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Eric Wiltz, a spirited nine-year-old with a passion for music, has captured hearts across the internet after his remarkable singing talent was spotlighted by a star on TikTok. Now, his life has taken an exciting new turn.
@justcherisse0 In an exclusive conversation with People Magazine, Eric’s enthusiasm for music is palpable. When asked about his singing journey, he proudly shares, “Since I was 1.” His mother, Cherisse, chuckles, affirming his story. “It’s true,” she says. “He has been singing since he could talk. While most babies start with cooing, Eric was already humming tunes. Once he learned to speak, his singing just took off.”
Eric’s musical abilities were evident early on. By the time he was two, his grandmother noticed his remarkable ability to hum precise musical pitches. Nowadays, Eric’s home is filled with his melodious voice, and he often serenades himself to sleep. “Music gives me this indescribable feeling, like I have to dance and sing,” he tells People with a gleam in his eyes.
Eric’s love for music deepened when he was introduced to Wicked during a friend’s birthday celebration. The experience was transformative. He and his mother spent countless hours watching and rewatching the enchanting film, captivated by its musical magic.
By age two, Eric’s grandma noticed that he could hum exact pitches. These days, he fills his house with music, sometimes even singing himself to sleep. “I always loved anything with music because it gives me this feeling like I can’t hold my body back — that I need to dance and sing,” he tells People.
That love found a perfect match when he watched Wicked for the first time at a friend’s birthday party. It was instant magic. When they got home, Eric and his mom couldn’t stop replaying the film.
“We’ve watched it, like, 10 times,” Eric says before Cherisse admits it has been more. “There’s been some days where it has run three times in a row. It’s like comfort music in the background — we just let it play.”
One September afternoon, Eric came home in a bad mood, and Cherisse put on Wicked to cheer him up. As Cynthia Erivo’s “The Wizard and I” filled the room, Eric stood at the foot of the bed, eyes locked on the screen, singing every note with perfect pitch.
“I normally don’t record my kids just in their element,” Cherisse says, “but something in me was like, ‘You should record.’ ” She posted the clip on TikTok and everything changed. The video went viral, amassing more than five million views. Among the commenters was Wicked star Cynthia Erivo herself, who wrote that she “can’t wait” to see Eric perform on a stage or screen someday.
@justcherisse0 Eric’s reaction to @Cynthia Erivo commenting on his video. Thank you ALL! @Wicked: For Good #fyp #wickedmovie #cynthiaerivo #theaterkid #singersoftiktok
♬ Popular – Ariana Grande
Cherisse caught her son’s reaction to Erivo’s message on camera. His grin stretches ear to ear before he bursts into tears. “I didn’t know that could happen to me,” he says through happy disbelief. “I was not expecting to cry today.”
In the days that followed, Eric’s life became a whirlwind. An agent reached out to sign him, and even without formal lessons, he began sending in audition tapes. Before long, he booked his first movie role and headed to set. Celebrities like Hamilton’s Leslie Odom Jr. and Black Panther’s Letitia Wright chimed in with encouragement, and Universal Pictures personally invited him to attend the New York City premiere of Wicked: For Good in November.
“I ran upstairs and started bouncing myself on my bed,” Eric says, laughing. “I thought it wasn’t real. I thought I was dreaming. I was trying to wake myself up — smashing pillows across my face.”
We have a feeling that Eric’s viral moment was simply the launch to his rising star. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for this amazing young man.
Photo Credit: Cherisse Cannon-Wiltz Instagram/TikTok