Nene Royal: Biography, Age, Real Name, AGT Journey, Guitar, Family and Career

August 26, 2026 Alena Shek

By Alena Shek
Published: August 26, 2026
Updated: August 26, 2026

Nene Royal has quickly become one of the most talked-about young performers on America’s Got Talent Season 21. The 16-year-old singer and guitarist from Phuket, Thailand, has gone from performing at local markets to standing on one of the world’s biggest talent-show stages.

Her journey took another major turn on August 25, 2026, when she performed “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden during the second week of AGT’s live quarterfinals.

Her performance impressed the judges, and Mel B used her Live Golden Buzzer to send Nene directly to the finale. She therefore did not have to depend on America’s vote to advance from that round.

But Nene’s AGT story did not begin with the Golden Buzzer. Before American audiences discovered her, she had already spent years developing her skills in Thailand.

Table of Contents

Nene Royal Quick Bio

Detail	Information
Full Name	Rattikan Amloy
Stage Name	Nene Royal
Age	16 years old
Birthplace	Phuket, Thailand
Nationality	Thai
Profession	Singer, Guitarist & Songwriter
Known For	America’s Got Talent Season 21
AGT Audition Song	“Zombie” by The Cranberries
AGT Callback Song	“Hysteria” by Muse
AGT Quarterfinal Song	“Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden
AGT Result	Live Golden Buzzer — Advanced to Finale
Main Instrument	Guitar
Music Style	Rock
Current Achievement	Directly advanced to the AGT Season 21 finale
Social Media	Instagram

Nene’s real name is Rattikan Amloy, although some Thai-language coverage also uses the nickname “Praew” alongside Nene Royal. She is a 16-year-old musician from Phuket who has developed her reputation as both a guitarist and singer.

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Who Is Nene Royal?

Nene Royal is a young Thai rock musician who first became known to a wider audience in Thailand through her guitar performances before making her international breakthrough on America’s Got Talent.

Her story is particularly interesting because she did not begin with a traditional path toward becoming a professional guitarist. According to an August 2026 interview with the South China Morning Post, Nene became interested in guitar after joining her school’s music club.

She had originally wanted to join a computer science club, but it was already full. The remaining place was in the music club, where she was handed a guitar. She has said that something clicked when she started playing.

From there, she taught herself by watching YouTube videos, studying musicians she admired and practicing for long hours.

That self-directed approach became a major part of her development as a musician.

Nene Royal’s Early Life in Phuket

Nene Royal comes from Phuket, Thailand, and her early musical journey was closely connected to the local community.

Before appearing on American television, she performed at markets and other public places around Phuket. These street performances gave her an opportunity to play in front of real audiences and gain confidence as a performer.

Thailand’s government public-relations website described her as a self-taught guitar talent who developed her abilities through years of performing locally before reaching the international AGT stage.

Her early experience performing for people in public places is an important part of her story because her AGT performances now look remarkably comfortable for someone who is still only 16.

When Did Nene Royal Start Playing Guitar?

Nene’s relationship with the guitar began when she was young. Recent interviews give slightly different details about the exact age she first picked up the instrument, but the clearest recent account comes from Nene herself.

Speaking to the South China Morning Post in August 2026, she explained that she encountered the guitar through her school’s music club at around age seven. She then developed her skills largely through self-learning, using online videos and studying musicians and performers she admired.

Over time, guitar became much more than a hobby. It became the center of her musical identity.

Her performances are known for combining technically demanding guitar work with powerful vocals, something that has helped distinguish her from many other young contestants.

Nene Royal’s Music Career Before AGT

Although America’s Got Talent has introduced Nene to a global audience, she was already building a name in Thailand before appearing on the show.

She has participated in Thai music competitions and performed publicly for years. According to Thailand’s government public-relations office, she was also recognized through competitions including the Overdrive Guitar Contest and the King Power Band Competition.

Thai media have reported that Nene was the first runner-up in the 14th Overdrive Guitar Contest in 2023 and received an Outstanding Player Award at the King Power Band Competition in 2025.

She has also attracted a large social-media following in Thailand, giving her an audience before her AGT appearance.

Nene Royal on America’s Got Talent

Nene Royal joined America’s Got Talent Season 21 in 2026 and immediately attracted attention because of her guitar playing and powerful rock vocals.

For her audition, she performed “Zombie” by The Cranberries. Rather than simply singing the famous song, Nene made the performance her own with an aggressive guitar arrangement and two-hand tapping technique.

