Courtney’s got talent! Singer wows judges

PETERLEE GIRL‘WILL BE TV WINNER’

A COUNTY Durham schoolgirl has made it to the final of America’s Got Talent.

Courtney Hadwin wowed audiences with her rendition of Born To Be Wild on Tuesday night and one judge predicted she would be the winner.

The 14-year-old from Hesleden, near Peterlee, became a viral sensation when she got the Golden Buzzer in her first audition where she belted out Otis Redding’s Hard To Handle.

The seemingly-shy teenager stunned the judges with her powerful voice and unique dancing style, inspired by performers like Janice Joplin and James Brown.

Simon Cowell gave the schoolgirl a standing ovation after her semi-final performance and praised her as a “bundle of excitement” and a “maniac”.

Cowell’s fellow judge, Howie Mandel, had used his golden buzzer on Courtney earlier in the season, meaning she skipped a stage and went straight through to the live shows.

Following her performance, he said: “You were born to be wild! This Courtney Hadwin and Howie Mandel was wild! You were amazing. My prediction is you’re going to be the winner.”

Model Heidi Klum, the third judge, was also impressed and said the schoolgirl was “authentic and original”.

However, Spice Girl Mel B thought Courtney looked nervous. She is now tipped as a favourite to win on September 18.

Courtney shared photos of her with Howie Mandel and tweeted: “Wow I want to thank every single person that voted for me I’m so grateful tonight and in shock thank you guys for believing in me and @howiemandel you have believed in me from right at the beginning can’t thank you enough.” County Durham teenager Courtney Hadwin performs on the TV show America’s Got Talent