When Courtney Hadwin stepped onto Instagram Live and belted out Little Richard’s iconic “Tutti Frutti” without a single instrument behind her the internet didn’t just hear it. It felt it. With nothing but her powerhouse voice and sheer guts the former America’s Got Talent finalist served up one of the most unexpected tributes to rock ‘n’ roll the genre’s ever seen.
Performed completely a cappella Courtney’s March 2020 take on “Tutti Frutti” was not just a cover it was a reinvention. She brought rawness soul and pure spontaneity to a song most artists wouldn’t dare touch without a full band. Her raspy explosive vocals captured the wild spirit of Little Richard while giving it a modern edge only she could deliver. It was stripped down but somehow even more alive.
Courtney Hadwin Cover ‘Tutti-Frutti’ by Little Richard 03.27.2020
The reaction was instant and intense. Viewers filled the comments with fire emojis praise and awe. Many said it was the first time in ages that an old-school rock hit had felt this real. Fans noted how Courtney did not just sing the song she embodied it. One comment read “She didn’t need a band she was the band.”
While “Tutti Frutti” was pure fire Courtney proved her range goes far deeper. Her a cappella version of “House of the Rising Sun” hit just as hard but in a completely different way. It’s one thing to channel Little Richard’s chaos. It’s another to make a haunting folk-rock song feel like a personal confession.
Courtney Hadwin “The House of The Rising Sun”
In this performance Courtney strips everything back again. With only her voice to guide us she leans into the sorrow of the lyrics letting every note burn slow. Fans loved the vulnerability saying it felt “like blues in its purest form.”
Courtney Hadwin shares new clips throwbacks and behind-the-scenes glimpses on platforms like Instagram TikTok and YouTube. If you’re not following her already you’re seriously missing out on rock ‘n’ roll’s most fearless voice in the making.