Nene Royal Performs with Linkin Park at AGT Finale Before Winning Season 21
Nene Royal closed her America’s Got Talent run with a performance alongside Linkin Park and a Season 21 victory. On the September 23, 2026, results show, the 16-year-old singer and guitarist joined the band for “The Emptiness Machine.” Later that night, she was named the winner.
Royal opened the song on electric guitar, singing its first lines before Emily Armstrong stepped in. As the arrangement built, the two exchanged vocals while Mike Shinoda and the rest of Linkin Park played alongside them.
The collaboration came during Wednesday’s results show, after voting had closed. It was another opportunity for viewers to watch Royal perform, though the winner had been decided by votes cast for the previous night’s competitive performances.
On September 22, Royal made her final bid for the title with the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” She sang and played its unmistakable guitar riff, bringing the rock-driven style that had defined her season to the finale stage.
Performing with Linkin Park called for a different kind of stage presence. Royal opened the song, then worked within the band’s arrangement as Armstrong joined her. Their vocal exchange became one of the performance’s defining moments.
Royal remained part of the song after Armstrong’s entrance, adding guitar and vocals as the performance grew. The moment placed her beside the musicians who recorded the original track.
Released in September 2024, “The Emptiness Machine” introduced Linkin Park’s renewed lineup and became a key song on From Zero. Royal’s appearance connected her finale night to this chapter of the band’s music.
Taking the opening verse gave Royal a clear role in a song shaped around Shinoda and Armstrong’s voices. She set its tone before sharing the vocals with Armstrong.
Royal had shown throughout the competition that her guitar was central to her performances. She auditioned with the Cranberries’ “Zombie” and later took on Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun.” The latter earned her Mel B’s Golden Buzzer and a place in the final.
Her selections moved through several sides of rock: the weight of Soundgarden, the spare guitar riff of the White Stripes and Linkin Park’s blend of rock and electronic sounds. Across them, she sang while remaining an active presence on guitar.
The victory brought wider attention to the young musician from Phuket, Thailand. Royal arrived on the American stage with a guitar-led approach and finished the season as its winner.
Royal finished ahead of runner-up Geno Ploeger when the final results were announced. The public vote had weighed acts from a range of disciplines, including music, magic and dance.
Each finale night marked a different milestone. “Seven Nation Army” was Royal’s last performance for votes; “The Emptiness Machine” gave her a chance to share the stage with Linkin Park before the result was revealed.
The collaboration also showed Royal in a setting beyond a solo competition performance. She played within an established band and shared a vocal part with Armstrong.
By the close of September 23, Royal had performed with Linkin Park and won America’s Got Talent Season 21. Both moments capped a run built on her singing, guitar playing and choice of rock songs.
