The judges, Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Mel B, and Heidi Klum, appeared doubtful of 13-year-old Courtney Hadwin from the very beginning of her time on the “America’s Got Talent” stage in 2019. Mel B said, “Don’t be nervous,” in an effort to calm Courtney’s obvious anxiety. Go for it and good luck; you’re here for a reason.
But all doubts were soon banished by Courtney. She changed from a shy teenager to a self-assured powerhouse as she launched into a scorching, soulful song of Otis Redding’s “Too Hot To Handle.” Her stage presence and vocal ability, which belied her youth, clearly astounded the judges.
When Howie Mandel, who was deeply moved by Courtney’s performance, pressed his golden buzzer, sending her straight to the quarterfinals, it was the high point of her audition. He said, “Oh my god, you’re from a completely different era; you’re not from this one.” “You were this shy little thing when you came out, and then you sing and you’re like a lion,” Simon Cowell continued.
