Imagine being 13 years old and suddenly becoming famous all over America. That is what happened to Courtney Hadwin when she sang Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” on America’s Got Talent. Her voice was big and soulful, like old rock and roll stars such as James Brown.
Courtney loved the old music, which made her unique. But after the show, the music business wanted to change her. They tried to give her pop songs, like the kind Ariana Grande sings, but Courtney said she could not connect with them. She felt like she was drowning because she was thrown into the “deep end” so fast.
Courtney Hadwin – Hard To Handle – America’s Got Talent
It was hard for Courtney to prove she was not just “the girl from that TV show.” She felt pressure because fans on social media only wanted her to stay that innocent little 13-year-old girl. She had to fight just to be seen as the grown woman she was becoming.
This struggle became the reason for her new music. Her time trying to fit in was a confusing mess that finally pushed her to write her own story. She needed to tell people how frustrating it was to feel frozen in time.
Courtney Hadwin – You Only Love Me When I Lie (Official Music Video)
Everything changed when Courtney started working with producer Kevin Bowe, who had worked with legends like Etta James. This partnership helped her find the sound she truly loved.
Her first album, Little Miss Jagged, is like a diary of everything she has been through since she was 15. The title means “rough around the edges” and not perfect, which fits her journey. Just like her song, “You Only Love Me When I Lie.”
Follow Courtney Hadwin on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to see the real artist she worked so hard to become.