Lil Nas X’s record-breaking hit “Old Town Road” has dominated Billboard charts, social media feeds, and living rooms across America — but for one Minnesota family, the song is far more than a cultural phenomenon. It has become a moment of pure, unexpected grace.

Last Tuesday, Sheletta Brundidge shared a short video of her 4-year-old son, Daniel, quietly singing along to “Old Town Road.” While millions of children have posted adorable covers of the viral track, Daniel’s rendition is astonishing for a deeply personal reason: Daniel has autism and is nonverbal. Until that moment, he did not speak.

Brundidge told Because of Them We Can that the miracle began subtly. First, she heard Daniel humming a tune. Moments later, his hums turned into words — real lyrics, sung clearly enough for her to recognize the beloved cowboy-trap anthem.

“I noticed he was responding to the song on Monday afternoon. The house was quiet. My older kids were reading and doing homework because school hadn’t let out yet,” she recalled. “He was standing in front of me opening and closing my house gown buttons when he hummed the tune. Then he started singing the words — and that’s when I grabbed my phone. I only recorded 10 seconds because I wanted to be in the moment and enjoy the miracle I was witnessing.”

On Twitter, Sheletta posted the clip with the caption celebrating their “#oldtownroad miracle.” She explained that Daniel’s therapists had already begun using the song in his sessions, recognizing how strongly and naturally he connected with the music.

Daniel is one of four siblings, two of whom are also on the autism spectrum. He was diagnosed at one year old, and his family has spent years exploring every possible tool to support his progress. Until now, music had never been part of their strategy — largely because music therapy is rarely covered by insurance, a challenge widely reported across the U.S. (The New York Times, NPR).

“I’m excited to see what God is going to do in Daniel through music,” Sheletta said. “We tried everything but music, and I’m not sure why. Probably because music therapy isn’t covered. But where there is a will, there is a way.”

The transformative power of music for autistic children is well-documented. Studies show that melody, rhythm, and repetition can stimulate speech centers in the brain, helping children communicate in ways traditional therapy sometimes cannot (BBC News, Journal of Music Therapy). Sheletta now realizes that she had been given this advice before.

“When Daniel was first diagnosed, my Sunday school teacher, Sister Daisy McKenzie, told me to try music. I should have listened to her three years ago,” she said with a laugh.

When Lil Nas X himself saw the video, he shared Sheletta’s post on Twitter with the simple but touching caption: “what a king.” His response sparked thousands of supportive comments, amplifying Daniel’s story far beyond their Minnesota home.

For the Brundidge family, the moment marks a turning point — a new beginning fueled by melody, joy, and hope. And for anyone who has ever doubted the power of music, Daniel’s voice is living proof of its magic.

We agree with Lil Nas X: Daniel is truly a king — and we can’t wait to see where music leads him next.