That moment when 13-year-old Courtney Hadwin stepped onto the stage at Flamingo Land Party in the Park; no one was ready. Then she opened her mouth, and the air changed. With a voice ten times her age and swagger to match, her explosive “Black Velvet” cover didn’t just impress; it shattered every expectation of what a teenage performer could do.
Courtney’s take on the Alannah Myles classic was a masterclass in raw stage energy; her raspy, blues-soaked vocals paired with wild, uninhibited dance moves left jaws on the ground; she didn’t just sing the song; she embodied it; from the deep growl to those sky-high notes, every second felt like a full-body musical exorcism.
Courtney Hadwin Sings BLACK VELVET @ Flamingo Land Party In The Park
The crowd lost it. YouTube comments flooded in: “How is this voice coming from a 13-year-old?!” and “She’s not covering it; she’s owning it.” Some called the performance “Grammy-worthy” while others swore it was “the best live cover of Black Velvet ever.” The verdict was clear: Courtney wasn’t a prodigy. She was a phenomenon.
And that was just the beginning. A few months later, Courtney would walk onto a much bigger stage; America’s Got Talent and unleash another iconic cover, one that would rocket her into global stardom.
Courtney Hadwin’s AGT Audition – “Hard to Handle”
This was the moment that changed everything. Channeling Janis Joplin and Otis Redding, Courtney tore through “Hard to Handle” with electrifying vocals and fearless swagger. Howie Mandel slammed the Golden Buzzer; the crowd screamed and the judges were floored. In two minutes, Courtney went from nervous teen to rock-and-soul firestarter.
Since then, she’s built a massive fanbase that hangs on every gritty note; from viral YouTube covers to original releases, Courtney Hadwin continues to blaze her own trail. She’s not just covering songs anymore; she’s redefining what a young artist can sound like.