Did you know that, eight years after she finished the show, singer Courtney Hadwin was still trying to change how people saw her?
At 13, she stunned judges on America’s Got Talent with a blues song called “Hard to Handle.” She became famous right away. But being a child star meant people kept seeing her as that same girl. She said she felt she had to prove she was more than the girl from that TV show every single day.
After the TV show, Courtney signed a record deal. Things were tough because she was suddenly “thrown into the deep end.” She was sent to write songs with people who did not know her music style. She was given songs that sounded like “pure Ariana Grande pop” that she could not connect with. She loved James Brown and Tina Turner, not that kind of pop music.
The Heartbreaking Tragedy Of Courtney Hadwin AGT Star’s Silent Struggles Behind the Spotlight
This pressure made her feel lost. She said she was always grateful for the chance the show gave her. Yet, the label did not work out and closed down before her 16th birthday. This made her career much harder, as she had to fight even harder to find her authentic voice and show who she truly was.
Courtney Hadwin wanted people to see her grow up. But she felt that many social media fans wanted her to “stay that 13-year-old girl.” They did not want her to change. Even as she turned 21, she felt people still looked at her online and thought she was that innocent kid. This made her feel like she had to write a song about it.
Courtney Hadwin – You Only Love Me When I Lie (Official Music Video)
That feeling became the song “You Only Love Me When I Lie.” This song talks about people who will not let go of the image they have in their heads. Courtney felt very frustrated and knew she had to write about being seen as more than her past. She said this song is the most soulful and bluesy she has on her new album, with the rawest feelings from her heart.
The new album, Little Miss Jagged, is Courtney’s big step forward. She worked with producer Kevin Bowe, who truly understood her style. This album is like her diary, finally letting people hear her story and her real sound. Listen to Courtney Hadwin and follow her journey on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.