♪ ♪ >> Kelsey: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE", WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE FASCINATING PEOPLE, THE INTERESTING PLACES AND EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

THIS WEEK, WE TAKE YOU BEHIND THE SCENES OF "INSIDE LOUISVILLE"'S TALENT POOL.

WE'VE HAD SOME BIG NAMES IN SHOW BUSINESS COME OUT OF THIS TOWN -- FROM OSCAR WINNERS TO RAP SINGERS BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE SEEING TALENT BLOSSOM IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

THIS TIME, IT'S AN 11-YEAR-OLD MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF ON "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT."

D-COREY JOHNSON WOWED ALL THE JUDGES ON AMERICA'S GOT TALENT AND HAS GONE ON TO PERFORM AT NFL GAMES, CHURCHILL DOWNS AND TOURING IN "HITS THE MUSICAL."

BUT IT REALLY ALL STARTED INSIDE THE LOUISVILLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CENTER.

OUR CHRISTIE DUTTON IS GOING TO TAKE US THERE TO SHOW US SOME OF THE AMAZING TALENT BEING CULTIVATED , AND THAT'S NOT ALL THAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

BUT FIRST, LET'S MEET D'COREY JOHNSON.

HIS TALENT REALLY WENT VIRAL WHEN HIS PRINCIPAL AT BATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LET HIM SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM ON THE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS ♪ And the rocket's red glare the bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there ♪ ♪ O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free and The home of the brave ♪ D'COREY JOHNSON IS 11 YEARS OLD, AND MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF YOUR LIFE.

I SAW SOME VIDEOS OF YOU WHEN YOU WERE ITTY BITTY.

YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A SINGER.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

BECAUSE EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE BABY, I USED TO ALWAYS SEEING MY MOM'S SALON, AND I USED TO SING TO TAMAR BRAXTON ALL THE WAY HOME.

AND MY MAMA'S CLIENTS USED TO BE MY AUDIENCE, SO THEY USED TO CHEER FOR ME.

AND ALSO MY DAD IS A SINGER AS WELL.

>> Kelsey: SO IT'S IN YOUR BLOOD.

>> YES.

>> Kelsey: SO LET'S FLASH FORWARD TO HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN THIS VIDEO FROM YOUR SCHOOL WENT VIRAL?

>> I THINK I WAS EIGHT.

I THINK I WAS EIGHT.

I JUST HAD A BIRTHDAY.

MY BIRTHDAY'S MARCH 24.

SO I'M AN ARIES.

>> Kelsey: OKAY, SO YOU ARE A STUDENT AT BATES ELEMENTARY, RIGHT?

WHEN THE VIDEO HAPPENED AND THE TEACHER, DID YOU ASK TO PLEASE TAKE A VIDEO OF ME WHILE I'M SINGING?

>> YES.

SO I ACTUALLY IT WAS DURING LUNCH AND I ASKED MY TEACHER, CAN I MEET THE PRINCIPAL?

BECAUSE I NEVER MET OUR PRINCIPAL.

SO SHE WAS LIKE, YES.

SO THE PRINCIPAL CAME AND SHE WAS LIKE, HI, MY NAME IS MS. DUNN.

AND I WAS LIKE, MS. DUNN, I WANT TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

SO I WENT STRAIGHT FOR IT.

AND SHE SAID, OKAY, I'M GOOD.

AND ONE DAY SHE PULLED ME IN HER OFFICE AND ASKED, ARE YOU READY?

I WAS LIKE, YES.

SO I START SINGING AND THEN THE REST IS HISTORY.

>> Kelsey: OH MY GOSH, IT SURE IS.

SO WHAT ARE YOU THINKING WHEN THAT VIDEO STARTS GOING VIRAL?

I MEAN, IS THAT SOMETHING EVEN IN YOUR MIND THAT'S POSSIBLE?

>> I EVEN KNOW I WAS BECAUSE MY MOM HAD CAUGHT IT.

AND SHE WAS LIKE, YOUR VIDEO HAS GONE VIRAL.

SO IN MY HEAD I'M THINKING BECAUSE I LOOK AT THE VIDEO AND IT'S GOING VIRAL AND I'M JUST LIKE, WOW, I'M FAMOUS.

