Mariah Carey’s 10-year-old backup dancer, Nolayn Williams has earned lots of praise on social media, with fans calling him a “star” and comparing him to Michael Jackson.
A viral TikTok video of Nolayn dancing with energy and style while dressed as a toy soldier has garnered lots of views, and users have been full of praise for his talent and efforts.
“Those kicks were as high as Mariah’s whistle tones. He’s such a star!” a fan commented.
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” I love how creative he is! he makes up for the height difference so effortlessly and he’s so talented,” another fan wrote.
Nolayn is from New Jersey and is touring with Carey on her 18-stop Christmas Time tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of her iconic holiday hit, All I Want for Christmas Is You.
Carey has put out good performances this festive season, yet Naylayn seems to have stolen the spotlight in the eyes of many fans.
The 10-year-old shared his excitement about the tour and its experience with Daily Mail and said : “Touring for the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, is one of the best jobs I’ve had so far. It’s a lot of hard work, but I absolutely love being onstage and performing—it’s my happy place.”
Nolayn maintains a balanced schedule behind the scenes as his dance skills develop by the day.
His mother, Shay Williams, owns X-Quisite House of Dance in New Jersey and makes sure his education remains a priority.
“The first thing he does every morning is his schoolwork,” Shay said.
“There will be no dancing dummies.” Nolayn also submits self-taped auditions in the mornings to stay “booked and busy”, she added.
His afternoons are all about rehearsing with the other dancers to adjust to new venues before he gets “pumped up” for the show.
After the show, Mariah Carey’s backup dancer unwinds with Pringles and video games along with some of his fellow young performers.
To Nolayn, this is an experience to love and remember and he is grateful to all who have made it a special one. “I love all the people, friends, and bonds I have made while on tour.”
Mariah Carey cancelled three shows earlier this month because she was suffering from a flu.
The music icon later returned after her recovery to perform the tour’s final stop at Barclays Center in New York City.
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Fans continue to celebrate Carey’s reign as the Queen of Christmas, but they are also now keeping a close eye on Nolayn’s talent, believing he’s a rising star for the future.
