In what seemed like just another quiet day, Courtney Hadwin picked up her phone in her kitchen, hit record, and began singing an a cappella rendition of Etta James’ timeless classic. Within hours, the clip exploded, amassing over a million views and reminding everyone why the world fell in love with her in the first place.
Her raspy, powerhouse vocals — the same that stunned millions when she was just 13 on America’s Got Talent — are now richer, more controlled, and undeniably seasoned. Fans couldn’t stop commenting about how much she’s grown, both as an artist and as a woman.
“Wait a minute. Not little Courtney Hadwin from TV? WHAT?!” one fan wrote in disbelief.
“Janis Joplin vibes!!! Great job!!” added another.
“Your voice keeps getting stronger and stronger. Absolutely love this,” a longtime supporter commented.
While some remembered her from that viral 2018 AGT audition — where she channeled Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” into pure rock-soul electricity — others were hearing her for the first time and were instantly hooked.
“Vocals like no other. Can’t wait until Courtney’s new music is rocking the world,” one fan wrote.
“I love your voice — stay true to yourself,” another added.
And that’s exactly what Courtney is doing.
From “That 13-Year-Old Girl” to a True Artist
Now 21 years old, Hadwin is entering a new era of her career, one defined by artistic control and emotional authenticity. In a recent interview, she opened up about her journey since AGT:
“It’s been hard, I’m not gonna lie,” she admitted. “I’m always so grateful for the opportunity that show gave me and the people who’ve found my music because of it. But I constantly feel like I have to prove I’m not just the girl from that TV show.”
After her time on AGT, she was quickly signed to a record label — but soon found herself trapped in pop-writing sessions that didn’t reflect who she truly was. “It was pure Ariana Grande pop,” she recalled. “I’d be given songs I couldn’t relate to at all. That just wasn’t me.”
It wasn’t until she met producer Kevin Bowe (who’s worked with Etta James and Joe Cocker) that everything changed. “He really got me,” Courtney said. “That’s when the music started to actually matter to me. Songwriting became the only way I can truly express myself.”
Together, they began crafting her long-awaited debut album, Little Miss Jagged.
Fans Beg for More
After the viral Etta James cover, fans flooded her page with thousands of comments:
“How can we get your music?? It’s awesome.”
“You’re amazing!!! Pulling for you from North Carolina!!!!”
“You could have won AGT, but you can also be a rock star on your own.”
Even after all these years, Courtney Hadwin still does what she’s always done best, make people feel something real.
Her voice remains wild and raw, yet now carries the weight of experience, a mix of youth and soul that no one else has. And if her new music is anything like this impromptu kitchen performance, the world better get ready — Courtney Hadwin is just getting started.
