Autistic Boy Perfectly Performs A Michael Jackson Hit And The Judges Bring Him To Tears

Mar 10, 2021

There are many different types of acts on reality television, and yet it remains rare for performances to leave studio audiences and viewers speechless. However, a 13-year-old boy named Calum Courtney from Essex, U.K., has stunned viewers time and time again. Despite the young man’s talents, Calum’s life hasn’t been without its own challenges. From a young age, doctors diagnosed the Essex teen with a mild form of autism, and Calum’s mother has said that he has trouble with friendships at school.

With that said, the music he sings has provided him with a special outlet and connection to viewers around the world. It was during season 12 of “Britain's Got Talent” in 2018 that Calum, then 10 years old, had the opportunity to provide the show's judges, as well as the audience, with the performance of a lifetime.

When he came on stage, the judges asked Calum if he was nervous. The little boy appeared to be shy and said “no” in a sweet and soft voice. It appears the judges were not convinced. But the minute the young boy started singing, they likely began to believe Calum’s answer. He definitely does not seem nervous during his impressive and impassioned performance of the Jackson 5 track "Who's Loving You."

Many people have since said that he has the voice of an angel. The audience seemed to agree with that observation, showing their enthusiastic support throughout the performance. The boy's voice is beautiful and crisp, and he hits every note. There were many friends and family members of Calum's in the audience to support him, too.

After Calum finished singing, he was met with loud and energetic applause — not to mention all four of the judges giving him a standing ovation. Simon Cowell quickly gave the performance a two thumbs up. Judge David Williams heaped on the praise as well, explaining that Calum sang a big song for being such a little guy. He added that Calum did a brilliant job and should be very proud of himself.

This is when the little boy was overcome with emotion and began crying. His little brother quickly came on the stage and hugged Calum. It was a truly beautiful moment. Judge Amanda Holden was hoping Calum's tears were tears of happiness. She then told the young boy this could have been one of the most enthusiastic reactions for anyone on the “Britain’s Got Talent” stage, adding that he did fantastically.

Cowell was also excited to share his thoughts. He told Calum how the young man has got soul and that he had an authentic voice. Cowell also said Calum had a great tone to his voice with the ability to completely control the song. Suffice it to say that Calum went on to the next round — in fact, the young singer made it quite far on “Britain’s Got Talent.”

For the semi-finals round of the show, Calum performed "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder. At the midway point of the performance, a group of backup singers joined in on the song. However, Calum changed some of the lyrics to pay tribute to his mom. 

In fact, he dedicated the entire performance to his mother. A picture of Calum and his mother was put on a projection screen at the end of the performance, making for a heartfelt performance. 

In the end, Calum made it to the finals of season 12 of "Britain's Got Talent." He performed "Good Feeling" by Flo Rida for his last performance, which included a band and a slew of blue lights that made the performance even more epic.

Judge Holden thought Calum had soul after hearing him sing that song, and the performance seemed to impress. Furthermore, the judges felt the song really showcased the boy's vocals. Unfortunately, however, he ended up finishing in ninth place of the overall contest. But that’s not bad for a 10-year-old doing a solo singing act! The winner that year was Lost Voice Guy, a disabled stand-up comedian who uses communication aids in his routines.

For those who aren’t familiar with Calum’s story, the young Essex teen first came to people’s attention in December 2017, one year before his “Britain’s Got Talent” debut. That month, Calum was shopping with his mother when he suddenly broke out into song, covering Smokey Robinson’s track “Who’s Lovin’ You.”

While Calum and his family didn’t expect the clip to go viral, the clip spread like wildfire once Calum’s aunt posted it on the internet, according to The Sun.

"He loves how it feels and hearing the sound of his voice when he sings,” said Calum’s mother, Tupney Courtney, in an interview with The Sun.

"He is always singing around the house and performing in public has never been a problem. The more people, the better for Calum when he is performing,” she added.

The notoriety that followed from Calum’s grocery store debut led to the young boy scoring a record deal with a producer for a charity single in 2018, as The Sun reports. And then the young man went on “Britain’s Got Talent,” solidifying his place as one of the United Kingdom’s most promising up-and-coming singers.

What’s next for Calum? He has gained some fortune and fame, but there's likely more to come, as Calum continues to perform and get his name out. He did a beautiful rendition of the song "Hallelujah" on "The Live Room" in 2019. "The Live Room" is a music show that supports and showcases U.K. talent. His mom talks about the young boy's obsession with Minecraft. She said he wants to buy a mansion because Calum likes building them in the video game.

Before the viral sensation, Calum did not think he was that good at singing. However, the young boy was encouraged by the positive feedback. This story shows the strength of a young boy who is talented and fearless. Some may see autism as a setback, but that certainly does not seem to be the case. Fans of this inspiring individual can check out his “Britain’s Got Talent” audition performance below — and if you want to see even more, you can check out Calum's YouTube channel. In one of his most recent covers, the young man covered Lesley Gore's 1963 classic "You Don't Own Me." 

What do you think of Calum’s audition? What do you think this young man will do next? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to friends and family members!