"America's Got Talent" just got more talented when 14-year-old Courtney Hadwin belted out James Brown's 1965 song, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." She had the audience and the judges on their feet with her incredible talent. It takes a lot to 'wow' Simon Cowell, but she carried it off. Her slim build and shy appearance when she's not singing make it hard to associate how her music transforms her into an iconic music master.
In the audition rounds, Howie Mandel gave her a golden buzzer after her slam-dunk performance of "Hard to Handle" by Otis Redding.
In the live rounds on Monday, she came across as simply confident, polished, and spine-tingling.
Courtney Hadwin gets some serious attention from Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell is not one to dish out compliments on "America's Got Talent" unless contestants really deserve it. Of Courtney's performance on Monday, ET Online quoted him as saying she should just carry on doing "everything exactly like what you did tonight." In fact, he was so impressed by the fact that Howie Mandel gave her the golden buzzer, that he even hugged Howie and suggested his talent spotting was that good, that they should "start a start a record label together."
The whole panel of Simon, Howie, Mel-B and Heidi Klum had only good things to say about her performance.
Heidi said, "I have not been this excited about a new artist in a very, very long time. You definitely are in a category of your own."
Exciting artist on America's Got Talent gives out goosebumps
Listening to the power-delivery by Courtney is a goosebump affair. Whether it's from watching her transform from a young girl into a rock star in an instant or the power of her voice, is hard to say.
Basically, she is one huge package packed into a young girl. And, like any young woman, she has her insecurities. Speaking to ET Online, she explained that she was a bit nervous about the performance, but the music settled that.
They also noted that in her pre-taped recording she said people at school could not figure out her taste for music.
For a while, she considered changing her style but decided that "Janice Joplin" didn't and she made it big. The world of music can be grateful for that, as she has a style simply unique that promises to take her a very long way.
Simon Cowell also talked to ET about Courtney Hadwin's performance when she slayed the audience with "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." He said that "it was incredible." He added that "you always remember that one performance where you go."
