If you’re any level of Disney fan, you know about the 1994 classic, “The Lion King.” The movie was so successful that the studio is currently creating a live-action version that’s coming out in 2019.
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The new film is packed with talent including James Earl Jones, John Oliver, Keegan-Michael Key, and the queen herself, Beyoncé. Adult Simba is played by Donald Glover and young Simba will be voiced by 11-year-old JD McCrary.
The two Simbas have created a close friendship and admiration for each other. Donald even asked JD to appear in his performance at the Grammy’s earlier this year.
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Though JD is poised to become a huge star, he’s relatively unknown to audiences. So, when he was invited on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” back in January, he stunned the crowd with his adorable personality and impressive voice.
JD told Ellen that he’s been singing since he “was in diapers.” He spoke of how excited he is for his role as young Simba because the two have a lot of similarities, saying with a laugh, “We both sing, we both love and look up to our dads, and we both have scary uncles.”
This kid is so talented, he can even upstage Ellen with jokes!
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The two also chatted about all the exciting happenings in his career, and Ellen focused specifically on his musical talent. She mentions how JD’s often compared to Michael Jackson – no big deal, right? What’s especially adorable is how humble the 11-year-old is:
I just feel like sometimes I mess up and I feel like I need to do more work, but I really appreciate everybody that thinks that I’m at the level of Michael Jackson. It’s really an honor.
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Ellen continues to gush about JD’s before sending him off to perform and let the audience decide for themselves.
When JD lands on the stage, it’s like he was born there, dancing like a pro and belting out “Who’s Loving You” by the Jackson 5. And honestly, Ellen was right… JD’s voice rivals the King of Pop’s.
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Check out JD’s interview and the performance that won him a standing ovation from Ellen’s audience below. Don’t forget to share his talents with your friends!
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