The audition earned her four Yes votes from the judges, allowing her to move forward in the competition. She also received a standing ovation following the performance.

The performance quickly spread online and introduced the young Thai musician to viewers far beyond Thailand.

Nene Royal’s AGT “Hysteria” Performance

Nene returned to the AGT stage for the show’s Judges Callbacks round, where contestants had another opportunity to earn a place in the live shows.

For that performance, she chose “Hysteria” by Muse.

The song gave Nene another chance to demonstrate her guitar technique while also showing that her first audition was not a one-time moment.

Guitar World highlighted her two-hand tapping, guitar control and ability to combine the instrumental performance with vocals. The performance helped secure her place in the live rounds of the competition.

Nene Royal Gets Mel B’s Golden Buzzer

The biggest moment of Nene Royal’s AGT journey so far came on August 25, 2026, during the second week of the show’s live quarterfinals.

Nene performed “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden.

The performance showed a different side of her compared with her earlier appearances. She entered the stage with a larger live-show production and delivered a full rock performance combining vocals and guitar.

After the performance, Howie Mandel praised Nene so strongly that he joked NBC should simply give her the million-dollar prize. Sofia Vergara also told Nene that she could potentially win the competition.

Then came the moment Nene and her fans had been waiting for.

Mel B pressed the Live Golden Buzzer.

Golden confetti fell from above as Nene became emotional on stage. The buzzer sent her directly to the America’s Got Talent Season 21 finale, meaning she did not need to rely on America’s vote to progress from the quarterfinal round.

For a 16-year-old musician who started by playing guitar in Phuket, it was a remarkable step onto the biggest stage of her career.

What Did Mel B Say About Nene Royal?

Mel B explained that she had met Nene backstage and found her to be quiet, humble and sweet. She said Nene seemed completely different once she stepped onto the stage.

Mel B also praised Nene’s vocals, guitar playing, appearance, attitude and overall performance.

Even though Mel B acknowledged that rock music was not normally her preferred style, she felt Nene’s performance was strong enough that she had to use the Golden Buzzer.

That reaction helped explain why Nene’s performance connected so strongly with the judges.

Nene Royal’s Family

Nene Royal was raised in Phuket, Thailand, and her family has played an important role in supporting her musical journey.

Recent reports show that her father, Narong Amlai, has accompanied her during her America’s Got Talent journey. When Nene traveled from Phuket to the United States for the live shows in August 2026, she was accompanied by her father, mother and younger brother.

Her father’s support was also visible during the emotional Golden Buzzer moment. After Mel B pressed the buzzer following Nene’s performance of “Black Hole Sun,” Nene broke down in tears and embraced her father on stage.

Although Nene has become a public figure through AGT, she has kept much of her family life relatively private. There is limited reliable public information about her family members beyond what has been shared during her musical journey, so it is better not to speculate about private details.

How Old Is Nene Royal?

Nene Royal is 16 years old in 2026.

She is a teenager from Phuket who has already spent several years developing her skills as a guitarist, singer and performer.

Her age has become one of the most notable parts of her AGT story because she is competing against performers from around the world while handling technically demanding guitar performances and lead vocals at the same time. Recent international coverage identifies her as a 16-year-old performer from Phuket.

What Is Nene Royal’s Real Name?

Nene Royal’s real name is reported as Rattikarn Amloy.

She is also known by the nickname Praew, particularly in Thai media coverage. English-language reports have used slightly different transliterations of her Thai surname, but “Rattikarn Amloy” is the spelling used by several recent reports about her AGT journey.

For her music career, she performs under the stage name Nene Royal.

Nene Royal’s Guitar Skills

The guitar is at the heart of Nene Royal’s identity as a musician.

She is largely self-taught and has explained that she learned by watching online videos, studying musicians she admired and practicing extensively.

Her playing is particularly notable for her use of two-hand tapping, a technique that allows a guitarist to produce fast and complex passages by using both hands on the fretboard.

Nene combines those guitar techniques with singing, which makes her AGT performances especially demanding.

Her official biography describes her as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter whose style combines expressive melodies, guitar solos and emotionally driven performances.

What Kind of Music Does Nene Royal Play?

Nene Royal is primarily associated with rock music, although her official biography describes a broader musical direction that includes modern rock, alternative pop and melodic metal influences.

Her choices on America’s Got Talent have reflected that taste.

