From a shy teen on reality TV to a bold voice ready to shake things up, Courtney Hadwin is back and she’s not holding anything back.

Fans first fell in love with Hadwin’s explosive audition on America’s Got Talent when she was just 13. Her raspy, soul-drenched vocals and Janis Joplin energy lit up the stage and quickly went viral around the world.

But instead of racing toward fame, Hadwin took a different path. She stepped away from the spotlight to focus on herself, grow as an artist, and figure out what kind of music she really wanted to make.

Now, the 20-year-old singer is stepping into the spotlight again and she’s doing it on her own terms.

This week, Hadwin shared a moving throwback video that takes fans on a journey through her career since AGT. The clip, filled with emotional highlights, past performances, and never-before-seen moments, shows just how far she’s come. In the caption, she wrote:

“DIE AND STAY PRETTY is out 27/06/25. PRE SAVE IT NOW ♥️”

Watch the video below.

That’s right. Hadwin also used the video to announce the release date of her next single, “Die and Stay Pretty,” coming June 27. The track follows her recent release, “D.N.A.,” a fiery, funk-fueled anthem that shows a whole new side of her artistry.

Courtney Hadwin’s New Era Is Loud, Fearless and 100% Her

With “D.N.A.” already making waves, Hadwin has made it clear—she’s not here to blend in.

The single is a wild ride of funky grooves and chaotic energy that perfectly captures the rush of a new crush. Created with Grammy-winning producer Kevin Bowe, the song was written over FaceTime in just 90 minutes. “It was so fun!” Hadwin shared in a recent interview. “The lyrics are bizarre and have no real meaning, but I think they really sum up the whirlwind of feelings that come with an obsessive crush with added humour!”

The song is a bold preview of her upcoming debut album, LITTLE MISS JAGGED, dropping this September. True to its name, the record promises to be edgy, emotional, and genre-free. “I’ve always said I’m like marmite,” she laughs. “I’m rough around the edges and far from perfect but I embrace that through music.”

Hadwin didn’t want her album to sound like everything else. She wanted each track to feel personal and real. “There are no album fillers,” she said. “Every song has its own story and sound. I don’t even know what genre I fit into so why put my album in one?”

One track that stands out for Hadwin is “Die and Stay Pretty,” which she describes as deeply personal. “It was the first time I was honest with myself and opened up fully,” she said. “Music has always been how I communicate but that was the moment I really let go.”