A video of an Athlone tot performing Judy Boucher’s classic hit, Can’t Be With You Tonight, at her school concert has gone viral on social media, with even the famous diva commenting on it.
By last night, the video of the cute, curly-haired meisie had been viewed more than 43 000 times.
Four-year-old Jhene Madison Anthony attends Little People Educare in Foxglove, in Bridgetown, and blew everyone away with her performance of the popular yaart number at the concert on 23 November.
Her mom Colette Anthony, 27, shared the video of the brave meisie performing her favourite song the next day, saying it was the first time her child had sung on a stage.
Dressed in a puffy white dress, a white bow in her long, dark curls and wearing silver takkies, the tiny tot holds the mic and belts out the song word perfect to loud applause from the delighted crowd.
LIVE: Jhene at concert. Picture: Supplied
Colette says when she posted the video, she never expected the reaction it received.
“I can’t believe Jhene’s video went viral and attracted so much attention,” she says.
“I just made the video like every proud mommy would and shared it with my Facebook friends, but within a week, it had 4 000 views and over a thousand shares.”
Colette says Jhene loves old school music and is a fast learner.
“I would play a song for a few days and she would catch on quickly.
“She loves Peabo Bryson and Nat King Cole but Judy Boucher is her favourite.”
The mom says the idea of Jhene performing came after a request from her principal.
“The principal saw a home video I made of Jhene on my WhatsApp status, she then asked if Jhene would sing at the concert.
“I wasn’t sure she would do it, because she has never performed for anyone else but me.
“She sang in front of 350 people and wasn’t shy at all.
“We know she is a dancer and singer but we never knew she had gained this confidence for public appearance.”
Colette says her daughter is named after her dad’s favourite artist, American singer Jhene Aiko.
PROUD: Mom Colette shared the video. Picture: Supplied
“Her daddy gave her that name, but he left us when she was two.”
Colette says the highlight of it all was when Judy commented on the video herself.
Screenshot. Facebook
FAN: Singer Judy Boucher. Picture: Supplied
After singer Karin Kortje tagged Judy in the video, the diva commented: “Oh wow, it’s so wonderful to wake up to this on the 1st day of December. My best wishes to this beautiful young lady, such a blessing.”
View the video on Colette Anthony’s Facebook page.