Courtney Hadwin, born 6 July 2004, is an English singer-songwriter from County Durham. She first became known worldwide after a viral audition on America’s Got Talent.
Hadwin has since released her debut album and built an independent music career.
Who is Courtney Hadwin?
Courtney Hadwin is an English singer-songwriter known for her raw, soul-influenced voice. She first drew national attention on the first season of ITV’s The Voice Kids UK in 2017.
The following year, she auditioned for the 13th season of America’s Got Talent. Her performance of Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” earned her a Golden Buzzer from judge Howie Mandel.
That audition video went on to draw over 200 million views on AGT’s YouTube channel. Hadwin advanced through the season and later performed alongside eventual winner Shin Lim in Las Vegas.
She signed a record deal with Syco Music and Arista Records in December 2018. Since then, Hadwin has shifted toward an independent, self-written sound rather than a conventional pop path.
Early Life of Courtney Hadwin
Courtney Hadwin was born on 6 July 2004 in Hartlepool, County Durham, England. Her parents are Paul Hadwin and Ann-Marie Hadwin, and she grew up in the nearby village of Hesleden.
She has a younger brother named Paul and a younger sister named Melissa. Hadwin attended Hesleden Primary School before studying at The Academy at Shotton Hall in Peterlee until 2018.
She trained at several vocal and performance schools growing up, including Shotton Hall Theatre School, Peanuts Master Classes, Kate Sirs School of Music, and Julie Miles’ Vocal Ovation. Hadwin first competed at TeenStar in Newcastle in April 2015, singing a version of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love.”
She reached that competition’s grand finale as a young teenager. In September 2015, a video of her performing Christina Aguilera’s “Say Something” also began circulating online.
Courtney Hadwin Age
Courtney Hadwin is 21 years old as of 2026, born on 6 July 2004. Her zodiac sign is Cancer.
She was only 13 years old during her breakout America’s Got Talent season in 2018. Hadwin has spent nearly her entire adolescence and young adulthood in the public eye as a professional performer.
Courtney Hadwin Ethnicity and Nationality
Courtney Hadwin is British and holds English nationality. She was born and raised in Hartlepool, County Durham, in the northeast of England.
Her family background is English, and she has described her hometown region as a close-knit community. Hesleden, the village where she grew up, is a small former mining settlement in County Durham.
Courtney Hadwin Height and Weight
Courtney Hadwin’s exact height is not consistently confirmed across public sources. Reports place her at roughly 5 feet 3 to 5 feet 4 inches tall, or around 1.60 to 1.63 meters.
Her weight has not been publicly confirmed. Hadwin is known on stage for an energetic, physical performance style that draws comparisons to classic rock and soul singers like Janis Joplin.
Courtney Hadwin Musical Style and Influences
Hadwin’s sound blends rock, soul, funk, and pop, and she has said she resists being placed in a single genre. Her influences include Etta James, Otis Redding, Tina Turner, and James Brown, all artists she covered during her early televised performances.
She has also cited Janis Joplin as a reference point, a comparison Howie Mandel made directly during her AGT audition. Hadwin co-wrote her debut album with American songwriter and producer Kevin Bowe, blending vintage soul influences with modern songwriting.
Courtney Hadwin Education
Hadwin’s formal education included Hesleden Primary School and The Academy at Shotton Hall in Peterlee, which she attended until the autumn of 2018. Alongside that schooling, she pursued dedicated vocal and performance training.
She studied at Shotton Hall Theatre School, Peanuts Master Classes, Kate Sirs School of Music, and Julie Miles’ Vocal Ovation. That early training shaped the powerful, soul-driven voice she later brought to television competitions.
Courtney Hadwin Career
Courtney Hadwin’s career began with small regional competitions before growing into an international spotlight. She built her reputation on live performance long before signing any record deal.
Early Career
In April 2016, Hadwin won Hartlepool’s Performer of the Year Award and was also a finalist for the Beyond the Lights award. She opened for Sister Sledge at the South Tyneside Festival in July 2017, performing for a crowd of more than 18,000 people.