WOW.

>> SO WHEN YOU WERE FINALLY THERE, WE WATCHED.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING ON STAGE?

>> IT WAS OVERWHELMING IN A GOOD WAY.

AND I WAS SO PROUD OF MYSELF AND I WAS LIKE, I GET IT.

AND, I'M SO GLAD THAT I'M ON "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT BECAUSE IT GETS TO SHOW WHO I AM AND EVERYBODY MY UNIQUE AND ANGELIC VOICE SO I AM VERY PROUD OF MYSELF FOR DOING THAT.

AND PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

SO, I GOT TO KEEP GOING IN THE STUDIO AND PRACTICING THE PRACTICING AND PRACTICING.

>> OKAY, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU DID THAT YOU WERE INVOLVED IN YOUNGER.

DID YOU DO SINGING LESSONS THEATRE?

WHAT THINGS HERE IN LOUISVILLE DID YOU DO TO HONE THE POLICE TO.

>> SO, I WAS IN LCCC, AND THAT IS WHEN I GOT MY LEAD ROLE TO SING MICHAEL JACKSON, "I'LL BE THERE ."

AND ONCE I HIT THAT HIGH NOTE, MY MOM WAS LIKE, MY BABY GOING TO BE A STAR.

>> HER STORY STARTED RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

IT IS A NON-PROFIT IN LOUISVILLE'S WEST END THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON LIFTING ALL OF THE VOICES IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE STORIES OF OTHER STORIES STARTS HERE BECAUSE OF THE SHEER TALENT.

>> IT IS THE REASON WHY THE THEATRE TROUPE OF LOUISVILLE WAS STARTED.

AND HIS MOM WOULD COME TO EVERY SHOW AND SAY, YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE DC.

HE'S GOOD, BUT I WAS 5 OR 6 AT THE TIME.

WE DID NOT HAVE A PROGRAM FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

AND THEN, THE AFTER LIKE THE FIRST TIME SHE CAME, SHE BROUGHT HIM, AND I THINK HE DID A COLD AUDITION AND SANG ON THE SPOT.

AND I SAID, WE'LL START A THEATRE GROUP FOR THAT AGIC.

>> THE ACADEMY INCORPORATES LIFE LESSONS WHILE HAVING A GOOD TIME.

>> WE GOT TO BE DANCING AND HAVING FUN AND RUNNING AROUND.

WE GOT TO HAVE LOTS OF FUN IN.

>> BUT IT IS NOT ALL FUN AND GAMES.

THESE KIDS ALSO GAIN SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM IN THE REAL WORLD.

>> IT TEACHES ME HOW TO HAVE PATIENCE AND NOT TO JUST GET UPSET IF SOMETHING ISN'T REALLY GOING RIGHT.

>> WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, I COULDN'T DO THINGS IN FRONT OF ME.

AND THEY HELPED ME TO BOOST MY CONFIDENCE UP AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY AND IN FRONT OF THIS CAMERA.

>> >> I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON STAGE BEFORE, SO I MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF STAGE FRIGHT.

BUT -- >> THEY STARTED OUT SO SHY,EDBE AS FEW BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE.

BUT MOST OF THEM WERE SO SHY.

AND THEN IT IS LIKE, AFTER 8 WEEKS, YOU CAN SEE THE CONFIDENCE.

YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT.

♪ WE ARE FAMILY ♪ GET UP EVERYBODY, AND DANCE SING!

>> THE SUMMER PROGRAM INTRODUCED THE STUDIOS TO MANY NEW THINGS.

>> I WAS WORKING WITH ROBOTS AND LIKE, WE WENT TO THEN WE STARTED CROCHETING AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I NEVER DO SO I ENJOYED THAT.

>> ROBOTICS TO CRAFTING AND EVEN THE FRIENDLY SKIES.

>> FIRST TIME I EVER FLEW IN AN AIRPLANE.

AND HE LET ME FLY FOR A MINUTE.

>> BEING EXPOSED TO SUCH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES CAN OPEN UP POSSIBILITIER FOR THESE STUDENTS.

