An Athlone native living in New York has stunned viewers of the viral TrackStar Show, breaking its all-time record with her flawless knowledge of Irish music and donating her €10,000 (USD 20,520) winnings to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
Lauren Kennedy, who moved to the Big Apple in 2019 and now lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was approached while out for a morning run through the Bowery district in Lower Manhattan. Invited to take part in the online music challenge for a second time, she was asked to identify famous Irish artists and tracks after listening to short excerpts through headphones — and she didn’t miss a single one.
From the moment the first few notes of “Here’s the Thing” by Fontaines D.C. played, Lauren was unstoppable. She swiftly followed with correct answers for “Like Real People Do” by Hozier, “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” by The Script, and “Running / Planning” by CMAT — all without hesitation.
The TrackStar Show, known for testing strangers’ musical recall on the streets of major cities, typically sees contestants stumble by the halfway point. But Lauren breezed through every round, combining her encyclopaedic recall with effortless confidence. “She’s incredible,” the host could be heard saying as she continued racking up correct answers — and the winnings that would later go to charity.
Lauren, who is currently training for the New York Marathon on November 2, seemed to treat the game as just another warm-up session. The final challenge came when she was played “Here Comes the Summer” by The Undertones, the song that sealed her record-breaking streak. But even after securing the top spot, she wasn’t done yet.
When the host, running out of pre-planned tracks, decided to improvise with one final wildcard, Lauren still didn’t falter. After a few seconds of quiet concentration, she smiled, began to hum along, and nailed it: “Holy Roses” by Soda Blonde. Her confident, off-the-cuff performance cemented her as one of the most memorable contestants in the show’s history.
Rather than keeping her prize, Lauren immediately pledged the full USD 20,520 (€10,000) to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, saying she wanted the winnings to support a cause that mattered to her deeply. The gesture drew praise from viewers online, many of whom called her win “the most wholesome TrackStar moment ever.”
The Athlone woman’s effortless mix of humour, charm, and pride in Irish music made the clip an instant viral hit, with fans celebrating her as “the Irish queen of TrackStar.”
Originally launched in the United States, TrackStar has become one of the internet’s most recognisable street-music series, famed for testing ordinary people’s music trivia knowledge on the spot. Its blend of quick-fire challenges, pop-culture nostalgia, and heart-warming human moments has helped it rack up millions of views across social media.
For Lauren Kennedy, it was the perfect crossover — an Irishwoman halfway across the world, breaking records and celebrating homegrown music, all while using her win to help others.
