NeNe Royal Rocks With Avenged Sevenfold on “Bat Country” in Singapore

During Avenged Sevenfold’s concert at Singapore Indoor Stadium on October 13, 2026, NeNe Royal returned to the stage to perform “Bat Country” and “Unholy Confessions” with the band. The 16-year-old singer and guitarist had already delivered her own opening set. Her guest appearance gave the evening a second milestone, placing the newly crowned America’s Got Talent winner alongside one of her favorite bands.

Ever wondered what happens when an opening act gets invited into the headliners’ performance? Royal’s Singapore appearance gave that question a memorable answer. She had introduced herself through a set of rock covers; now she was adding guitar and vocals to Avenged Sevenfold’s own songs. The change put her musicianship in a different spotlight.

Frontman M. Shadows invited Royal back to perform with the band after her opening slot. She joined them for “Bat Country” and stayed for “Unholy Confessions,” contributing as both a singer and guitarist. That invitation turned a support booking into a collaboration, with Royal taking an active musical role onstage.

“Bat Country,” from Avenged Sevenfold’s 2005 album City of Evil, was an especially fitting meeting point. Its driving rhythm, melodic vocals and prominent guitar writing capture a side of the band that has drawn generations of young players toward heavy music. Joining that song meant stepping into one of their most recognizable recordings.

Royal’s guitar remained central to the occasion. The appeal of the collaboration lies in seeing a musician who grew up with this kind of rock become part of the performance herself. Her Singapore appearance brought together the vocal and instrumental sides of her work on a stage shared with Avenged Sevenfold. Watch “Bat Country” below.

The collaboration continued with “Unholy Confessions,” a cornerstone of Waking the Fallen. The song reaches into an earlier chapter of Avenged Sevenfold’s catalogue, with a riff-driven identity that still makes it an important part of their live repertoire. Royal’s presence connected that material with a young performer finding her own place in rock.

Together, the two selections offered a meaningful introduction to the band’s music. “Bat Country” carries the melodic sweep of City of Evil, while “Unholy Confessions” retains the sharper attack associated with Waking the Fallen. Royal’s guest appearance therefore touched two distinct parts of the catalogue rather than centering on a single song.

Earlier in the evening, Royal had opened with Muse’s “Hysteria,” followed by Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name,” System of a Down’s “I-E-A-I-A-I-O,” and The Cranberries’ “Zombie.” It was a concentrated introduction to her tastes, built around songs with strong riffs, memorable vocals and plenty of weight.

That opening set supplied the context for what followed. Royal first presented her own interpretations, then returned to play within Avenged Sevenfold’s performance. Both settings called on the same combination of singing and guitar, but the collaboration added the experience of working alongside the musicians whose songs she was performing.

Royal comes from Phuket, Thailand, where she developed her playing through years of local performances. She began learning guitar at seven and was largely self-taught through online videos. Her market gigs provided a practical foundation: regular chances to work on songs, play for listeners and build the stage confidence that later reached television audiences.

In 2026, she became the first Thai artist to win America’s Got Talent, taking the Season 21 title. Her run kept rock at its center, with covers including “Zombie,” “Hysteria,” “Black Hole Sun” and “Seven Nation Army.” Mel B’s Golden Buzzer for her Soundgarden performance became one of the key steps toward that victory.

The finale also brought collaborations with established artists. Royal joined Linkin Park for “The Emptiness Machine” and performed with The Warning in a filmed segment featuring “Kerosene.” The Singapore appearance continued that progression, moving from a television event into the setting of an Avenged Sevenfold concert.

There was a personal connection here as well. Royal has described Avenged Sevenfold as a favorite band, making the invitation more than another high-profile booking. It brought an influence from her own musical world directly into her professional experience. The guitar she had used to develop her voice as a performer now put her beside those musicians.

The concert photographs capture that connection plainly: Royal stands among the band’s players with her guitar, taking part in the performance. Her next chapter also includes developing original music. Experiences like Singapore add to that foundation, giving her new settings in which to use the skills she built long before her competition win.

On October 13, 2026, Royal’s night moved from an opening set to “Bat Country” and “Unholy Confessions” with Avenged Sevenfold. The combination of musical participation and personal significance makes it a standout moment in her rise. For the energy of the meeting and the story behind it, this is our pick for this year’s best live rock–metal performance.

Watch Royal continue her appearance with Avenged Sevenfold on “Unholy Confessions.” The fan-filmed Singapore recording documents the second song of their collaboration, following “Bat Country,” and offers another view of her guitar and vocal contribution to the night.

For the performance that preceded her return with the headliners, watch Royal close her own opening set with The Cranberries’ “Zombie.” This recording from the same Singapore concert shows the other side of her evening: leading a familiar rock classic before joining Avenged Sevenfold onstage.