Is America’s Got Talent contestant Courtney Hadwin really controversial?

"America's Got Talent" Season 13 Live Show

I have been watching America’s Got Talent since it first came on the air 13 seasons ago. A couple of things I could completely live without on the show are kids and singers. That being said, I kind of like Courtney Hadwin. The 14-year-old singer from County Durham, England is the closest thing to a reincarnation of Janis Joplin that we’ve probably ever seen. She was awarded judge Howie Mandel’s golden buzzer during auditions. On Tuesday night’s semi-finals, Courtney rocked the house with her take on the Steppenwolf song “Born to Be Wild,” compete with her trademark dance moves and screams. Her performance was good enough to land her a spot in next week’s finals.

During the judge’s critiques, Howie called her performance “amazing” and asserted, “My prediction is you’re going to be the winner.” Simon Cowell called her “a bundle of excitement” and her performance “raw and messy.” He added, “I saw you at the beginning of the show, shaking like a leaf and then you come out on stage and turn into a maniac. That’s why I absolutely love you.” Heidi Klum said she was “authentic and original” and praised her for bucking convention and signing “gritty rock ’n’ roll.” Even Mel B. had positive feedback for the singer. Despite noting her nervousness during the performance, she said, “There’s no doubt, you’re just out there and I love it.” After hearing the comments and taking in the adoration from the audience, Courtney told host Tyra Banks that “I can’t believe I’ve gotten this far, I just can’t believe it.”

Having Courtney as a contestant has brought a little controversy to the show, as fans found out that she had previously appeared on The Voice Kids UK (where she sang a killer version of Tina Turner’s “Nutbush City Limits”) and made t to the finals. She also played the role of young Cosette in a production of Les Miserables in her home country. Although some fans aren’t happy, Courtney isn’t breaking any rules. Heck, the creepy illusionist Sacred Riana, who was kicked off earlier this season, won Asia’s Got Talent in 2017.

Another thing, despite the show being called America’s Got Talent, there have been acts featured from around the world, including Japan, Dominican Republic and even Australia…I mean, Germany. Hey, and when you’ve got Sharon Stone on your side….

A spokesperson for the show told Good Housekeeping that everything was on the up and up with Courtney taking part in the competition, stating, “International acts are eligible to participate in the initial AGT auditions on visitor visas. If selected to proceed to the program live shows, AGT works with acts to secure appropriate performer visas which give acts authorization to perform throughout the series.” So, there.

I think we all know that “reality television” is kind of a misnomer. It doesn’t bother me that Courtney was on The Voice or that she performed in Les Miz. Yeah, I do believe some of the shy persona she puts on is “for TV”, but a lot of singers are actually reserved when they’re offstage. Besides, it’s rare that anyone comes from complete obscurity before making it to America’s Got Talent. I think this is a prime example of “much ado about nothing” and people just wanting to complain about something. You don’t see me complaining that they kicked off Hans…well, wait, you don’t see me complaining much. As much as I think Courtney is great, I’m rooting for comedienne Vicki Barbolak to win. We’ll see what happens when the finale airs next week.

"America's Got Talent" Season 13 Live Show Red Carpet

"America's Got Talent" Season 13 Live Show

Photos: WENN

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22 Responses to “Is America’s Got Talent contestant Courtney Hadwin really controversial?”

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  1. Erinn says:

    As if the other singers who compete haven’t ever had paying gigs before. The girls 14 – not some 40 year old who’s been touring for decades. Kid has talent – she deserves to be there just as much as anyone else.

    • cherry says:

      Yeah, Glennis Grace is on there too, yes? She’s been playing stadiums in the Netherlands for over a decade.

    • Kat says:

      It’s not that she has performing experience that bothers me. It’s the whole “I’m so shy and nervous and timid schtick” that annoys me. It’s obviously just for dramatic effect and not real. Again, that is all fine but she is obviously a seasoned performer at just 14. And what’s wrong with having talent and confidence and showing it? I hate when they act so surprised by their own talent.

      • Lex says:

        Dude she’s 14… chill

      • Meganbot2000 says:

        She’s 14. Being alone on national TV is very different from being surrounded by dozens of your co-stars on stage. It’s very likely it IS real. I’ve personally witnessed 60-something household name actors who still shake like a leaf and vomit before they go on stage due to stage fright and nerves.

