Courtney Hadwin didn’t just sing for attention; she sang to survive. The once-shy teen busked across England to pay for vocal lessons, facing resentment from jealous street performers who couldn’t match her raw talent. Now, with over 300 million AGT views and Clive Davis’ stamp of approval, her unbelievable journey proves real talent can’t stay hidden.
It all changed when her school posted a video of 12-year-old Courtney covering “Say Something.” That soulful, raspy voice shouldn’t have come from someone so young but it did. The clip went viral, showing the world this wasn’t just another kid singer, but a once-in-a-generation talent waiting to explode.
Courtney Hadwin – Say Something (Cover)
Busking wasn’t glamorous. Other performers hated when Courtney drew crowds away. “They kept asking her to move,” her grandfather revealed. But those gritty street performances forged her stage presence; the same fire that later made her Voice Kids performance of “Nutbush City Limits” shock coaches with its Tina Turner-level intensity.
Though successful on The Voice Kids UK, Courtney felt constrained. America’s Got Talent became her gamble; one that paid off when her Janis Joplin-esque audition broke the internet. Suddenly, the busker from a dying mining village had Sharon Stone cheering and 300 million views.
Courtney Sings ‘Nutbush City Limits’ | The Voice Stage #28
Now preparing her debut album, Courtney refuses to soften her gritty style. “If I keep real to me, I’ll be fine,” she says. From street corners to Carnegie Hall, that authenticity remains whether covering ballads or belting rock anthems, she still sings like her next meal depends on it.
Courtney’s story isn’t just about talent; it’s about hustle. Follow her journey from rejected busker to festival headliner, and witness an artist who earned every note. In an age of manufactured stars, she’s the real deal: a voice forged in struggle, perfected on streets, and destined for greatness.