Millions of us probably spend hours of our lives singing at the top of our lungs in our cars. Thereâs nothing like those car concerts, belting out your favorite tunes, passing the time as you cruise down the road. As good as these private concerts are for the soul, they donât amount to much more than happy feelings and perhaps a few stares from passersby.
But for one 11-year-old boy, his car karaoke sessions have garnered him nationwide attention and even a cross-country trip for himself and his family. Nathan Broxton, of California, was in the car with his parents and younger sibling singing the song "Naughty" from the new movie musical Matilda, and it quickly garnered a lot of attention on TikTok.
Nathan performed the number like he was a part of the cast.
Even though the musical movie was just released on Netflix early last month, Nathan knew all of the words. He performed them like he, too, was a part of the cast of talented child actors. He sings the lyrics with conviction, eyes closed, head back, grabbing the bars of his fatherâs headrest during particularly poignant moments.
His mother, Samantha Broxton, recorded the moment and shared it on TikTok, calling the song Nathanâs ânew obsession.â
Nathan's dad cut the performance to say that with skills like those, he should also be able to memorize his multiplication tables.
In the middle of his powerful performance, his father cuts the music. He tells Nathan that he doesnât want to hear that he canât learn his math tables anymore.
âMultiplication, division, all that,â Nathanâs father says, looking back over his shoulder at his son. âDonât tell me you canât do it. I seen it. Figure it out.â
Samantha said simply, 'We have an artist here.'
Nathan's dad marvels at how his son has memorized all the lyrics. When his wife says they have seen the film several times, he notes that they still donât know every word, every inflection and every tone like their son does.
Samantha says simply, âWe have an artist here.â Then in the text at the end of the video, Samantha writes that âNathan is a musical theater Stan, just like his Daddy.â
The video made its rounds on several social media platforms.
It wasnât long before the video was posted on Twitter.
#OscarsSoWhite creator April Reign, shared the video writing, âwhen [Nathan] walks across the stage to receive his #Tonys, you can say 'I remember him when âŚ'"
The reception to Nathanâs passion was so strong, Samantha decided to share additional videos of her son, including one of him singing âWait For It,â from Hamilton.
Nathan's idols sent encouraging words.
West Side Story actor Rachel Zegler and Broadway powerhouse Leslie Odom Jr., from the original cast of Hamilton, are among those who saw Nathanâs video and offered their encouragement.
"Young brother is far more committed than I even dreamt of being at his age,â Odom tweeted. âThis is conviction! And I love to see it. On this trajectory, heâll eclipse me in no time."
Odom is an inspiration for Nathan, and when his mother shared the star's words with him, he was overcome with emotion.
âThis one tweet means so much to me,â he said as he took the moment in, crying along with his mother.
Nathan is flattered by all the kind words and expressed his gratitude.
But that message was just the beginning. As the videos gained more traction online, Delta Airlines reached out to the family offering to send Nathan and the rest of his family to New York City to see his first Broadway musical in person. Others on Broadway wanted to extend a welcome as well, and his family couldn't be more excited.
Playwright Jeremy O. Harris offered to get Nathan tickets to anything else he wanted to see. Brittney Johnson from Wicked said the family should come see her show and said sheâd love to meet them, Playbill reported.
Nathan recorded a message of thanks to all those who have offered encouraging words to him. âIâm flattered but Iâm staying humble,â Nathan said.
