See Courtney Hadwin's cover of John Lennon Christmas classic

The 16-year-old from Hesleden, who rose to prominence on America’s Got Talent, has released a version of Happy Xmas (War is Over), which John and Yoko Ono originally released in 1971.

In a week since the video, which features footage of Courtney’s childhood, was released on the singer’s YouTube channel it’s already had more than 61,000 views and counting.

Courtney, who has been compared to a latter-day Janis Joplin, has a loyal following on the video sharing channel with 457,000 subscribers.

The former pupil at the Academy at Shotton Hall, Peterlee, said: “This year has been very hard on everyone, it’s been a time for us all to think about what’s important. I’ve been recording and writing my own music constantly just getting it right, but really wanted to sing this song because it feels like it relates to a lot that’s going on right now and how there’s a lot of healing to do it the new year.”

Courtney’s 2018 audition became one of the most viral in the history of America’s Got Talent with 310 million views. The same year, she performed at Hartlepool Mail’s Best of Hartlepool Awards, one of many local awards she has won over the years.

Now managed by Larry Rudolph, Courtney is working in the studio on her forthcoming album.

*Courtney Hadwin’s cover of Merry Xmas (War is Over) is available to stream now on all platforms.

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