12 of the best child singers of all time

While some performers work hard to hone their voice through singing lessons and voice exercises, singing tends to be a talent that one is born with.

We’ve all seen those viral videos of children who seem to have voices that are beyond their years. In fact, thanks to YouTube and shows like “America’s Got Talent,” more kids with amazing singing talent are being discovered all the time.

Check out this list of 12 kid singers who prove that big talent can come in small packages.

1. Michael Jackson

Before he was the “King of Pop,” Jackson was famously a part of the Jackson Five, a musical group comprised of him and his siblings Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon. Even back then, his legendary vocal talent was evident. Check out this video of him performing “I Want You Back” on “The Ed Sullivan Show” back in 1969, when he was just 11 years old:

2. Darci Lynne Farmer

Darci Lynne Farmer initially impressed audiences with her abilities as a ventriloquist on “America’s Got Talent,” but she really showed her range when she gave it her all using her full singing voice. Here she is performing a powerful rendition of the National Anthem:

3. Judy Garland

Judy Garland is one of the most beloved and tragic performers of all time, known for her roles in iconic films like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Meet Me in St. Louis.” She began performing in vaudeville as a child with her two older sisters and was signed to MGM as a teenager. Here she is performing “Waltz With A Swing/Americana” in “Every Sunday,” which premiered in 1936, when Garland was 14:

4. Justin Bieber

Famously discovered on YouTube in 2008, at the age of 14, Justin Bieber went on to become a chart-topping recording artist, growing up and evolving in the public eye. How cute is he singing a cover of “U Got It Bad” by his mentor, Usher?

5. Jackie Evancho

At just 10 years old, Jackie Evancho stunned judges when she auditioned on “America’s Got Talent” and performed a beautiful rendition of “O Mio Babbino Caro” from the opera “Gianni Schicchi.” She showcased a mature voice, it was hard to believe it was coming from such a young singer:

6. Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera broke through as a pop singer in her late teens, but she’d been singing long before that. As a child, she appeared on “Star Search” and “The Mickey Mouse Club,” and would sing soul and blues songs at block parties. Here she is performing Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” on the “The Mickey Mouse Club” back in 1992:

7. Donny Osmond

Donny Osmond rose to fame singing along with his brothers as part of The Osmonds, and later achieved status as a teen idol, hosting the variety show “Donny & Marie” with his sister. Watch him debut on “The Andy Williams Show” performing “You Are My Sunshine” at the tender age of 5:

8. Asanda Jezile

Asanda Jezile proved she was a diva in the making when she performed Rihanna’s “Diamonds” as an 11-year-old on “Britain’s Got Talent.” She sure has the attitude down too!

9. Grace VanderWaal

Dubbed the “next Taylor Swift” by Simon Cowell, Grace VanderWaal won Season 11 of “America’s Got Talent” at the age of 12, impressing judges and audiences alike with songwriting and singing abilities that belied her youth. Check out her original song, “I Don’t Know My Name”:

10. Aksel Rykkvin

By the age of 13, Norwegian singing sensation Aksel Rykkvin had already appeared with Norwegian National Opera and released an album of arias by Mozart, Handel and Bach. Check out his skills:

11. Mason Ramsey

Yodeling may not be the way to hit the top of the pop charts, but 10-year-old Mason Ramsey captured the hearts of the internet with his yodeling concert inside a Walmart:

12. JD McCrary

JD McCrary is set to star in the upcoming live-action remake of “The Lion King.” During an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” he told host DeGeneres he’d been singing since he was in diapers. Check out his soulful rendition of “Who’s Loving You” by the Jackson 5: