Who is Yodeling Kid? How the Walmart Singer Won the Internet

An 11-year-old boy singing in a Walmart has become this next viral trend and inescapable hit, thanks to celebrity endorsements and remixes. Somehow, this kid is being credited with bringing back bluegrass country better than the soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? ever could.

The young cowboy’s name is Mason Ramsey, and he was already something of a local celebrity in his hometown of Golconda, Illinois. The original tweet shows footage of him giving an impromptu rendition of “Lovesick Blues” by Hank Williams at his local Walmart and has amassed nearly 200,000 likes. Social media began to obsess over his yodeling technique earlier this month and credit him as bringing the genre to a mainstream audience.

Musicians and other celebrities began to take notice of the celebrated new artist and added their support, as well. Steve Aoki and The Chainsmokers are just a few already endorsing Ramsey.

No video can truly be considered a viral sensation until it is turned into a remix. In under one week, a fleet a of EDM and dubstep remixes of Ramsey’s yodeling has emerged and shared in viral fame, making his falsetto an inescapable fixture on everyone’s timeline. Billboard even took the time to rank the top five best remixes on musicality and innovation.

“I’m Mason Ramsey, also known as the ‘Yodeling Walmart Boy’ and ‘Little Hank.’” Ramsey said in a video post on his new Twitter account. While his new social media accounts will no doubt help him capitalize on his newfound fame, this isn’t the first time he’s gone viral. According to the Southern Illinoisan, a video of Ramsey singing Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin’” garnered more than 3.4 million views on YouTube in 2017.

The same magazine says that Ramsey has been a local celebrity for years, mostly known for his Hank Williams covers. “Little Hank” received a standing ovation for his rendition of “I Saw The Light” at the Carson Center and can regularly be seen at the Kentucky Opry in Draffenville. He’s such a fixture in the area that touring celebrities invite him to perform when they’re in town. Ramsey has opened shows for Kenny Rogers, Gene Watson, and the Bellamy Brothers.

It’s hard to call Ramsey a “new” sensation if he’s already opened shows for the likes of Kenny Rogers, but his latest hit has brought his music to a wider audience. Walmart will be holding a concert for Ramsey and are encouraging fans to participate in the #YodelChallenge, where people record themselves yodeling in the aisles of their local flagship store.