America’s Got Talent tweeted to Courtney that she had ‘blossomed into the ultimate rockstar’
The teenager overcame her shyness and nerves and became a fan favourite as she advanced in the competition that was ultimately won by magician Shin Lim.
Despite getting knocked out earlier than expected, judge Simon Cowell was full of praise for the teenage sensation.
He said: ‘I always say the most important part of being a star is being remembered and that’s what you do. Every time you perform, people are going to remember you.
‘You are going to inspire people. You are going to tell a whole new generation of people what rock and roll is all about. All these great songs.
‘So you are more than a great singer, you are like a trendsetter. Without people like you, we don’t look good.’
America’s Got Talent took to Twitter to encourage Courtney after she finished in sixth place.
‘You have blossomed into the ultimate rockstar, @courtneyhadwin.
‘You’re going to take the world by storm and we’ll have front row seats. You have no reason to be nervous anymore,’ the show tweeted.
Courtney barely missed out on the top five as she was pitted against fellow singer and father-of-six Michael Ketterer.
Michael gave Courtney a big hug as he made the top five and she exited the show.
English singers: The Struts frontman Luke Spiller and Courtney both hail from England
Sixth place: Courtney after performing with The Struts learned she finished in sixth place
Courtney Hadwin’s family home (pictured) in Hesleden, County Durham, where the community cheered her on to win the US show
Rock symbol: Courtney flashed the classic rock-and-roll sign at the finale
Courtney’s family shared their pride at the youngster’s achievements.
Her mother Annmarie told MailOnline: ‘I am super proud of Courtney and her getting to the final of Americas Got Talent.
‘It is amazing to see her up on that stage doing what I have watched her doing for years at home and I could not be prouder of her.
Courtney’s aunt Joanne added: ‘Congratulations Courtney, you have come so far and have worked so hard to achieve this.
‘My earliest memories of you singing are visiting your house trying to have a conversation with your mam and dad while you sing Disney Karaoke at the top of your voice.
‘We have seen you progress with your amazing determination. You are such a role model for the girls in our family, you show them to be true to themselves no matter what.’
Young singer: The teenager has a strong voice that some have compared to Janis Joplin
Fifth spot: Michael and Courtney stepped forward and waited to learn who gained the last spot in the top five
Ridiculous result: A Twitter user thought it was ‘ridiculous’ that Courtney didn’t finish higher
Some believed that Courtney deserved the spot and voiced their frustration on social media.
‘That was ridiculous . I’m sorry but this America’s got talent , not America’s got stories. He’s a great human being but this is about talent,’ read one tweet.
Another Twitter user also shared their surprise with the results.
‘I’m SHOCKED that @CourtneyHadwin wasn’t in the Top 5 of #AGTFinale @agt. I mean, my jaw just DROPPED!!! Courtney, I’m sure that very soon you’ll be signing a very juicy contract. Please don’t cry. Love you!!! ,’ a tweet read.
Another tweet insisted that Courtney was ‘robbed’.
‘@CourtneyHadwin was robbed. Another no name country singer is not worth paying to see over her show. At least he lost too. Courtney puts on a show and entertains. Hope to see her in concert some day,’ the tweet read.
Jaw dropped: Another tweet expressed shock at the results, but looked forward to Courtney signing a ‘juicy contract’
Stolen away: Another tweet stated that Courtney was ‘robbed’ by voters
The viewer voting made clear that not everyone was a huge fan of Courtney and that point also was underscored on social media.
One America’s Got Talent fan tweeted his dismay that she could win the show.
‘Am I the only one who absolutely cannot stand this girl Courtney Hadwin’s performances?! Ugh the screaming/screeching is awful. If she wins over all the other TREMENDOUS TALENT of this season, I am gonna be absolutely beside myself. #AGTFinals #AGT,
Screeching singer: One Twitter user found that Courtney’s ‘screaming/screeching’ was ‘awful’
The winner: Shin Lim was named the winner of season 13 as Zurcaroh finished in second place
The mother of the British schoolgirl told MailOnline earlier today that she urged her daughter to relax and enjoy the big occasion knowing how proud her family is of her.
For two years the singer, who grew up in a humble terraced house, had been singing at small events and busking all over Britain in order to fund her dream.
Paul Hadwin was by his daughter’s side in Hollywood, but her mother Annmarie is at home with their two other children having wished her luck for the final on FaceTime.
Speaking to MailOnline today Mrs Hadwin said: ‘We’ve told her to relax. We are really proud of her. What happens will now happen’.
The star-studded finale was broadcast on NBC in the US and Netflix in the UK.
Teen talent: Courtney Hadwin, 14, pictured on the America’s Got Talent red carpet on Tuesday, won/finished in xxth place on Wednesday during the season finale
Courtney earned a standing ovation from judge Simon Cowell for her semi-final performance of Born to be Wild (above) last week
Judges were wowed by her first audition, which saw comedian Howie Mandel (front) give her the golden buzzer to take her through to the live finals
MailOnline revealed in June she had been been busking across the country at weekends in order to fund her dream of being a star.
The singer stunned audiences with her rendition of Tina Turner’s River Deep – Mountain High on Tuesday in the first part of the two-night final and Howie told her she is a ‘superstar in the making’.
Courtney, who goes to school in Peterlee, is with her father Paul, while her mother Annmarie is at home looking after her two younger siblings Paul, nine, and Melissa, seven.