She performed:

“Zombie” — The Cranberries
“Hysteria” — Muse
“Black Hole Sun” — Soundgarden

These songs allowed her to demonstrate both her vocal ability and guitar technique while staying close to the rock sound that has become part of her identity.

Nene Royal’s Music Competitions Before AGT

Nene was already gaining recognition in Thailand before appearing on American television.

She competed in the Overdrive Guitar Contest, one of Thailand’s notable guitar competitions, where she finished as a runner-up.

She also received recognition as an Outstanding Player at the King Power Band Competition.

Her official biography also lists appearances on the Thai television program Super 10 among the experiences that helped build her profile as a performer.

These achievements help explain why Nene arrived on AGT with experience beyond simply being a talented teenager who had learned guitar at home.

Nene Royal and OZONE

Before her international breakthrough, Nene also performed with OZONE, a young Phuket-based band.

The group has performed a variety of styles, including rock, metal, pop, jazz and fusion. Nene has taken on lead vocals and guitar duties with the group.

She returned to perform with her OZONE bandmates in Phuket shortly before traveling back to the United States for the AGT live shows.

For Nene, playing with a band has provided another form of live-performance experience and helped her become comfortable performing in front of audiences.

Nene Royal’s America’s Got Talent Audition

Nene’s America’s Got Talent journey began with a performance of “Zombie” by The Cranberries.

She walked onto the stage looking relatively quiet and nervous, but that changed as soon as she started playing.

Her performance combined powerful vocals with electric guitar, and her technical playing immediately caught the judges’ attention.

The audience gave her a standing ovation, while judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel and Mel B all voted yes.

Those four yes votes sent Nene through to the next stage of the competition.

The audition also helped introduce Nene to viewers outside Thailand and turned her into one of the season’s most talked-about young musicians.

Nene Royal Performs Hysteria by Muse

For the Judges’ Callbacks, Nene chose “Hysteria” by Muse.

It was another demanding choice because the song allowed her to showcase both her guitar skills and vocals.

The performance helped prove that her first AGT audition was not simply a viral moment.

Nene was subsequently selected among the 44 acts moving into the live shows.

Her Muse performance also attracted attention from guitar fans and musicians online because of the complexity of her playing.

Nene Royal’s Black Hole Sun Performance

The most important performance of Nene Royal’s AGT career so far came during the live quarterfinals on August 25, 2026.

She performed Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun.”

This time, she was no longer the shy teenager appearing in an audition. She walked onto the live stage as a confident performer with an established identity.

Her performance combined her vocals, electric guitar and stage presence, and the judges responded strongly.

Howie Mandel went as far as saying that NBC should simply give her the million-dollar prize, while Sofia Vergara told Nene that she believed she could win the competition.

Mel B Gives Nene Royal the Golden Buzzer

Following the performance, Mel B gave Nene Royal the Live Golden Buzzer.

Before pressing the button, Mel B explained that Nene had seemed quiet and humble backstage but became a completely different person once she stepped onto the stage.

She praised Nene’s vocals, guitar playing, appearance, attitude, energy and overall performance.

Mel B then pressed the Golden Buzzer, sending golden confetti across the stage and leaving Nene visibly emotional.

The significance of this moment was huge.

Unlike contestants who had to wait for America’s vote to determine whether they would continue, Nene received a direct path to the America’s Got Talent Season 21 finale. Recent reports from Thailand and international media confirm that the Live Golden Buzzer sent her straight through to the final.

Is Nene Royal in the AGT Finale?

Yes.

After receiving Mel B’s Live Golden Buzzer during the August 25 quarterfinal, Nene Royal advanced directly to the America’s Got Talent Season 21 finale.

That makes her one of the standout contestants of the 2026 season and gives her an opportunity to compete for the show’s grand prize.

Her journey from performing at markets in Phuket to reaching the AGT finale is already one of the most remarkable stories of the season.

What Is Nene Royal’s Net Worth?

There is currently no reliable, officially confirmed figure for Nene Royal’s net worth.

Because Nene is only 16 and is still at the beginning of her professional music career, online estimates should be treated carefully.

Her current career includes public performances, competitions, AGT exposure and a growing international audience, but that does not provide enough verified information to calculate a trustworthy net worth figure.

For that reason, Alhair Business does not publish an invented net worth estimate for Nene Royal.

Nene Royal’s Social Media and Growing Popularity

Nene already had an audience in Thailand before AGT, particularly through her guitar performances and social media presence.

Her AGT appearances have expanded that audience internationally.

