‘Wild child’ Brit tipped to win America’s Got Talent
A BRITISH teen — described by head judge Simon Cowell as a ‘maniac’ — has reached the final of America’s Got Talent.
Courtney Hadwin, 14, from the village of Hesleden, County Durham, has become the unlikely star of the US show, giving ‘wild’ performances that have gone down a storm across the pond.
During Tuesday’s semi-final, Courtney performed a spirited cover of Steppenwolf’s 1969 hit Born To Be Wild, leading Cowell to praise her as a ‘bundle of excitement’ and a ‘maniac’.
‘You were born to be wild! This was wild! You were amazing,’ he said.
‘My prediction is you’re going to be the winner.’
Model Heidi Klum agreed, saying the schoolgirl was ‘authentic and original’.
But Spice Girl Mel B wasn’t so sure, saying Courtney looked nervous.
The talented teen is widely considered the favourite in the competition, after impressing judges earlier on in the contest with covers of Otis Redding’s Hard To Handle and James Brown’s Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.
Fourth judge Howie Mandel was so impressed he even used his golden buzzer, meaning she skipped a stage and went straight through to the live shows.
Courtney appeared emotional when she was told she was through and thanked her dad, Paul, who was waiting backstage.
The winner of America’s Got Talent season 13 will be crowned during a two-night final beginning on September 18
Author: Anna Thomson
