The British schoolgirl who wowed America’s Got Talent judges has told how she is ‘practising every day’ as she prepares to do it all again in the looming live shows.
Courtney Hadwin, 14, from Hesleden, in County Durham, became an overnight sensation following her show-stopping performance of Otis Redding’s Hard To Handle in the audition rounds in June, which earned her a golden buzzer from the stunned panel, sending her directly through to the live finals.
Appearing on ITV’s Lorraine today, Courtney revealed how she’s been practising ‘every day’ to be ready to perform in front of millions on American TV.
Her powerful rendition of the Otis Redding track on the show – which saw Simon Cowell describe her as ‘a lion’ and Howie Mendel compare her to Janis Joplin – went viral online, and the teenage schoolgirl has already won over celebrity fans including Paloma Faith.
Courtney Hadwin, 14, from Hesleden, in County Durham, says she is ‘practising every day’ for the upcoming America’s Got Talent live shows (pictured today on ITV’s Lorraine)
Mandel was so impressed with Courntney’s performance that he pressed the golden buzzer, which advanced her straight to the quarter-finals.
Courtney is now getting ready for the live shows, which begin on August 14.
‘I’ve been practising every day and going running for my energy levels,’ she said.
British pop singer Paloma Faith was so impressed by Courtney’s performance on the show she shared a video of it on Twitter, writing: ‘I love you Courtney im dying [sic].’
She became an overnight sensation following her show-stopping performance of Otis Redding’s Hard To Handle in June (pictured on America’s Got Talent)
Courtney’s father Paul (pictured with her on Lorraine) said the family had been overwhelmed with all the support they received
The schoolgirl said she was thrilled by the celebrity endorsement, 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 on Lorraine today, said the family had been overwhelmed by the support they’ve 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 couldn’t say what song she was planning to sing in the live shows but revealed it was a ‘classic with loads of energy in it’.
Courtney was given a golden bozzer by Howie Mandel (pictured), which fast-tracked her straight to the live shows
A clip of her performance went viral and she includes celebrities like Paloma Faith among her fans, who tweeted about it (pictured)
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.’
As the music started, Courtney’s nerves disappeared and she launched into a confident performance of Redding’s 1968 hit, complete with enthusiastic dance moves befitting of a fully-fledged rocker.
Host Tyra Banks, who was watching from the wings with Mr Hadwin, was left in awe at her confident performance.
Courtney wouldn’t reveal what her next song will be, but said it was ‘class and high energy’ (pictured on AGT in June)
Courtney has been singing in public for years and took part in The Voice Kids UK last year (pictured at a local festival in Hartlepool last year)
The transformation stunned judge Simon Cowell, who said: ‘Bloody hell Courtney. You were this shy little thing when you came out. Then you sing and you’re like a lion. I mean, genuinely incredible.’
But it was comedian and actor Mandel who sealed her fate, who compared her to Janis Joplin, who won a record deal as a youngster at a festival.
Though he couldn’t offer a record deal, he said the best he could do for Courtney was to press the Golden Buzzer, parachuting her straight to the live shows.
Courtney has been singing in public for years and is no stranger to talent competitions, having narrowly missed out on the top prize on The Voice Kids UK last year.
Her grandfather Tom Storey, 60, who lives in Inverness, revealed that Courtney chose to enter the American version of the show rather than Britain’s Got Talent because the ‘UK doesn’t get her’ and they are ‘confidant she will do well in the US’.