Her proud mother said ahead of the final: ‘She’s done amazing – I’m really so proud of her. To me it doesn’t matter where she comes – to make it to the final and perform there is fantastic’.
Courtney, 14, has revealed that she is ‘shocked’ that she has made it to the final, despite her enormous success
Mother and daughter speak every day when Courtney is getting up and Annmarie is going to bed – but she is sure to stay up see if her daughter is crowned season 13 champion tonight.
She told the Hartlepool Mail: ‘We never expected her to get a golden buzzer and then we never expected her to get through the quarter-finals or the semi-finals. She’s done so well.
‘It’s amazing really she’s had loads of messages of support from the community and the school have been brilliant.’
For two years the girl who has wowed America had been performing on the streets of the UK to pay for her singing lessons.
Some of the money also went to her dad, Paul, to help pay for fuel to take her to gigs and to her favourite busking spots in London, York and the north east.
The teenager has previously admitted she had been bullied at school last year over her performance on the child’s of The Voice last year, where she failed to make the grade.
Speaking to the Mirror ahead of tonight’s final, she said: ‘I’m shocked that I have gotten this far. I don’t really think The Voice Kids prepared me for how big AGT is – it’s huge.
‘I’m more excited than nervous at this stage, since its the final and, honestly, to even be here is more than I could have ever hoped for.’
Asked what she would do with the winnings, Courtney added: ‘I’d probably just spoil my dog Teddy and put the rest into my music and hopefully some original songs. I definitely want to start working on my own music.’
Tom Storey, Courtney’s granddad, says she is better suited to do well in the US rather than the UK
British schoolgirl Courtney Hadwin, 14, from Hesleden, in County Durham, was a favourite to win America’s Got Talent. She became an overnight sensation following her show-stopping performance of Otis Redding’s Hard To Handle in June (pictured on AGT)
Simon (pictured giving the teenager a standing ovation during the semi-final) described her as a ‘bundle of excitement’
Courtney previously took part in the UK’s The Voice Kids aged 12, where she made it to the finals under the guidance of McFly’s Danny Jones.
But she had no where near the impact in Britain that she has enjoyed in America – and had been making pocket money from busking.
Her grandfather Tom Storey, 60, from Inverness, said she had decided to enter the American version of Britain’s Got Talent because the ‘UK doesn’t get her’.
He told MailOnline earlier this year: ‘We always believed she would do well in the USA. We knew they would get it in a way that the UK didn’t.
‘We believed in her and knew that she would go down a storm over there.
‘I am so proud of her. I wanted to tell everybody about the US audition but we were sworn to secrecy.
‘My partner, Aileen, and I were told we would be disowned if we breathed a word. It was hard to keep the secret. I was bursting with pride and wanted the world to know. They know now alright.’
The teenager – who has been compared to Janis Joplin and Tina Turner – earned a standing ovation from judge Simon Cowell during the semis for her performance.
He said: ‘You’re a bundle of excitement and it’s raw and messy. I saw you at the beginning of the show, shaking like a leaf and then you come out on stage and turn into a maniac.
‘That’s why I absolutely love you.’
Cowell’s fellow judge, Howie, also gave Courtney a standing ovation and predicted she would win the show.
He said: ‘You were born to be wild! This was wild! You were amazing. My prediction is you’re going to be the winner.’
Courtney appeared emotional when she was told she was through and thanked her father, Paul, who was waiting backstage.
She later Tweeted: ‘Wow I want to thank every single person that voted for me I’m so grateful tonight and in shock thank you guys for believing in me.’
Courtney became an internet sensation after delivering a powerful performance of Otis Redding’s Hard to Handle during her audition.
Courtney was just 12 years old when she appeared on ITV children’s talent show The Voice Kids in 2017 (above)
The teenager had bunked off school to fly to Los Angeles for the show’s auditions in March, telling friends she had a stomach bug.
Courtney paid for her singing lessons by busking on British streets, using the money she raised to contribute to her father Paul’s petrol costs as he drove her to gigs and busking patches in London, York and the North East.
The singer lives in a small, semi-detached house with her dad Paul, a delivery driver, stay-at-home mum Annmarie and her siblings, Paul, nine, and Melissa, seven.
Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine in August, Courtney revealed how she’s been practising ‘every day’ to be ready to perform in front of millions on American TV.
‘I’ve been practising every day and going running for my energy levels,’ she said.
The schoolgirl also revealed she was thrilled after Paloma Faith had shared a video of her initial audition, as she counts the London-born singer as one of her idols.
A beaming Courtney told Christine Lampard: ‘Paloma Faith tweeted me! She really liked me.’
Her father Paul, who was also appeared on Lorraine, said the family had been overwhelmed by the support they have received since the audition aired.
He revealed: ‘It’s just been amazing. The support she’s had afterwards. We knew it was going to be big over there but we didn’t expect it to hit over here the way it has.’
Courtney’s quiet nature was apparent when she stepped on stage to audition in the packed auditorium during a trip to Los Angeles earlier this year.
She was reassured by judge and former Spice Girl Mel B, who said: ‘I know this is a big stage with lots of people here but you’re here for a reason so go for it and good luck.’
Rising star: Courtney overcame her shyness to reach the finals and performed with fellow English rockers The Struts during the season finale from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood
Rock show: The audience stood up and danced while Courtney performed with The Struts
The post Courtney Hadwin fails to win America’s Got Talent after missing out on top five during season finale appeared first on Article Pub.
from WordPress https://ift.tt/2QQg1bA
No comments:
Post a Comment