Chrisyius Whitehead was only 5 years old when he stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage in 2024.
But once he got behind the drum kit, his age quickly became secondary to the performance.
The young drummer from Florida performed “Faith,” by Stevie Wonder featuring Ariana Grande, delivering a high-energy routine that earned a standing ovation from the judges and audience.
All four judges ultimately voted yes.
A 5-Year-Old With a Love for Drums
Chrisyius was one of the youngest contestants featured during America’s Got Talent Season 19.
He had been playing drums since he was about one year old.
His father is a pastor, and Chrisyius had opportunities to play drums in his church community.
His family also shared videos of him playing music online before his AGT appearance.
He Takes the AGT Stage
When Chrisyius arrived for his audition, the drum kit was noticeably large compared with his small frame.
Because of his height, he performed standing up so he could be seen behind the kit.
He then began his performance of “Faith,” the song performed by Stevie Wonder featuring Ariana Grande for the Sing soundtrack.
What started with gentle taps quickly turned into an energetic drum performance.
The Judges and Audience React
As Chrisyius continued playing, the audience became increasingly enthusiastic.
His performance earned a standing ovation from the judges and audience.
Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel all voted yes, allowing Chrisyius to advance beyond the audition stage.
His AGT Journey
The four yes votes moved Chrisyius past the audition stage.
However, his journey did not continue all the way to the live shows.
He was later eliminated during deliberations and was not selected for the quarterfinals.
Even so, his audition became one of the memorable young-performer moments from the season.
Why the Performance Became Memorable
Chrisyius’s audition had a simple but striking contrast: a very young child standing behind a full-size drum kit and performing with confidence in front of a huge television audience.
His age attracted attention, but his performance demonstrated timing, coordination and an obvious enjoyment of music.
Final Thoughts
Chrisyius Whitehead was only 5 years old when he auditioned for America’s Got Talent, but his performance showed impressive confidence behind the drums.
He performed “Faith” by Stevie Wonder featuring Ariana Grande, received a standing ovation and earned four yes votes from the judges.
Although he was later eliminated during deliberations, his AGT audition remains a memorable example of a very young performer stepping onto a huge stage and confidently sharing a talent he had been developing since early childhood.
