Introduction:
Early Life & First Steps
Born: July 6, 2004, in Hesleden, County Durham, England.
Shy and introverted as a child, she immersed herself in classic rock and soul.
By age 11 she was performing at local contests, notably the Teen Star competition and school events, earning praise for a remarkably mature voice.
Breakthroughs Before AGT
2016: Won Hartlepool’s “Performer of the Year” and became a finalist in the Beyond the Lights Awards.
2017: Gained national attention as a finalist on The Voice Kids UK with a bold, high-energy performance of “Nutbush City Limits.”
Opened for Sister Sledge at a large UK festival, proving her ability to command huge crowds.
America’s Got Talent Explosion (2018)
Auditioned at age 13 with Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle,” earning Howie Mandel’s Golden Buzzer and instant viral fame.
Advanced to the finals with electrifying, old-school rock performances like “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” “Born to Be Wild,” and “River Deep, Mountain High.”
Though she didn’t win, she became one of AGT’s most memorable contestants.
Building a Recording Career
Signed with Syco and Arista Records, releasing the Cover Sessions EP (2019) to show vocal range and subtlety.
Returned on AGT: The Champions with her own song “Pretty Little Thing,” proving she could write and perform original material.
Continued with singles including “Breakable,” “That Girl Don’t Live Here,” “Call Me Back,” and the charting track “Monsters,” which reached #19 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Digital chart.
Performed at prestigious events like the 2024 New York Pops Gala and began recording her debut album at London’s famed Metropolis Studios.
Controversies & Public Debate
Prior TV experience: Some viewers accused AGT of misleading audiences because she’d already been a finalist on The Voice Kids UK. Supporters noted the show never barred such contestants and that she’d still faced rejection and nerves like any newcomer.
Promotion backlash: Critics argued AGT gave her heavy promotional focus early on, then pulled back near the finale, fueling claims of producer manipulation. Fans countered that her viral popularity naturally drove attention.
Courtney’s Own Perspective
In interviews she emphasized she never aimed to “win,” calling AGT “the best experience of my life” and a chance to grow and perform.
She acknowledged The Voice Kids helped her confidence but said AGT’s global scale and exposure “changed everything.”
Remains focused on authentic artistry, drawing inspiration from rock and soul greats while developing her own original sound.