>> WE'RE STARTING TO SEE, OKAY, THIS KID MIGHT BE A PILOT ONE DAY OR THIS KID MIGHT BE AN ARTIST OR THIS KID WILL DEFINITELY BE SINGING AND PERFORMING ON STAGE ONE DAY.

>> THESE OPPORTUNITIES CAN HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT THAT BRINGS PRIDE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

>> IT MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

I HAVE HAD STUDENTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE PROGRAM THAT ARE NOW PERFORMING ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT HAD BEEN IN BROADWAY MUSICALS BEFORE.

SO IT MEANS EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD TO HAVE THAT FOUNDATION TO BEGIN RIGHT HERE IN THE WEST END.

>> THE KIDSS ARTS ACADEMY ELEVATES THE COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENTS.

>> THEY LEARN HOW TO BE THEM AND REALLY LOVE THEM AND FIND THINGS ABOUT THEM THAT THEY KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I HAD THIS IN ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I COULD BE THIS GREAT.

>> THE KIDSS ARTS ACADEMY SIN CREDIBLE AND ONE OF THE SERVICES OFFERED HERE AT THE LOUISVILLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CENTERS.

KEVIN FIELD IS THE DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHAT ARE ALL OF THE SERVICES OFFERED HERE?

>> WELL, WE HAVE A FULL SPECTRUM.

UNIVERSITY BEGINS TO SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS SIX WEEKS OF AGE.

AND THEY GO ALL THE WAY UP TO AGE 5 AND THEN WE PICK UP FROM THERE WITH OUR SCHOOL AGED YOUTH PROGRAMS, OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH PROGRAM, SIGNATURE PROGRAMS BEING ARTS ACADEMY, THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL WE DO A LOT OF OTHER SPECIAL PROGRAMS LIKES SUMMER CAMPS.

WE JUST FINISHED UP A STEM CELL CAMP WHERE THEY GOT EXPOSED TO STEM CAREERS AND TOOK LESSONS AND TURNED THEM INTO ART SO REPRODUCING THE LEARNINGS THIS COMING SUNDAY.

AND A FULL SPECK STRUM INCLUDING ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR ADULTS, WE DO EMPLOYMENT, WE DO EDUCATION, WE DO ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WORKING WITH ADULTS AND WE DO A LOT MORE THAN DIRECT SERVICE BUT WE DO HAVE A STRONG DIRECT SERVICE PORTFOLIO.

WE DO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.

SO WE DO FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

>> THIS IS ABOUT TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY, 75 YEARS OLD.

>> HOW DID IT ALL START 75 YEARS AGO?

>> THIS IS A BIG YEAR.

, AND IT WRAPS UP THAT SIGNIFIES FOR US THE CULMINATION OF FIRST BEING BORN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN 1948.

AS A SETTLEMENT HOUSE.

AND BACK IN THOSE DAYS, AMERICA WAS THE GREAT MIGRATION FROM RURAL AMERICA TO THE CITIES TO URBAN AMERICA.

AND SO WE WERE ONE OF MANY SETTLEMENT HOUSES, THE MARKET STREET NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE WHERE FAMILIES WENT TO, TO GET ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, TO HOUSING, TO FIND SCHOOLS AND OTHER SERVICES FOR CHILDREN.

BUT, WE WENT FROM THERE AND WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD EVER SINCE WE WERE FOUNDED.

AND IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH ON THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU'LL FIND THAT IT IS THE POOREST CENSUS TRACK IN JEFFERSON COUNTY SINCE TRACK NUMBER 30.

AND THAT KEEPS OUR MISSION RELEVANT BECAUSE WE HAVE GONE FROM SERVING FAMILIES THAT WERE NEEDING TO CONNECT AS THEY WERE MIGRATING TO -- FAMILIES THAT NEED TO CONNECT TO OPPORTUNITY.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS CAMP, CAMPUS, WALNUT STREET.

IF YOU LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WALNUT STREET, IT WAS FORMERLY KNOWN BY MANY, CALLED BY MANY AS LOUISVILLE'S HARLEM.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE IN ITS HEYDAY, WALNUT STREET WAS THE BLACK BUSINESS DISTRICT IN LOUISVILLE.

