British teenager Courtney Hadwin has narrowly missed out on being crowned the winner of this year’s series of America’s Got Talent.
The 14-year-old singer was one of 10 acts who sailed through to the finals on the NBC series despite being booted out of The Voice Kids UK last year.
The teen, who lives in a terraced house with her parents and two siblings in the village of Hesleden, County Durham, was among the favourites for the $1million prize but failed to make it into the top 5.
Host Tyra Banks told Courtney she had "made it" by making it to the top 10 of the TV talent show.
The competition was won by Canadian-American magician Shin Lim.
She had faced heavy criticism for taking part in the US show, but the competition is open to anyone with a visitor visa to the US.
"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,” a spokesperson said.
On Tuesday night’s show, the first part of the two-night final, Courtney received a standing ovation for her energetic rendition of Tina Turner classic River Deep, Mountain High.
Judge Howie Mandel told Courtney she is a "superstar in the making" following her stellar performance.
"Amazing. Your letters were on fire. You are on fire," he said. "You are amazing, you are a superstar. I love everything about you, I love your look, I love your style, I love your voice.
"I love your performance. I think the world does too, we are watching a superstar in the making right here on America’s Got Talent."
While fellow judge Simon Cowell said her choices of song made her a "trendsetter".
He said: "I always say the most important part of being a star is being remembered and that’s what you do. Every time you perform, people are going to remember you.
"You are going to inspire people. You are going to tell a whole new generation of people what rock and roll is all about. All these great songs.
"So you are more than a great singer, you are like a trendsetter. Without people like you, we don’t look good."
Before the final, Courtney told the Mirror: “I’m shocked that I have gotten this far. I don’t really think The Voice Kids prepared me for how big AGT is – it’s huge.
“I’m more excited than nervous at this stage, since its the final and, honestly, to even be here is more than I could have ever hoped for.”
While competing in the show in the US, Courtney was given a tutor so she can continue with her school work but admits her “mind has wandered” in classes as she dreams of a life in the music business.
Asked what she would do with the winnings, she said: “I’d probably just spoil my dog Teddy and put the rest into my music and hopefully some original songs. I definitely want to start working on my own music.”
In the earlier rounds, Courtney had performed covers of classic songs including Steppenwolf’s 1969 hit Born To Be Wild, Otis Redding’s Hard To Handle and James Brown’s Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.
Hard To Handle, which was her very first AGT audition singing Otis Redding’s has been watched well over 100 million times on YouTube.
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