11-year-old Kaylee Johnson has acquired millions of admirers after her recent performance on “Little Big Shots,” when legendary a cappella group Pentatonix joined her in performing a stirring rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
Many admirers are unaware, however, that the small girl was diagnosed with moderate autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at a young age. Kaylee, according to her instructors, seldom talked, let alone sang, until lately.
But that all changed last year, not long before she went viral with a Christmas-themed version of “Hallelujah” performed by her choir at Killard House Special School in Northern Ireland.
She is bashful, but “when she sings, it sort of takes over and she doesn’t think about anything else,” according to her music teacher, Lloyd Scates. “Since she began singing in school, she has become more involved in school activities.” It is extremely stunning.
Her strong voice rang true again on March 25, when she performed on NBC’s “Little Big Shots,” accompanied by her loving music instructor for moral support and the Grammy Award-winning Pentatonix from Arlington, Texas, as backing.
Scott Hoying, a band member, stated that after hearing her narrative, the group felt they wanted to sing alongside her.