IT WAS THE GO-TO PLACE FOR BUSY BLACK PROFESSIONALS, PRE-DATED THE SEGREGATION, DESEGREGATION AND WE WERE A SEGREGATED SOCIETY BACK IN THOSE DAYS.

IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD EVEN THOUGH IT IS A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD NOW, THIS WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE DOCTORS, LAWYERS AND EVERY OTHER PROFESSION, EDUCATORS LIVED AND WORKED.

AND THEY FOUND THEIR WAY UP AND DOWN WALNUT STREET FOR SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY.

SO WE HOLD NEAR AND DEAR TO THAT HISTORY CELEBRATING 75 YEARS BUT ALSO KEEPING US CONNECTED TO OUR PAST AS A COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY.

I'M A PRODUCT OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

SOMETHING THAT I HOLD PROUDLY TO AS A LEADER BECAUSE I WAS RAISED HERE BUT ALSO, STILL HERE HELPING THIS COMMUNITY STAY STRONG.

>> SO YOU TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED OVER THAT 75 YEARS.

BUT SOME THINGS ARE STILL THE SAME.

AND THIS COMMUNITY IS STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE NINTH STREET DIVIDE.

HOW IS THIS PLACE HELPING TO IMPROVE THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, FOR MANY YEARS, AS WE WERE SERVING POOR FAMILIES, WE REALIZED THAT EVEN WHEN WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING OUR MISSION, THAT THE FAMILIES WERE SIMPLY MOVING OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO BECAUSE IF YOU CAN DO BETTER, YOU TEND TO DO BETTER AND SOMETIMES, DOING BETTER MEANS MOVING OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT, WE REALIZE THIS IS A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

I CAN SAY THAT AS GROWING UP HERE, LIVING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE THE EARLY '60s, AND IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, TO RAISE KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL, TO WORK.

I HAVE DONE ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE HOLD ON TO THAT IDEA OF WALNUT STREET.

AND WE HOLD ON THE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WEST REVITALIZATION IS WARRANTED.

WE'RE AT THE CUSP OF REVITALIZING THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE HAD TO DO IT BY LEADING BY EXAMPLE.

SO YOU HAVE THIS CAMPUS NOW THAT SYMBOLIZES WHAT WE AS A SMALL NON-PROFIT COULD DO BUT ALSO, IS USED TO BE A BEACON FOR OTHER GROUPS AND YOU SEE IT ALL AROUND WEST LOUISVILLE.

SO I JUST SAY THAT, THE DIVIDE IS A MISNOMER BECAUSE, THE CONDITIONS ARE BEGINNING TO CHANGE.

AND WE WANT TO DES SPELL THE MYTH THAT THERE IS NO DESTINATIONS -- DISPEL THE MYTH THAT THERE ARE NO DESTINATIONS WORTH GOING TO AFTER NINTH STREET.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE MINDSET PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT NINTH STREET THAT THERE IS NO REASON, NO ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE THERE IS NO PURPOSE TO COME HERE.

BUT WHEN YOU GET HERE, YOU LOOK AROUND AND YOU SAY, WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HERE.

SO, WE'RE TRYING TO DISPEL THAT MYTH THAT THERE IS A DIVIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY AT NINTH STREET.

>> AND WE SAW SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW KIDS BENEFIT AND GET INTO THE ARTS PROGRAMS HERE.

SO WHAT SORT OF CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN IN SOME OF THE KIDS GOING THROUGH THAT PROGRAM?

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS A PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE TO WORK WITH THE YOUNG KIDS.

BUT I MUST SAY THE KIDS ART ACADEMY SIGNATURE PROGRAM IS OVER 30 YEARS OLD.

IT WAS FOUNDED BY MY PREDECESSOR SAM WATKINS WHO WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY ARTS LEADER IN FORM OF GERALDINE WOODS.

AND BETWEEN SAM AND GERRY WOODS, THE KIDS ART ACADEMY GOT GROUNDED THROUGHOUT THE ARTS COMMUNITY AS A GO-TO PLACE.

