A video of an ecstatic ten-year-old singing Mariah Carey’s perennial holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas is You” is bringing joy to the world – including the Grammy-winning singer herself.
Earlier this month, Kevin “Knox” Johnson III’s mother posted a video of the fourth grader’s performance at his school’s winter concert. The clip shows Knox, who is autistic, singing his little heart out during his solo of the song – which, incidentally, returned last week to the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for the fourth year running.
“Knox’s Elementary School Winter concert tonight was everything!” Jen White-Johnson wrote in an Instagram post last week. “He had two back to back concerts today and his Black Boy Autistic Joy was infectious and on full display!”
“Thanks to all the teachers and staff that prepared the students to give us quite a show! Knox was everything during his solo tonight during the 4th and 5th grade chorus selection of Mariah Carey’s ‘I Want For Christmas is You,’” White-Johnson continued. “We are blessed that Knox is in a space where he can be unapologetically himself! schools are meant to be a space of belonging and we all know that isn’t always the case for Black Autistic kids in public schools. Knox continues to take up space, exuding nothing but joy and kindness to all around him! Knox had such a blast singing his solo that he’s been prepping for weeks! Mariah Carey would be proud!! ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ @mariahcarey we love you!”
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She also offered the clip up as a “timeline cleanse” on Twitter for any and everyone feeling overwhelmed by the news. “Knox tonight at his 4th grade school winter concert singing @MariahCarey ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ #AutisticJoy on full display! My kid is everything! I hope Mariah sees this!!” she wrote.
Timeline cleanse if you need one! Knox tonight at his 4th grade school winter concert singing @MariahCarey ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ #AutisticJoy on full display! My kid is everything! I hope Mariah sees this!! pic.twitter.com/D0uLmgNxJl
— Jen White-Johnson (@jtknoxroxs) December 14, 2022
The unofficial Queen of Christmas did indeed see White-Johnson’s tweet.
“Your kid IS everything!!!!!!” Carey replied in her retweet of the clip. “Knox, you made my day. Your JOY gives me and everyone watching JOY. THANK YOU for reminding me why I wake up in the morning and do what I do. I love you.”
Your kid IS everything!!!!!! Knox, you made my day. Your JOY gives me and everyone watching JOY. THANK YOU for reminding me why I wake up in the morning and do what I do. I love you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/iW19QQxBOP
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) December 14, 2022
As White-Johnson tells The Washington Post, Carey also reached out directly to invite the family to sit in the front row of her recent holiday concert at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Baltimore-based family wasn’t able to make it this year, but White-Johnson called Carey’s shout-out the “best Christmas present ever.”