In January 2018, she performed in Southampton at a fundraising event for U-Support, a charity supporting children with life-limiting illnesses. Earlier, in 2017, Hadwin competed on the first season of The Voice Kids UK, where coach Danny Jones picked her during the blind auditions after she sang Tina Turner’s “Nutbush City Limits.”
She advanced through the battle rounds and semifinals, eventually reaching the final on 16 July 2017 with a performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls.
Breakthrough on America’s Got Talent
Hadwin’s audition for the 13th season of America’s Got Talent in 2018 became her defining career moment. Her rendition of Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” earned a Golden Buzzer from judge Howie Mandel, sending her directly to the live shows.
The audition footage passed 200 million views on YouTube within months. Hadwin advanced through AGT’s quarter-finals in August 2018 and performed in the season finale that September.
Though she did not win the competition, she went on to perform five live shows in Las Vegas with season winner Shin Lim between 2 and 4 November 2018. That same year, Sony’s Syco Music and Arista Records signed her to a recording contract.
Recent Work
Hadwin released her debut studio album, Little Miss Jagged, in 2025. The 14-track record was co-written and co-produced with Kevin Bowe and mixes rock, soul, funk, and pop influences.
She has described the album as her most personal work to date, touching on songs like “You Only Love Me When I Lie” and “Dirty.” The album also features a collaboration with Leon Bridges on the track “Burn It Down.”
Hadwin supported the album with a UK tour through 2026, playing venues including The Mash House in Edinburgh and Rough Trade in Nottingham. She has continued releasing new material independently, including the single “D.N.A.,” while building her career outside a major-label structure.
Courtney Hadwin Discography
Hadwin’s officially released material includes:
- Little Miss Jagged (2025) — debut studio album, 14 tracks
- “D.N.A.” — independent single
- “You Only Love Me When I Lie” — single from Little Miss Jagged
- “Dirty” — single from Little Miss Jagged
- “Burn It Down” featuring Leon Bridges — track from Little Miss Jagged
Courtney Hadwin Awards and Recognition
Hadwin won Hartlepool’s Performer of the Year Award in April 2016 and was a finalist for the Beyond the Lights award that same year. Her America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer moment in 2018 remains her most widely recognized achievement.
That audition became one of the most-viewed segments in the show’s history. Hadwin also reached the final of The Voice Kids UK in July 2017, one of the competition’s first-ever finalists.
Courtney Hadwin Tours and Concerts
Courtney Hadwin toured the United Kingdom in 2026 in support of Little Miss Jagged. Her schedule has included stops at The Mash House in Edinburgh and Rough Trade Nottingham, among other UK venues.
She has performed for large crowds since her teenage years, including a 2017 South Tyneside Festival set in front of more than 18,000 people. Hadwin continues to build her live following through independent touring rather than large-scale arena shows.
Courtney Hadwin Boyfriend
Courtney Hadwin’s relationship status has not been publicly confirmed as of 2026. She keeps her personal life private and has not named a partner in interviews or on social media.
Courtney Hadwin Net Worth
Courtney Hadwin’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. Her income comes mainly from music streaming royalties, live performances, touring, and her earlier record deal with Syco and Arista.
Courtney Hadwin Social Media
Courtney Hadwin is active on Instagram under the verified handle @courtneyhadwin, where she promotes her music and tour dates. She also maintains a page on Facebook at Courtney Hadwin, where she posts updates about live shows and releases.
Hadwin runs an official website through her music hub, where fans can find her latest tour and merchandise information. She uses these platforms to connect directly with fans as an independent artist.
The Bottom Line
Courtney Hadwin’s Golden Buzzer audition on America’s Got Talent in 2018 introduced her to a global audience at just 13 years old. That single performance of “Hard to Handle” has since drawn more than 200 million YouTube views.
She grew up in the small County Durham village of Hesleden, training at local vocal schools before her national television debut on The Voice Kids UK in 2017. Hadwin has built her sound around rock, soul, and funk influences rather than a conventional pop image.
In 2025, she released her debut album, Little Miss Jagged, followed by a UK tour into 2026. We hope you enjoyed reading about Courtney Hadwin. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!