AT THE TIME WE WERE FOUNDED, THERE WERE NOT VERY MANY BLACK ENTITIES THAT HAD CREDIBLE AND HIGH-QUALITY ARTS PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER 30 YEAR, YOU WILL SEE CHILDREN THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE AND SOMETIMES, GETTING TURNING FROM KIDS WHO WERE SHY AND NOT WANTING TO SPEAK, IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE TO KIDS WHO WILL JUST WOW ANY CROWD IN AMERICA AND PROBABLY ON THE PLANET JUST WITH THEIR GIFTS AND THEIR TALENTS.

AND SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT LITERALLY HAPPEN MANY, MANY TIMES OVER WITH THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE COME THROUGH HERE.

SOME HAVE GONE ON TO TRAVEL THE GLOBE, PERFORMING AND MAJOR PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS.

SOME ARE STILL HERE IN LOUISVILLE, THAT HAVE MADE LOUISVILLE THEIR HOME AND DOING GREAT WORK.

AND AS LEADERS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, NOT ONLY THE ARTS COMMUNITY BUT ALSO IN BUSINESS.

SO WE HAVE JUST SEEN A LOT OF KIDS START HERE AND GO ON TO DO GREAT THINGS.

BEFORE D' CORY, THE ARTS ACADEMY WAS TAKING KIDS 12 AND UP.

AND, D-COREY CHANG CHANG CHANGET BECAUSE WHAT WE SAW IN HIM AFTER LISTENING TO HIM AND HIS MOM SAYING WE NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE LOOK AT THIS KID, AND, AT THAT TIME, HE HAD NOT BEEN TRAINED, HAD NOT BEEN COACHED, HAD JUST PURE TALENT AND SO HE GOT HIS FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM AS A PART OF THE TINY TAKES THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE, A PROGRAM FOR YOUNGER KIDS.

AND SO ONCE HE GOT A CHANCE TO GET ON STAGE, HE HAS BEEN LIGHTS OUT EVER SINCE.

HE HAS JUST SHOWN THE WORLD THAT HE'S A GIFTED INDIVIDUAL.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE IS JUST A GREAT KID.

HE IS JUST A GREAT HUMAN BEING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND SO HE IS GETTING WHAT HE DESERVES.

HE WORKS HARD.

HE'S CERTAINLY TALENTED AND ALSO VERY HUMBLE IS WE RESPECT HIM FOR THAT.

♪ I'M READ I DO GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY WITH MY FAMILY ♪ LISTEN TO IT ♪ WITH THE WARM CONCRETE UNDERNEATH MY FEET AS I WIGGLE MY TOES ♪ WHAT DIRECTION SHOULD I GO ♪ IS IT NORTH, SOUTH, EAST-WEST ♪ AND THEY WANTED TO SAY HELLO ♪ HELLO ♪ HELLO ♪ >> WHEN I MADE "BEAUTIFUL MORNING," I WAS JUST BLOWN AWAY BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY GOOD THINGS INSIDE OF LOUISVILLE.

LIKE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE BAD THINGS, JUST WORRY ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS AND JUST TAKE IT IN AND JUST LIVE YOUR LIFE WHILE YOU CAN.

BECAUSE THERE IS LIKE, IT IS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL MORNING HERE IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AND I LOVE IT.

EVERY TIME LIKE I JUST GO OUTSIDE, AND I JUST TAKE A DEEP BREATH, AND THEN JUST LIKE, (EXHALE) A BEAUTIFUL MORNING AND A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

>> SO THAT SONG IS ABOUT LOUISVILLE.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> OKAY.

SO YOU WRITE A LOT OF YOUR OWN MUSIC NOW?

>> I DID NOT WRITE MUSIC.

I TRY TO BUT I CANNOT.

>> BUT, MY MOM AND MY DAD WRITE MY MUSIC.

>> WONDERFUL.

THAT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR.

>> YES.

SO, IT IS LIKE, MY MOM HAS BEEN IN SOME MUSIC AND WRITING MUSIC.