Her combination of guitar technique, rock vocals and youthful energy has attracted attention from music fans who may not normally follow talent competitions.

Her official website describes her as an emerging Thai rock artist with an international audience and a growing presence on the global stage.

What Is Next for Nene Royal?

Nene’s immediate priority is the America’s Got Talent Season 21 finale.

The Golden Buzzer has given her an opportunity that few contestants receive: she can prepare for the final without having to compete through another public-vote stage.

Beyond AGT, Nene’s official biography says she is working toward becoming a recording artist and is writing and recording original music. Her planned debut EP is expected to explore modern rock, alternative pop and melodic metal influences.

That could be the next major stage of her career.

AGT may have introduced Nene Royal to millions of viewers, but her long-term goal appears to be building a career as a musician rather than becoming known only as a reality-show contestant.

Nene Royal’s Journey From Phuket to America

What makes Nene Royal’s story especially interesting is how quickly her world has changed.

She started playing guitar after joining a school music club in Phuket. She learned largely through online videos and practice, performed at local markets and developed her skills through competitions and band performances.

Then came America’s Got Talent.

Her audition with “Zombie” introduced her to international viewers. Her “Hysteria” performance confirmed that she could repeat that success. And her “Black Hole Sun” performance ultimately earned her Mel B’s Golden Buzzer.

Now, the teenager from Phuket is heading into the AGT Season 21 finale with a global audience watching.

Nene Royal’s Career Highlights

Nene’s journey so far includes several important milestones:

Age 7: She discovered guitar through her school’s music club.

Before AGT: She developed her skills through self-learning, public performances and music competitions.

2023: She finished as a runner-up in the Overdrive Guitar Contest.

2025: She received Outstanding Player recognition at the King Power Band Competition.

July 2026: She made her America’s Got Talent debut with “Zombie” by The Cranberries and received four yes votes.

August 2026: She performed “Hysteria” by Muse during the Judges’ Callbacks and advanced to the live shows.

August 25, 2026: She performed “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden during the live quarterfinals.

August 25, 2026: Mel B awarded her the Live Golden Buzzer, sending her directly to the AGT Season 21 finale.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nene Royal

Who is Nene Royal?

Nene Royal is a 16-year-old Thai singer, guitarist and songwriter from Phuket who is competing on America’s Got Talent Season 21.

What is Nene Royal’s real name?

Her real name is reported as Rattikarn Amloy, and she is also known by the nickname Praew.

How old is Nene Royal?

Nene Royal is 16 years old in 2026.

Where is Nene Royal from?

She is from Phuket, Thailand.

What song did Nene Royal sing on AGT?

She performed “Zombie” by The Cranberries during her audition, “Hysteria” by Muse during the Judges’ Callbacks and “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden during the live quarterfinals.

Did Nene Royal get a Golden Buzzer?

Yes. Mel B gave Nene Royal the Live Golden Buzzer after her “Black Hole Sun” performance on August 25, 2026.

Is Nene Royal going to the AGT finale?

Yes. The Live Golden Buzzer sent Nene Royal directly to the America’s Got Talent Season 21 finale.

Is Nene Royal a professional guitarist?

Nene is an emerging professional musician and is described by her official biography as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. She has also competed in major Thai music competitions and performed with the OZONE band.

Does Nene Royal have a family?

Yes. Recent reports show that her father, mother and younger brother have supported her journey, with her father accompanying her during her AGT experience.

What is Nene Royal’s net worth?

There is no reliably confirmed public net worth figure for Nene Royal. Because she is still a young emerging artist, online estimates should not be treated as verified financial information.

Final Thoughts

Nene Royal’s story is much bigger than one successful performance on America’s Got Talent.

She is a young musician from Phuket who discovered the guitar through a school music club, taught herself largely through online resources, performed for audiences in Thailand and gradually built the confidence to compete internationally.

Her AGT journey has moved incredibly quickly.

She went from singing “Zombie” during her audition to performing Muse’s “Hysteria” in the callbacks and then delivering “Black Hole Sun” in the live quarterfinals.

That final performance earned her Mel B’s Live Golden Buzzer and a direct place in the Season 21 finale.

Whatever happens in the final, Nene Royal has already achieved something significant: she has introduced Thai rock guitar and her own musical style to a much larger international audience.

And at only 16, this could be just the beginning of her career.

Written by Alena Shek
Entertainment Writer & Biography Researcher at Alhair Business

Last Updated: August 26, 2026