Los Angeles: America’s Got Talent has crowned its newest champion. Nene Royal, the 16-year-old singer and guitarist from Phuket, Thailand, won Season 21 during the live finale on NBC on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Royal emerged victorious after America’s vote, defeating magician Geno Ploeger and the other finalists to claim the competition’s $1 million grand prize. She will also receive a headlining opportunity in a Las Vegas live show.
Spoiler alert: This article reveals the results of the America’s Got Talent Season 21 finale.
Nene Royal Wins America’s Got Talent Season 21
The two-part America’s Got Talent finale concluded with host Terry Crews revealing the results of the public vote.
Royal and Ploeger were announced as the final two acts remaining in the competition before Crews revealed that Royal had received enough votes to become the Season 21 winner.
The young performer had built her run around her singing and guitar performances and secured her place in the finale with a Golden Buzzer.
Her victory capped a season that featured singers, dancers, magicians, aerial performers, dog acts, lasers and even humanoid robots.
Geno Ploeger Finishes as the Runner-Up
Magician Geno Ploeger joined Royal as the final two acts before the winner was announced.
Ploeger had impressed throughout the competition with his sleight-of-hand performances. During his audition, he received four yes votes from the judges, with Simon Cowell describing his routine as “one of the best magic tricks ever.”
He later returned for the finale with America’s Got Talent Season 10 winner Mat Franco, performing a special magic routine together.
Ploeger ultimately finished behind Royal after making it through the finale’s earlier rounds.
Who Made the America’s Got Talent Season 21 Top 5?
The finale began with the Top 10 finalists being brought onto the stage in pairs. One act from each matchup advanced to the Top 5.
The five acts moving forward were:
- Royal
- Geno Ploeger
- Hundred Fingers
- Veronika Goroshkova
- Royal Lasers
The results unfolded throughout the live broadcast.
Royal Lasers advanced over Come Here, while Hundred Fingers moved ahead of Olivia Befus. Veronika Goroshkova defeated Noelle to claim another Top 5 position.
Royal then advanced over Unitree, leaving the final spot to Ploeger and Acro Canine Crew. Ploeger ultimately took that final place.
The competition was then narrowed to Royal, Ploeger and Hundred Fingers before Royal was announced as the season’s winner.
America’s Got Talent Finale Featured Special Performances
The Season 21 finale also featured several collaborations involving the finalists and special guests.
Josh Groban performed “Skyfall” while aerial performer Veronika Goroshkova took to the air.
Ploeger joined magician Mat Franco for a special routine, while Hundred Fingers performed alongside classical pianist and composer Chloe Flower.
Royal also received a major finale collaboration, taking the stage with Linkin Park for a performance of “The Emptiness Machine.”
Meanwhile, Lele Pons joined Acro Canine Crew for a performance combining acrobatics with the group’s canine tricks.
The Season 21 Finalists
The Season 21 finale featured 10 acts representing a wide range of performance styles.
Acro Canine Crew
The all-female troupe from Edmonton, Canada, combines dance and gymnastics with trained dogs. The group earned praise from Mel B after its semifinal performance.
Come Here
The 23-member dance group from South Korea became known for synchronized choreography and complex formations. Sofía Vergara praised the group’s professionalism and uniqueness following its semifinal performance.
Geno Ploeger
The magician’s interest in sleight of hand was inspired by his grandfather. His audition received four yes votes and eventually carried him into the final stages of the competition.
Hundred Fingers
Hundred Fingers is a South Korean magic and dance collective created by Yu Hojin, who previously competed as a solo magician on AGT and reached the Season 17 finale.
The group received Howie Mandel’s Golden Buzzer during the live shows.
Noelle
The 14-year-old singer from Dallas received Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer after performing Sienna Spiro’s “Die on This Hill.”
She later received a second Golden Buzzer from guest judge Kenan Thompson following her quarterfinal performance of Elton John’s “Your Song,” sending her directly to the finale.
Olivia Befus
Befus, a dog trainer from Midland, Michigan, performs with Varsity Canines. Her semifinal routine featured Echo, Phoenix and Zeke and was set to BTS’ “Dynamite.”
She received standing ovations from Mel B and Sofía Vergara before advancing through America’s vote.
Royal
Royal, the eventual Season 21 champion, is a singer and guitarist from Phuket, Thailand. She secured her place in the finale through a Golden Buzzer and later performed “Seven Nation Army” during the final performances.
She ultimately became the youngest act among the season’s final competitors to claim the championship.
Royal Lasers
The Las Vegas-based group combines choreography, lasers and optical illusions. The trio consists of Cindy, her husband Josh and their friend Nick.
Terry Crews awarded the group a Golden Buzzer after its audition.
Unitree
Unitree brought robotics into the competition through a performance featuring Chinese engineer and dancer Wu Yufei alongside synchronized Unitree G1 humanoid robots.
The act initially earned four yes votes before receiving Sofía Vergara’s live Golden Buzzer.
Veronika Goroshkova
Aerial pole performer Goroshkova became one of the season’s finalists after a series of physically demanding performances.
Following her semifinal routine, Mel B called the performance “perfection,” while Howie Mandel described it as “amazing” and “crazy.”
What Changed on America’s Got Talent Season 21?
Season 21 introduced a new Judges’ Callbacks round, giving selected performers another opportunity to perform before the judges determined which acts would move into the live shows.
The season also expanded the number of Golden Buzzer opportunities to 10, creating additional pathways for performers to reach the live rounds.
The judging panel consisted of Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara, Mel B and Simon Cowell.
Cowell, however, was absent for part of the season after undergoing back surgery. A spokesperson previously described the procedure as routine and said he was expected to return after a few weeks.
Where to Watch America’s Got Talent Season 21
The America’s Got Talent Season 21 finale aired live on NBC on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Episodes of the series are also available to stream on Peacock.
With Royal now officially crowned the winner, Season 21 concludes with the 16-year-old singer taking home the $1 million prize and a Las Vegas performance opportunity.