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Anyone who tunes in to America's Got Talent knows that English singer Courtney Hadwin is the one to watch. Though she was Howie Mandel's golden buzzer pick, it's clear that the 14-year-old Janet Joplin-esque vocalist is a favorite among all the judges and America.
But ever since fans discovered she was on The Voice Kids UK before AGT, questions have sparked about her past. In an interview with GoodHousekeeping.com, Courtney opened up about her time on the show in 2017. When reflecting on the experience, Courtney tells us that she didn't have as much freedom to do her thing as she does now — which made things harder for her in the end.
"The Voice Kids UK songs were chosen for me, and I had to try and make them mine," she tells GoodHousekeeping.com. "With America's Got Talent, I'm allowed to be myself and I like that a lot."
This isn't the only reason Courtney prefers AGT. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Courtney's grandfather, Tom Storey, revealed that his granddaughter was much more interested in trying out for America's Got Talent over Britain's Got Talent because the "UK doesn't get her."
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Sadly, Tom explained that after Courtney fell short of winning The Voice Kids UK title (she placed in the top six), she received lots of online criticism for her singing style. He claimed that people were "quite cruel" and lamented that she was not a singer "but a shouter."
"She came through it, but it was upsetting," he noted.
But in talking with Courtney now, it's clear she isn't worried about her past — instead, she's much more concentrated on trying to win the current show she's on.
"It's been really nerve-wracking as I want to give my best performance," Courtney says. "But I'm still having fun at the same time."
She went on to spill that it's been difficult to try to step up every performance and choose the right song. Thankfully though, she has become friends with some of her fellow contestants, making the experience, though tense at times, an enjoyable one.
"I really have become close to We Three. They're like a second family to me," Courtney says. "[Also] all the judges have been really nice and supportive."
But when it comes to thinking about what she would do if she actually won AGT and the million-dollar prize, Courtney admits she hasn't really thought about it at all.
"I just want to get through this round at the minute," she declares.
Are you a Courtney Hadwin fan who wants her to win “America’s Got Talent”? We’ve got all the details you’ll need to vote for this talented teen so that she is among the acts from semifinal 2 on September 11 who are put through to the “AGT” final next week.
We haven’t seen Courtney since quarterfinal 1 on August 14. Back then, she rocked the house with the James Brown classic “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” and easily made the cut. This English schoolgirl with a grown-up voice will face off against 10 other acts on Tuesday, with only five of them making it through to the final.
That is why every vote will count, and you get 10 of them per method. There are four ways to cast your ballot for Courtney: via the official app, the website, the toll-free phone numbers and the X1 set-top box. We have all the information you’ll need to be ready when voting opens at the end of Tuesday’s show.
SEE exclusive predictions: Who will win ‘America’s Got Talent’?
Official App
Download the app from either the App Store or Google Play.
Online
At the official “AGT” website.
Toll-Free Call
Dial 1-866-602-48XX and register your vote for Courtney (the last two digits will be her performance order number).
Xfinity X1
Cable customers with an X1 set-top box can vote using the remote.
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We’ve got the scoop on all the other acts that will be performing on Tuesday. Review the roster and then cast your vote in our poll below as to which of these 11 acts you think will win. And be sure to make your full ‘AGT’ predictions, including which five of these will advance to the final, and you might win a $100 Amazon gift certificate. It’s fun and easy, so start predicting right now.
Angel City Chorale: choir
Vicki Barbolak: stand-up
Aaron Crow: daredevil
Da RepubliK: dance group
Daniel Emmet: opera singer
Glennis Grace: singer
Noah Guthrie: singer
Courtney Hadwin: singer
Brian King Joseph: electric violinist
We Three: band
Christina Wells: singer
See our contest rules and sound off with other fans in our reality TV forum. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
Courtney Hadwin was born to be wild!
The America’s Got Talent standout, 14, performed a jaw-dropping rendition of Steppenwolf’s 1969 hit “Born To Be Wild” for the semifinal round that was complete with a high-pitched scream and a display of her dance moves.
Hadwin, who was chosen as judge Howie Mandel’s golden buzzer winner, received high praise from the majority of the panel and a standing ovation from the crowd.
“You were born to be wild! This was wild! You were amazing. My prediction is you’re going to be the winner,” Mandel told the fan favorite vocalist from County Durham, England.
Though she was introduced during the AGT auditions as an extremely shy teenager, Hadwin was anything but reserved when she hit the Dolby Theater stage.
RELATED: America’s Got Talent Standout, 14, Faces Backlash for Competing on The Voice Last Year
Courtney Hadwin NBC
“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,” Simon Cowell said. “That’s why I absolutely love you.”
Meanwhile, Heidi Klum applauded Hadwin for staying true to her personality and character. “You bring a whole different vibe to it all. Most girls your age sing pop songs but you bring that gritty rock-n-roll, and I love that. You’re authentic and original,” the former Project Runway host said.
However, Mel B had one criticism for the young singer.
“There’s no doubt, you’re just out there and I love it. For me I have to be really honest, I felt your nerves … and I’m not used to that with you,” the Spice Girl member said.
All in all, Hadwin revealed to host Tyra Banks that she was shocked by the warm embrace from fans and viewers.
“I can’t believe I’ve gotten this far, I just can’t believe it,” the teenager said.
RELATED: America’s Got Talent Finalists! Find Out Which Contestants Advanced — and Who Was Eliminated from Season 13
Courtney Hadwin Ron Batzdorff/NBC
Hadwin has been consistently wowing AGT audiences with her performances.
But she has also faced backlash during the season 13 competition after fans discovered that the NBC show had not completely disclosed Hadwin’s previous music stints.
Turns out, just last year, she made the top six on U.K.’s The Voice Kids, even playing young Cosette in Les Miserables in her home country.
Hadwin’s grandfather defended her, telling the Daily Mail: “We always believed she would do well in the U.S.A. We knew they would get it in a way that the U.K. didn’t. We knew she would go down a storm over there.”
Despite the backlash on social media, Hadwin is technically not breaking AGT rules.
America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
