Courtney Hadwin may have been just 14 when she appeared on America’s Got Talent, but in an interview shortly after her explosive quarterfinals performance, she showed the soul of someone decades older. In a quiet heartfelt conversation, Courtney opened up about the music that shaped her and how the loss of Aretha Franklin hit her deeply. “She actually brought me into this kind of music,” Courtney said, eyes soft but voice steady. That’s when you realize this isn’t just a kid chasing fame. This is a girl chasing greatness.
In the 3-minute interview, Courtney talks about her now-viral performance of “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” by James Brown, and how legends like Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, and Mick Jagger helped her find her voice and her moves. She admits she used to mimic James Brown’s dancing, only to find that her “wrong” version became something uniquely her own. That mix of authenticity and accident? It’s what makes her performances feel like a live wire.
14-YO Singer Courtney Hadwin Talks About The Legacy of Aretha Franklin 720p
After her live performance and this candid moment, fans and judges alike couldn’t get enough. The YouTube comments are filled with love “She’s a time traveler,” “She channels the greats” and “This girl is the future of soul music.” Her golden buzzer moment had already made her a fan favorite but this interview made people feel like they knew her.
While her James Brown performance lit up the stage it was her audition cover of Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” that first got the world talking and won her Howie Mandel’s golden buzzer. That song was pure grit and grace and it showed that Courtney could not only sing soul she could own it.
Courtney Hadwin – Hard To Handle – America’s Got Talent
Courtney doesn’t imitate. She invokes. Whether it’s the power of Aretha the wild edge of Janis or the fire of James Brown her voice seems to carry echoes of another era. But when she speaks? She’s just a girl who loves music. That contrast is why people can’t stop watching and listening.
You can follow Courtney Hadwin across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook, where she shares music, moments, and the journey from shy teen to global soul icon.