Fifteen-year-old autistic singer Jack has been covering hits at home since he was a young boy. But after finding his confidence to sing live to an internet audience, Jennifer Hudson couldn’t help but invite Jack and his dad Eric onto her chat show for a staggering live rendition.
Music Man readers can watch the magic unfold in the brand new viral video below. Jack’s heartwarming and surprising performance has already racked up more than 235,000 views within a mere fortnight of reaching YouTube!
Jack, who has Level 2 autism, sits pretty silently while his dad takes on their pre-performance interview with hitmaker Jennifer Hudson. Jack answers a couple of questions by himself near the end, but it’s clear that Dad, Eric, is a true figure of emotional support.
But then, the quiet teen surprises everyone, including Jennifer, when he hits the stage and bravely unleashes his jaw-dropping voice: as high-pitched and angelic as anything you could imagine, with a serene, crystalline tone that has led some of his fans to compare him to the legendary Michael Jackson!
All the while, Eric accompanies his son’s ballad by strumming an acoustic guitar, crafting a truly blissful performance which proves that a condition or diagnosis doesn’t eliminate your chances of turning dreams into reality.
Jack and Eric have amassed more than 273,000 Instagram followers and 2.5M TikTok likes, on top of their 32,900 YouTube subscribers.
Describing their mission as “Navigating the world differently, one melody at a time,” the father-son duo have covered hits from Maroon 5 to Goo Goo Dolls, from “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” to the McCartney hit, “Yesterday,” all whilst Jack fiddles with his beloved LEGO sets.
But how did Jack discover his surprising musical talent? Eric revealed in an Instagram post, “[Jack] has two special interests that have been a part of his life for a very long time… singing and LEGO building.
“He started building LEGO sets at 4 years old […] He insisted he didn’t need help and built it by himself. It was then we realized that this was the only thing that could keep him still and hold his attention longer than a couple of minutes.”
Eric added, “He has been in voice lessons with some amazing teachers since he was 8 years old.” So, once Jack combined his two special interests – singing and a LEGO set to fixate on – it was clear that some serious magic had the potential to unfold!
Jack isn’t just talented, but has become an inspiration to autistic children and teens the world over, as well as a source of joy and comfort for adults seeking a break from the usual internet chaos.
Jack’s moving live performance — supported lovingly by his dad — proves he’s a rising talent and certainly one to watch. Discover the viral video and learn more about Jack’s story via the useful links below.