        Even the most confident performer can suffer from nerves or anxiety. No one is immune to self-doubt.

    • Mumbles says:

      A few years ago they had on a comic, Wendy Liebman, who had been popular in the 1980s and even had has her own HBO specials. (Imo she wasn’t that good.)

  2. Mariposa says:

    I could swear I saw her on Britain’s Got Talent last year… I definitely saw her on a British show, and I’ve never seen The Voice.

    I couldn’t make up my mind about her, she definitely had raw talent, but I thought she was over-singing and moving so much that it affected her ability just to get the notes out! It made it hard to judge how much talent was really there.

    My favorite Janet Joplin moment on these competitions is Karise Eden’ s blind audition for The Voice Australia. It was EPIC.

    • Lucy2 says:

      I don’t watch the show but I just watch some clips of her, and I agree. She’s clearly got a lot of talent, personality, and stage presence, but it just steps a bit over a line into “too much“. Which I imagine is partly the nerves and excitement of performing on a show like this, and partly being so young.
      I love women and girls who can really rock, so I’m looking forward to see what this young woman does!

    • EmmyB1608 says:

      She was on The Voice Kids – I think she was Team Danny?

  3. Dorothy#1 says:

    Ugh I think she was awful on tuesday. Very out of tune in a few parts and just so extra!

    • ChillyWilly says:

      Yes! I just watched some clips of her performances and she is almost always off key. Janis sang and screamed ON KEY. I do think she’s cute and like her spunk but she is not nearly as good as Janis.

  4. HelloSunshine says:

    A ton of the people on the show have kinda made it in what they’re doing and then not “made it” because the entertainment industry is fickle and difficult. That being said, I can’t stand how many singers there are every year. There are multiple shows for straight up singers already out there. Hans was great because he was basically an entire Vegas show (dancing, lights, glitter!) in one person lol

  5. Starkiller says:

    As if Britain’s Got Talent would EVER let an American on their show. She shouldn’t be eligible, end of.

  6. Michelle says:

    There seems to be a lot of ‘gray area’ when it comes to people auditioning on this show. There are quite a few that have been on other talent shows. I’m a little surprised they have not adopted a rule stating that you can’t have been on a televised talent show in the last three years. IMO they should split this show in two: one for adults and one for kids.

  7. Valerie says:

    She’s just loud? Louder seems to mean better to these judges. I can project my voice and do vocal gymnastics, doesn’t mean I sound good doing it after a certain volume. I don’t say this to rag on a kid, but they’ve overstated her talent.

  8. FhMom says:

    I’ve never watched this show, but I’ve been watching The Voice for the past few years. One season’s winner, Alison Porter, had a successful movie career as a child and appeared on Broadway. A few of the contestants who have made it to the finale have been back up singers and have toured with well-known artists. It strikes me as unfair that experienced, working singers can compete with complete amateurs. Would people supporting this kid feel differently if she were 18 and not 14? And the whole age thing is another issue. I wish they wouldn’t allow contestants under 18 on these shows. It’s a lot for a kid to deal with.

  9. OkieOpie says:

    I wish there were fewer singers on the show but this kid is pretty amazing. If you believe in reincarnation, she is 100% Janis. Pretty crazy. She is not my favorite but I don’t see a problem with her being there. I do think that contestants should actually be living in America though, not simply visiting. Most countries have their own version of the show. I love Shin Lim, the card guy. Harry Potter in real life LOL. Also love the trapeze couple and the Los Angeles adult choir.

  10. Aerohead21 says:

    My only issue is that it’s America’s Got Talent, but she’s not American. Not any fault of hers, because that’s a thing with the show apparently, but it makes no sense to say it’s “America” when the contestants don’t have to be American. Idk…maybe it’s America because they give the award?? Idk…

    However I saw the clip of her audition and she was super cute 🙂

  11. RoyalBree says:

    I’ve never watched the show, but OMG, this child is a stunning lookalike of King Felipe of Spain’s youngest daughter, Sofia! (Who is 11, I think, but older looking.) I thought it was her at first!

  12. Jessica says:

    Where can I buy her, Girls just wanna have fun … damental rights tee?” I’ll take 100!

  13. DS9 says:

    I’m sure she’ll win. AGT loves teenaged white girls.