The performance was part of her Live & Loud set, and while many young singers play it safe with familiar pop hits, Courtney chose a timeless ballad and made it completely her own.
With her signature mix of raw emotion and fearless stage presence, she delivered a version that felt both haunting and heartfelt.
Watch the performance below.
Backed by a simple arrangement, Courtney’s vocals took center stage. Her tender tone in the opening verse slowly built into a powerful crescendo, capturing the soul of the song without ever imitating Presley.
What made it even more special was her ability to connect emotionally with lyrics that most kids her age wouldn’t fully understand, but Courtney delivered every word as if she’d lived it.
Viewers who later saw her breakthrough moment on America’s Got Talent might not know this earlier performance, but it’s a strong reminder that her artistry was already developing well before her TV debut.
This rendition of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is more than just a cover—it’s a sign of the fearless performer she was becoming, even as a preteen.
Courtney Hadwin shares new single ‘Die And Stay Pretty’
She’s still just 20-years-old, but Courtney Hadwin is now fulfilling the phenomenal potential she showed with her unforgettable performance on ‘America’s Got Talent’ in 2018. Since then, that electrifying voice has gained more power and expression, she has discovered who she is as an artist, and she pours her experiences into songs which burst with personality.
Now Courtney’s next step comes with today’s release of the new single ‘Die And Stay Pretty’. It comes as prepares to cement the first stage of her rise with her debut album ‘LITTLE MISS JAGGED’, which follows on September 12th.
Watch her new song below.
In ‘Die And Stay Pretty’, Courtney tells a story of doing all she can to help someone who is determined to speedrun the cliched rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, complete with references to old school legends The Velvet Underground and Echo & The Bunnymen.
With the husky, bluesy tone and powerful high notes she uses, Courtney could have written this as a classic love song but instead she takes it somewhere far more intriguing and less predictable – the mark of an artist willing to do things on their own terms.
The belting, full-throttle soul voice that gave Courtney her first moment in the spotlight is the attention-grabbing star trait of the ‘LITTLE MISS JAGGED’ album. But as its singles prove, she deploys that vocal in unexpected ways: the rousing funk anthem ‘D.N.A.’; the neo-soul elegance of ‘You Only Love Me When I Lie’; and the surging pop-punk bounce of ‘Spellbound’. There’s much more new material waiting to be discovered on the 15-track set too.
