From the moment 13-year-old Courtney Hadwin stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2019, the judges—Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Mel B, and Heidi Klum—weren’t sure what to expect. Her shy demeanor and nervous fidgeting made them skeptical, but Mel B offered a few words of encouragement: “Don’t be nervous. As soon as the music started, Courtney unleashed a jaw-dropping rendition of Otis Redding’s “Too Hot to Handle,” transforming before their eyes. Simon’s eyes widened, Mel B gasped, and Howie Mandel couldn’t hold back his excitement. The moment Courtney hit her final note, Howie slammed the golden buzzer, sending her straight to the quarter-finals.