Singapore: Thai guitarist and AGT winner Nene Royal turned her dream into reality Tuesday night when she shared the stage with metal giants Avenged Sevenfold at Singapore Indoor Stadium on October 13, 2026, delivering both a blistering opening set and a historic collaboration with the band.
The concert marked Avenged Sevenfold’s first show in Singapore in 11 years as part of their Asia Tour 2026. Shortly after winning America’s Got Talent Season 21 last month, the 16-year-old from Phuket — real name Rattikarn “Praew” Amloy — was personally invited by the band to serve as their opening act, making this her first major international stage since becoming the first Thai artist to win AGT.
Nene opened the night with a five-song set built entirely on rock covers that defined her AGT run. She kicked off with Muse’s “Hysteria,” followed by Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” the song that earned her Mel B’s Golden Buzzer and propelled her to the live shows. She then tore through Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing in the Name,” System of a Down’s “I-E-A-I-A-I-O,” and closed her set with The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” the track she used for her audition and later revived in Singapore.
Videos posted on the Nene Royal Facebook page, now viewed more than 1.2 million times, showed the teenage guitarist and vocalist playing with confidence and ease, shredding solos and belting screams while the crowd jumped and rocked. The OZONE Band FC page shared photos from the front row, calling it a “historic moment for Nene Royal x Avenged Sevenfold,” while concertgoers were seen filming with phones and singing along.
Her night was far from over after her opening slot. Avenged Sevenfold launched their own 14-song headlining set with “Nightmare,” “Afterlife,” “So Far Away,” “Shepherd of Fire” and “Gunslinger,” before frontman M. Shadows surprised the audience by inviting Nene back. According to Jambase and fan channels Chris’s Music and Tydli, the collaboration was completely unrehearsed.
The Thai guitarist first joined them for their 2005 classic “Bat Country” from City of Evil, taking lead vocals and trading licks with Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance. She then stayed for “Unholy Confessions” from Waking The Fallen, contributing both backing vocals and electric guitar. A 13-minute clip she later posted with the caption “Thank you very much A7X I love you” showed her looking almost like an additional member of the group.
For fans who followed her journey from busking at Phuket’s Naka Night Market to teaching herself guitar at age 7 via YouTube, the moment was deeply symbolic. Throughout AGT, Nene spoke openly about idolizing Avenged Sevenfold and dreaming of a rock career. During the show she shared the stage with The Warning in the semi-final and Linkin Park performing “The Emptiness Machine” in the finale, earning praise for her powerful voice, screams and guitar virtuosity.
Avenged Sevenfold closed the show after Nene’s guest spot with “A Little Piece of Heaven” and “Cosmic,” sealing a night that rock media outlet Squatch Rocks described as the swift transition of a teen talent show winner into the real rock world. For the band, the collaboration highlighted their intent to spotlight the next generation of rock musicians.
The Singapore appearance is now seen as a launchpad for Nene’s next chapter. She is reportedly working on original music and has completed interviews with Singapore’s 987 FM. Back home in Thailand, Prime Minister Anutin has congratulated her on her international success, while fans in Phuket are preparing homecoming celebrations to honor the young rock queen who just lived every guitarist’s dream.
