A Minnesota boy with autism is one of the millions of Americans singing along toLil Nas XandBilly Ray Cyrus’ smash hit “Old Town Road.”
But 4-year-old Daniel’s sing-a-long is different, says mom Sheletta Brundidge, considering the catchy tune’s lyrics are some of the first words he’s ever strung together.
Brundidge later shared an adorable photo of Daniel passed out on the couch wearing his “Old Town Road”-inspired cowboy hat and boots.
“Somebody done watched the #oldtownroad video with @LilNasX and @billyraycyrus today 42-times (we counted) and is too pooped to pop,” she wrote.
Daniel Brundidge.Sheletta Brundidge
For Brundidge, host of the podcastTwo Haute Mamason WCCO Radio, the moment was cause for celebration, considering Daniel had struggled in speech therapy, and his vocabulary was previously limited to short phrases like “bottle, please” or “lay down in bed,” theStar Tribunereports.
Sheletta Brundidge
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“He just hasn’t responded well to the therapy,” Brundidge toldThe Tennessean. “Nothing we’ve tried has given us the results that we saw with the other children … We were beating our head against the wall… This is a child who hasn’t said three or four words together in the time he’s been alive.”
The Brundidge family.Sheletta Brundidge
Brundidge, 47, and husband Shawn, 53, have four children, and three, including Daniel, have autism, though he is the only nonverbal child, according to the outlet.
Upon hearing her son sing for the first time, Brundidge said she immediately broke down in tears.
Billy Ray Cyrus and Lil Nas X.Frazer Harrison/Getty
“I just … I started crying. The tears were flowing down my face,” she toldFox affiliate KMSP. “They were dropping off my chin and hitting the top of his head.”
Lil Nas X, the 20-year-old rap sensation behind the crossover hit, took note of Daniel’s journey, responding to Brundidge’s clip on Twitter.
“What a king,” he wrote.
“Old Town Road” is currently in its ninth week atop the Billboard Hot 100.
Along with help from surprise guestKeith Urban, the rapper and Cyrusperformed the songin Nashville at the CMA Fest on Saturday.
source: people.com
