Courtney Hadwin ‘robbed’ of $1 million America’s Got Talent prize

British teenager Courtney Hadwin narrowly missed out on winning America’s Got Talent after failing to make it into the top five.

The 14-year-old from County Durham was booted out in Wednesday night’s final which saw Canadian-American magician Shin Lim take home the $1 million (£760,000) prize money.

Host Tyra Banks separated the finalists into pairs before revealing who had made it through. Hadwin was coupled with Michael Ketterer who made the top five.

Hadwin hugged the singer before Banks told her: “You are amazing. You have introduced rock and roll to so many kids. This is just the beginning, you should be so proud.”

She replied: “Thank you.”

Viewers tweeted their upset at Hadwin falling short, with many claiming she had been “robbed”.

Hadwin’s first appearance on America’s Got Talent went viral after she earned a golden buzzer for her cover of Otis Redding’s Hard To Handle.

Simon Cowell likened her to a “lion” while Howie Mandell compared her to American rock star Janis Joplin.

She went on to impress with covers of classic songs including Steppenwolf’s 1969 hit Born To Be Wild and James Brown’s Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.

Her stint on the US reality show came a year after she reached the final of The Voice Kids UK.

She narrowly missed out on being crowned champion after losing to fellow contestant Jess Folley who walked away with a trip to Disneyland and £30,000 towards her musical education.