America's Got Talent Winner Nene Royal, 16, Joins Linkin Park for Finale Performance

Nene Royal, a 16-year-old music prodigy from Thailand, was named the winner of America’s Got Talent on Wednesday night. Just before being crowned this season’s champion, she performed with Linkin Park .

Royal wowed the judges and viewers throughout the competition with her impressive guitar and vocal skills, bringing a metal attitude to the AGT stage. For the finale, Royal and Linkin Park shared the stage for a performance of the latter’s “The Emptiness Machine,” as the teen phenom played guitar and traded vocals with Linkin Park singer Emily Armstrong.

The previous night, Royal rocked a heavy rendition of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” live onstage, in addition to jamming with Mexican rock trio The Warning in a pre-packaged segment. And earlier in the competition she performed Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” and The Cranberries’ “Zombie.”

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Prior to AGT , Royal started out as a street musician in Thailand before gaining a following on YouTube. As this season’s winner, she gets $1 million and a showcase at a venue on the Las Vegas Strip.

Meanwhile, Linkin Park’s new documentary, Unshatter , chronicling the band’s comeback story following the passing of singer Chester Bennington, will hit movie theaters on September 30th.

Watch Nene Royal perform “The Emptiness Machine” with Linkin Park, as well as her performance of “Seven Nation Army” from the previous night, below.

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_Originally reported by [Consequence](https://consequence.net/2026/09/americas-got-talent-winner-nene-royal-linkin-park-finale/)._