Hit song ‘Old Town Road’ inspires non-verbal boy with autism to sing and start speaking

Hit song ‘Old Town Road’ inspires non-verbal boy with autism to sing and start speaking

"Old Town Road" helps 4-year-old Minnesota boy with nonverbal autism begin to speak, thanks to Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus
“Old Town Road” helps 4-year-old Minnesota boy with nonverbal autism begin to speak, thanks to Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus – Source: CBS News

A Minnesota family is making it’s rounds on social media for what they call an “Old Town Road” miracle. The hit song has apparently been life-changing for their family – creating a majical breakthrough that will have you crying happy tears.

When Billy Ray Cyrus decided join Lil Nas X on his hit single “Old Town Road,” the country star said the hip hop artist was a “light in this world.” And Lil Nas X brought that light to one little person in particular: One mom says “Old Town Road” helped her 4-year-old son with nonverbal autism find his voice.

Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' inspires nonverbal boy with autism to sing
Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus. Their hit song ‘Old Town Road’ inspires nonverbal boy with autism to sing. Source: WSB Radio

“It’s just, it’s given us life,” Sheletta Brundidge said.

A week ago, Brundidge’s 4-year-old son, Daniel, who is on the autism spectrum, was mostly non-verbal. But he’s now learning through music thanks, in part, to the country/hip-hop mega-hit by Lil Nas X.

Non-verbal, autistic boy, 4, finally finds his voice by singing along to hit song Old Town Road
Non-verbal, autistic boy, 4, finally finds his voice by singing along to hit song Old Town Road. Source: Metro

“We wake up listening to ‘Old Town Road.’ We go to bed listening to ‘Old Town Road,’” Brundidge’s mother said.

It’s the song of the summer, but to this family, it’s more than just a catchy tune it’s been majical.

The three youngest Brundidge children have autism, and Daniel struggles the most with speaking.

'Old Town Road' Spurs 4-Year-Old Boy With Autism To Sing
‘Old Town Road’ Spurs 4-Year-Old Boy With Autism To Sing – Source: WCCO and CBS Minnesota

“He may have like three words he can tell me at a time,” his mom said.

Brundidge has worked tirelessly on her son’s speech to try to communicate with him. One day she was home with Daniel and thought she heard him humming the familiar song.

“Is this what’s happening? I mean, it took us six months to teach him the letter ‘A’! And without being taught, are you telling me he is humming this song?” Brundidge said.

'Old Town Road' sparked 'incredible' breakthrough for boy with non-verbal autism
‘Old Town Road’ sparked ‘incredible’ breakthrough for boy with non-verbal autism. Source: Today Show

Then, something amazing happened.

“He started singing the words,” she said.

Brundidge took out her phone and got it on video. She posted the video and story on Twitter.

Even Lil Nas X saw the clip and gave Daniel a shout out on Twitter stating: “What a king” in his twitter post.

“Then I thought, oh my god — it’s music! That’s how we reach him,” she said. “That just opened up the floodgates. Then Billy Ray Cyrus retweeted it, and then my daddy — who doesn’t know how to use Twitter — called me to let me know that Snoop Dogg retweeted it.”

But Brundidge says the most amazing piece is knowing her son finally found his voice.

“He’s connecting with that music,” she said. “And it’s just– it’s amazing.”

"Old Town Road" helps boy with autism find his voice
“Old Town Road” helps boy with autism find his voice. Source: MSN

Brundidge said they will now be using “Old Town Road” in Daniel’s therapy sessions. Right now the song is number one on the Billboard Hot 100 list so he’ll get to hear it on the radio for quite a bit longer.

Source CBS


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