Courtney Hadwin has delivered one of her most powerful rock moments yet with a bold, confident, and sharply remastered cover in the spirit of Chuck Berry’s “Run Run Rudolph”.
The young rocker fired through the song with so much grit and energy that many fans said she deserves a future spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her voice carried that raw, vintage edge she’s known for — the kind of sound that feels lifted straight out of another era.
The reaction online was instant and emotional. One fan wrote, “She’s just like Howie said — not from this era. It’s so cool to feel that kind of music in 2023.” Others praised her return to full rock mode, with a French viewer cheering, “Courtney est de retour. Tu es la réincarnation du meilleur rock. Laisse parler ton âme!” Musicians, longtime supporters, and new fans all echoed the same thing: this is the version of Courtney they fell in love with.
Many of the comments came from fans who have followed her since her viral America’s Got Talent audition. “I cannot get enough,” one wrote. “She makes me laugh and cry at the same time.” Another added, “Now that’s what I call real Rock ’n’ Roll. Some people call her the Queen of Rock — she gets my vote.” Supporters around the world sent messages calling her a superstar, a true talent, and a performer whose voice brings pure happiness.
Behind the scenes, Courtney’s journey makes this moment even more powerful. When she first auditioned at 13 years old, she had no idea she would still be fighting off people’s early assumptions more than eight years later. “It’s been hard,” she recently shared. “I’m always grateful for the opportunity that show gave me… but I constantly feel like I have to prove I’m not just the girl from that TV show.”
Now 21, speaking from Benidorm just days after her birthday, she admits that growing up in the spotlight was complicated. In America, turning 21 is a symbol of adulthood, but Courtney has been living with adult-level pressure since she was a teenager. Her AGT audition — a fiery version of Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” — became one of the most-watched in the show’s history and instantly changed her life.
But instead of being shaped by modern pop stars, young Courtney was drawn to icons like James Brown and Tina Turner. She remembers watching an old black-and-white clip of James Brown performing “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and realizing, for the first time, that music could be a full-body feeling. That moment sparked her dream of becoming a performer who sings with her whole soul — something fans say she still does today.
After AGT, though, the path wasn’t easy. She signed a record deal, was moved from writing camp to writing camp, and kept receiving songs that didn’t match who she was. “It was pure Ariana Grande pop,” she said. “It wasn’t me at all.” When the label folded just before her 16th birthday, she felt lost — unsure where she fit in the industry.
Everything changed when she met producer Kevin Bowe, a musician who had worked with legends like Etta James and Joe Cocker. “He really got me,” Courtney said. “That’s when the music finally started to matter.”
With the live recording of “Run Run Rudolf,” fans say they hear the real Courtney again — the one who shakes, stomps, screams, and sings straight from the heart. As one listener put it, “This is when Courtney is at her best. Rocking away. Fabulous.”
And judging by the wave of comments shouting “Support!” “Super Courtney!” and “She’s the best singer in the world,” it’s clear her rock reign is far from over.
