With a portfolio of viral covers and fearless stage moments already behind her, Courtney Hadwin continues to reinvent classic songs with surprising ease.
Her at‑home rendition of “Ain’t No Sunshine,” recorded on April 30 2020 in a humble attic studio, is the latest proof. Known for gritty growls and rock‑charged screams, the former America’s Got Talent standout set them aside and delivered a whisper‑soft, soul‑steeped performance that melted hearts across social media.
Watch her cover below.
From the first gentle strum, Hadwin let a smoky hush settle over the song. Her husky lower notes caressed each lyric before blooming into delicate high phrases that floated through the small room.
Camera lights dimmed, she kept her eyes closed, swaying lightly as if sharing a secret with the microphone. Listeners expecting her usual explosive power found a quieter thunder—one built on pure control and tender restraint. By the final line, comment sections filled with astonishment that such an intimate space could echo a version so hauntingly complete.
Plenty of artists have covered Bill Withers’s signature ballad, but Hadwin’s stripped‑back approach felt disarmingly fresh. She pushed no tempo and chased no vocal fireworks, trusting the song’s honest sadness to carry its own weight. The decision paid off: fans compared her soft timbre to “an angel singing at midnight,” noting how she revealed new shades in a tune many thought they knew by heart.
Whether you discovered Hadwin during her blues‑rock takes of “Nutbush City Limits” or through this softer surprise, her latest cover underlines a simple truth: she can shape her voice to whatever the moment needs—monster howl or velvet lullaby.
What to know about “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
Released in 1971 on Bill Withers’s debut album Just As I Am, “Ain’t No Sunshine” was produced by Booker T. Jones and features the legendary Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass. The song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Withers a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1972.
Famous for its 26 repeated “I know” phrases, the track captures the ache of missing someone and has been covered by artists ranging from Michael Jackson to Sting. Courtney Hadwin’s 2020 attic‑studio version adds a new chapter to that legacy, reminding listeners that even in the quietest setting, a great song—and a bold voice—can still feel brand‑new.
