In an awe-inspiring performance on “America’s Got Talent,” 10-year-old guitar prodigy Maya Neelakantan, who has since celebrated her 11th birthday, showcased her remarkable skills by delivering a flawless rendition of Metallica’s iconic track “Master of Puppets.” This performance came after she had previously wowed the judges with a creative cover of Papa Roach’s “Last Resort” during her initial audition.
Despite the complexity of “Master of Puppets” being a significant step up from her earlier piece, Neelakantan tackled it with apparent ease. Her execution was seamless, marked by a consistent smile throughout her time on stage. Armed with a Flying V guitar, she effortlessly navigated through the song’s famous riff and chorus. Notably, she even managed to make her guitar sound acoustically during the solo segment, adding a unique twist to the performance.
The judges were full of praise following her performance. Howie Mandel compared her to a reincarnated Van Halen, expressing surprise at her extraordinary talent. Simon Cowell also expressed admiration, noting that her performance was a substantial improvement from her previous audition. He also thanked Metallica for allowing Neelakantan to perform their song, highlighting that it was a rare honor, as it was the first time “Master of Puppets” had been featured on the show.
Neelakantan first captured the public’s attention in 2022 when TOOL’s Adam Jones gifted her a guitar. Her viral moment came in 2023 with a single-take mashup of 22 TOOL songs. As “America’s Got Talent” reveals the results of the voting on Wednesday night, August 28, fans eagerly await to see if this young musical genius will advance to the next round. Watch her stunning performance below to experience her extraordinary talent for yourself.
AONDONA BARTHELOMEW 
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Smith