The 16-year-old singer and guitarist from Phuket returned to the America’s Got Talent stage with a powerful cover of Muse’s “Hysteria,” and once again left the Judges and viewers stunned by just how much she can do at such a young age.
Royal’s performance came during the second week of AGT’s new Judges’ Callbacks round, a format that gives selected Acts one more chance to prove they are ready for the Live Shows. This time, she had to convince the Judges that her first viral audition was not a one-time moment.
She did exactly that.
Royal opened “Hysteria” with an explosive guitar lead, moving through fast tapping techniques and rapid runs before launching into the song’s demanding rock melody. She handled the guitar work with remarkable confidence while also taking on the vocals, creating the impression that she was performing multiple musical parts at once.
The challenge was especially impressive because “Hysteria” is a technically demanding Muse song, originally performed by frontman Matt Bellamy and bassist Chris Wolstenholme. Royal managed to combine the song’s soaring melody, aggressive bass-driven sound and powerful vocals into a performance that never appeared to overwhelm her.
Even more impressive, she was not born when “Hysteria” was originally released.
By the time the performance reached its final moments, Royal had unleashed a series of screaming guitar solos that brought the performance to a huge finish. The clip was released by AGT on August 8 under the title “Nene Royal CRUSHES Hysteria by Muse,” ahead of the full episode’s August 11 broadcast.
The performance quickly became a viral hit. According to the report, the clip passed 2.1 million views within 24 hours, showing just how quickly Royal’s fan base is growing.
And this was not her first time making AGT viewers stop and pay attention.
During her original audition, Royal performed a highly technical version of The Cranberries’ “Zombie.” Her two-hand tapping guitar technique immediately made her stand out, and the performance earned her four yeses from the Judges, sending her through to the next stage of the competition.
Her return for the Judges’ Callbacks proved that she had much more to offer.
The new round was introduced this season as another opportunity for Acts to show the Judges they were truly ready for the pressure of performing in front of a live voting audience. During the second week, Howie Mandel and Sofía Vergara each took another look at a group of performers before making the difficult decision about who would advance.
Royal was one of the Acts who made the cut.
Her official result was clear: Nene Royal advanced to the Live Shows.
The NBC Insider recap specifically highlighted Royal’s viral audition and noted that her teenage skills are only expected to get better from here. Her advancement means viewers will get another opportunity to see what the young rocker can do when the competition moves into the live stage.
Royal was not the only Act to advance during the Judges’ Callbacks. Under Howie Mandel’s group, comedian Cris Sosa, comedian Daniel Alvarez and music duo Bird and Byron also moved on, while Naimana and Daniele and impressionist Rynia Kando were eliminated.
Under Sofía Vergara’s group, magician Kameron Marshall, singer Brook Lynn and dog trainer Olivia Befus advanced, while beatboxer Vahtang and magician Darrell Moten were eliminated.
But Royal’s result stands out because of how quickly her name has become associated with AGT’s viral moments.
Just weeks after introducing herself to American audiences with “Zombie,” the teenager returned with a Muse classic that demanded even more from her as both a guitarist and vocalist. Instead of playing it safe, she chose a song packed with difficult guitar work and delivered it with the confidence of a much more experienced performer.
Now, Royal is heading into the Live Shows with millions of online views behind her and a growing group of fans watching closely.
The AGT Live Quarterfinals begin Tuesday, August 18, at 8/7c on NBC, with episodes available to stream on Peacock the following day.
For a 16-year-old musician from Phuket, the journey has already been extraordinary. But after “Zombie” and now “Hysteria,” Nene Royal has made one thing very clear: she is not simply a young singer who can play guitar.
She is quickly becoming one of Season 21’s Acts that viewers do not want to miss.