Thai Teen Superstar Rocker Nene Royal Returns to Phuket Stage Before America’s Got Talent Live Shows
The amazing 16-year-old singer-guitarist performed again with her OZONE bandmates before returning to the United States, where she has secured a place in America’s Got Talent Season 21’s live rounds.
Thai teenage rocker Nene Royal has returned to the stage with her longtime OZONE bandmates in Phuket before preparing to continue her run on America’s Got Talent, where she has advanced into the live shows of Season 21. The August 17 report presented the performance as one of her final appearances with the group before flying back to compete in the United States.
Nene, whose real name is Rattikan Amlai and who is also known as Praew, is a 16-year-old singer and guitarist from Phuket.
Long before appearing on American television, she had built her musical experience performing locally and playing lead vocals and guitar with OZONE, a young Phuket-based band whose repertoire ranges from rock and metal to pop, jazz and fusion.
The group has regularly performed at Phuket’s Naka Weekend Market, a stage closely associated with Nene’s development as a live performer.
Her international breakthrough came during the audition stage of America’s Got Talent when she performed a heavier version of The Cranberries’ "Zombie" while singing and playing electric guitar.
The performance earned approval from all four judges and sent her through to the next stage of the competition.
Her playing, including two-handed tapping passages, drew attention well beyond Thailand and turned a musician already followed by millions on social media into one of the season’s most visible young contestants.
Nene then faced a new Judges’ Callbacks stage introduced for the 2026 season.
During that round she performed "Hysteria" by Muse, again combining vocals with technically demanding electric-guitar work.
Howie Mandel ultimately selected Nene to continue to the live shows, alongside singing duo Bird & Byron and comedians Cris Sosa and Daniel Alvarez from his callback group.
That advancement changes the nature of the competition for Nene.
The audition and callback stages were determined by the judges, but the live shows bring television viewers directly into the result through public voting.
The first live broadcast is scheduled for August 18 in the United States, followed by a results programme the next day, placing Nene among the remaining acts competing for enough audience support to continue toward the final stages.
Her return to OZONE before that next step is significant because the band represents the local musical foundation behind her sudden international exposure.
OZONE consists of Nene on lead vocals and guitar, MK on keyboards and backing vocals, 4.Boon on drums and Chopper on bass.
The musicians are themselves unusually young, with published profiles placing the members between 12 and 16 years old.
Nene has described her OZONE bandmates as an important source of support during her America’s Got Talent journey.
In an interview following her initial breakthrough, she said they were happy to see her reaching a goal they had watched her work toward through extensive practice.
The group had previously competed together in Thailand’s THE POWER BAND competition, where Nene received an Outstanding Player award in 2025. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Her route to America’s Got Talent was therefore considerably longer than the viral audition suggested.
She began learning guitar as a child, largely teaching herself by listening to songs and using online videos, and developed her ability through years of public performances.
Before the American programme, she had already won recognition in Thai music competitions and built a large online following through performances of rock songs by artists including Nirvana and System of a Down.
The attention surrounding her has also reached Thailand’s government.
In July, Nene visited Government House, where Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and tourism officials publicly congratulated her after her America’s Got Talent audition.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand described the appearance as an opportunity to highlight a young Thai musician gaining international exposure.
The next stage, however, will be decided less by the story surrounding her and more by another live performance.
Having progressed from Phuket market stages to an American prime-time competition, Nene now enters the part of America’s Got Talent in which audience voting becomes decisive.
Her appearance with OZONE reconnects that international run with the young musicians and local stages where she developed, just before the competition moves into its live rounds in the United States.
Nene, whose real name is Rattikan Amlai and who is also known as Praew, is a 16-year-old singer and guitarist from Phuket.
Long before appearing on American television, she had built her musical experience performing locally and playing lead vocals and guitar with OZONE, a young Phuket-based band whose repertoire ranges from rock and metal to pop, jazz and fusion.
The group has regularly performed at Phuket’s Naka Weekend Market, a stage closely associated with Nene’s development as a live performer.
Her international breakthrough came during the audition stage of America’s Got Talent when she performed a heavier version of The Cranberries’ "Zombie" while singing and playing electric guitar.
The performance earned approval from all four judges and sent her through to the next stage of the competition.
Her playing, including two-handed tapping passages, drew attention well beyond Thailand and turned a musician already followed by millions on social media into one of the season’s most visible young contestants.
Nene then faced a new Judges’ Callbacks stage introduced for the 2026 season.
During that round she performed "Hysteria" by Muse, again combining vocals with technically demanding electric-guitar work.
Howie Mandel ultimately selected Nene to continue to the live shows, alongside singing duo Bird & Byron and comedians Cris Sosa and Daniel Alvarez from his callback group.
That advancement changes the nature of the competition for Nene.
The audition and callback stages were determined by the judges, but the live shows bring television viewers directly into the result through public voting.
The first live broadcast is scheduled for August 18 in the United States, followed by a results programme the next day, placing Nene among the remaining acts competing for enough audience support to continue toward the final stages.
Her return to OZONE before that next step is significant because the band represents the local musical foundation behind her sudden international exposure.
OZONE consists of Nene on lead vocals and guitar, MK on keyboards and backing vocals, 4.Boon on drums and Chopper on bass.
The musicians are themselves unusually young, with published profiles placing the members between 12 and 16 years old.
Nene has described her OZONE bandmates as an important source of support during her America’s Got Talent journey.
In an interview following her initial breakthrough, she said they were happy to see her reaching a goal they had watched her work toward through extensive practice.
The group had previously competed together in Thailand’s THE POWER BAND competition, where Nene received an Outstanding Player award in 2025. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Her route to America’s Got Talent was therefore considerably longer than the viral audition suggested.
She began learning guitar as a child, largely teaching herself by listening to songs and using online videos, and developed her ability through years of public performances.
Before the American programme, she had already won recognition in Thai music competitions and built a large online following through performances of rock songs by artists including Nirvana and System of a Down.
The attention surrounding her has also reached Thailand’s government.
In July, Nene visited Government House, where Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and tourism officials publicly congratulated her after her America’s Got Talent audition.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand described the appearance as an opportunity to highlight a young Thai musician gaining international exposure.
The next stage, however, will be decided less by the story surrounding her and more by another live performance.
Having progressed from Phuket market stages to an American prime-time competition, Nene now enters the part of America’s Got Talent in which audience voting becomes decisive.
Her appearance with OZONE reconnects that international run with the young musicians and local stages where she developed, just before the competition moves into its live rounds in the United States.
