With a voice that has been hailed as one of the most electrifying of her generation, Courtney Hadwin has never been afraid to put her own spin on rock classics. And her live cover of Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was once the perfect example of that raw power.
Fans praised it as radio-ready, a performance that captured the grit of Axl Rose while blending it with Hadwin’s signature Janis Joplin-style rasp. Yet in a surprising move, Hadwin recently removed the video from her official channel, leaving many wondering why a cover so universally admired had been taken down.
The decision didn’t stop the performance from finding a second life. A fan reposted the video online, where it went viral, sparking millions of conversations across social media. Listeners marveled at her delivery, noting how Hadwin seemed “born to entertain” and “a complete natural” who could rock the stage with the conviction of legends decades her senior.
Comments poured in: some called her the “Queen of Rock,” while others wished the full version had been released instead of just a snippet. One fan admitted, “At 78, I’ve become addicted to the Courtney drug,” while another wrote, “This kid is phenomenal. I’ve followed her since the beginning.”
Though the original cover has disappeared from her YouTube, fans can still find other live performances scattered across TikTok. “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” however, remains the elusive gem—spoken of and shared through reposts rather than her own official platforms. The rarity has only added to its mystique, strengthening Hadwin’s cult-like following among rock purists and longtime AGT fans alike.
For Hadwin, now 21, the viral flashbacks to her covers are both a blessing and a challenge. Ever since her America’s Got Talent audition at just 13 years old—an unforgettable rendition of Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” that became one of the show’s most-watched moments—she has battled to define herself beyond “the girl from that TV show.”
“It’s been hard, I’m not gonna lie,” she recently shared in an interview. “I’m always grateful for the opportunity that show gave me, but I constantly feel like I have to prove I’m not just that 13-year-old on AGT anymore.”
Her journey has been anything but smooth. After signing a major record deal as a teen, Hadwin found herself pushed into glossy pop writing sessions that didn’t reflect her blues-and-rock roots. When the label folded, she faced an even steeper uphill climb. It wasn’t until teaming up with veteran producer Kevin Bowe—whose credits include work with Etta James and Joe Cocker—that she began to rediscover her true sound. Together, they’ve shaped her forthcoming debut album Little Miss Jagged, due September 15.
“Jagged—rough around the edges, not perfect—that’s always been me,” she explained. “I’ve always said I’m kind of like Marmite: you either love me or you hate me. But this album is the most personal I’ve ever written. It feels like one big diary entry that I’m finally letting people hear.”
For fans still clinging to her vanished “Sweet Child O’ Mine” cover, the performance serves as a reminder of Hadwin’s natural ability to channel the spirit of rock and soul while carving out her own identity. It may no longer exist on her official channel, but in the age of viral sharing, its legacy has only grown stronger.