British schoolgirl Courtney Hadwin received a standing ovation from judges who declared her a ‘superstar’ following her America’s Got Talent final performance.
The singer, 14, from Hesleden, in County Durham, wowed with her rendition of Tina Turner’s hit River Deep, Mountain High on Tuesday night, in the first part of a two-night final.
Courtney, wearing a chic printed suit and Ramones T-shirt, showed off her dance moves as she gave an energetic performance on the stage, described as ‘wild’ by judge Mel C.
The teenager is hotly tipped to take home the $1m prize in tonight’s show, when the winner of the contest will be announced.
Courtney Hadwin, 14, wowed with her rendition of Tina Turner’s hit River Deep, Mountain High during the America’s Got Talent final on Tuesday night
All four judges – Howie Mandel, Mel C, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell – gave Courtney a standing ovation following her impressive performance in Tuesday night’s final
Meanwhile, Heidi Klum declared Courtney could win the contest, pointing to the history of teenagers winning the series in the past.
And Mel C said the teenager had ‘killed it’, continuing: ‘I just love you being like this, where you’re a free bird, and you’re wild and you’re crazy.’
Following her daughter’s sensational performance, Courtney’s mother Annmarie – who has stayed at home to look after the teenager’s younger siblings, revealed that she would be wishing her daughter good luck over FaceTime ahead of the live final.
‘She’s done amazing – I’m really so proud of her. To me it doesn’t matter where she comes – to make it to the final and perform there is fantastic,’ she told the Hartlepool Mail.
Courtney (above on the red carpet ahead of the show) opted for a stylish printed suit and a Ramones T-shirt for her performance in the final
‘We never expected her to get a golden buzzer and then we never expected her to get through the quarter-finals or the semi-finals. She’s done so well.
‘It’s amazing really she’s had loads of messages of support from the community and the school have been brilliant.’
Courtney became a viral sensation thanks to her powerful rendition of Otis Redding’s Hard To Handle during in her initial audition in June, which propelled her to fame all over the world.
Following the audition, Simon Cowell said: ‘Bloody hell Courtney. You were this shy little thing when you came out.
