Relive the viral golden buzzer moment as Courtney Harwin performs Otis Redding’s ‘Hard to Handle.’
We first met Courtney when she was just 13 years old. Hailing from Hartlepool, England, Courtney initially appeared nervous when she stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage. Judge Mel B encouraged the young singer to be confident and let herself be free on the stage. And Courtney definitely took that advice to heart.
As soon as the music started, everyone in the audience had a stunned expression on their face as Courtney unexpectedly belted out the words to ‘Hard To Handle.’
She moved all around the stage and easily had the crowd on their feet with her vibrant voice and unique sound.
After the audition, judge Simon Cowell has nothing but praise for the child prodigy.
“You were like this shy little thing when you first came out and then you sing and you’re like a lion. I mean, genuinely incredible.”
Next to speak was Howie Mandel who said, “You are not from this era. You’re from a whole different era.”
Howie went on to compare Courtney to legendary singer Janis Joplin. He retold the classic tale of Clive Davis discovering the unknown artist at a music festival and then signing Janis to a record deal. Howie said that he isn’t able to give Courtney a record deal but he did have one thing he could do.
That’s when the lovable judge reached over and hit the golden buzzer sending Courtney straight through to the live shows. The emotions wash over the aspiring singer’s face and the tears begin to flow.
Courtney made it all the way to the finals of AGT and even returned for America’s Got Talent: The Champions.
Who else is still in awe of this teen titan?