SHE'S ACTUALLY A HAIR STYLEST AND MY DAD, HE GOT HIS OWN BUSINESS, AND HE WORKS FOR THE CITY.

BUT, HE STILL IS THERE FOR ME WHILE HE CAN.

AND MY MOM SPENDS A LOT OF HER TIME JUST PUSHING ME AND PUSHING ME AND PUSHING ME, AND PUSHING ME.

AND THEN MY DAD COME HOME AND MY MOM, TOGETHER THEY PUSH, PUSH, PUSH.

AND KEEP PUSHING ME UNTIL -- BECAUSE THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

AND I JUST WANT TO KEEP PUSHING MYSELF BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I COULD BE A CELEBRITY ONE DAY.

>> YOU'RE WELL ON YOUR WAY LIKE I SAID.

SO, OKAY, LET'S GO BACK TO AMERICA'S GOT TALENT.

THEY WERE ON THE STAGE AND YOU FINALLY GET THROUGH YOUR SONG AND YOUR FAVORITE JUDGE SIMON COWELL SAYS LET ME HEAR THAT WITHOUT THE MUSIC.

>> YES.

>> WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

>> I'M THINKING, OKAY, D-COREY, YOU HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ACAPPELL LOST LA SINGER SO LET'S SHOW HIM WHAT WE HAVE GOT.

SO, WHEN HE ASKED ME THAT, FIRST OF ALL, SIMON COWELL IS TALKING TO A LOUISVILLE BOY.

TALKING TO ME?

WHAT!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

AND IT IS SO CRAZY.

BECAUSE, LIKE, NOW, IT IS LIKE, THREE YEARS AGO, LIKE, I REALLY WANTED TO BE ON "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT."

AND I JUST STARTED CALLING MYSELF, SAY IT IN THE MIRROR AND I WOULD JUST ACT LIKE, YEAH, THAT'S ME, THAT'S ME.

SO, NOW THAT I ACTUALLY GET TO SAY THAT I WAS ON "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT "IS SUCH AN HONOR.

>> AND WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

WHAT -- SHOULD WE BE WATCHING OUT FOR?

WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

>> I LOVE BROADWAY SO MUCH.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY NUMBER ONE GOAL TO BE ON BROADWAY BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN ON BROADWAY DOING THIS SHOW OR DOING THAT SHOW.

SO I JUST EVEN EXPLAIN IT.

IN JUST LOVE BROADWAY SO MUCH.

>> WHERE ARE WE GOING TO SEE YOU ON BROADWAY?

IF YOU GOT TO CHOOSE WHAT SHOW YOU WERE IN?

>> I WOULD PROBABLY SAY, "WICKED."

THAT'S MY FAVORITE.

I LOVE "WICKED."

EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

I HEARD THE SOUND TRACKS.

AND I LOVE IT.

AND I LOVE IT AND I LOVE IT AND I LOVE IT.

>> WELL, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE'LL SEE YOU THERE ONE DAY.

SO, YOU MENTIONED HOW YOUR PARENTS PUSHED YOU SO MUCH AND DO YOU ALL OF THIS WORK.

YOU'RE STILL AN 11-YEAR-OLD KID.

DO YOU EVER GET TIRED OF IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I'M GRATEFUL.

I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT I HAVE PARENTS THAT WILL PUSH ME AND PUSH ME AND PUSH ME AND PUSH ME EVEN THOUGH I GET MAD SOMETIMES.

IT'S -- IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN IT.

BUT, THAT'S LOVE.

AND SOMEBODY WHO TRULY CARES ABOUT YOU, SOMEBODY WHO REALLY WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED IN LIFE.

THEY WILL REALLY PUSH YOU AND SAY, HEY, LOOK, YOU GOT TO PRACTICE.

IF YOU WANT TO BE A SINGER AND IF YOU WANT TO BE A SUPERSTAR, PRACTICE.

PRACTICE, YOU IN THE HARD WORK.

TAKE VOICE LESSONS.

IF NOBODY IS WILLING TO PUT THAT ALL IN YOU, PUT IT IN YOURSELF.

>> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S NEXT.

AND WE HAVE OUR OWN PRIVATE PERFORMANCE OUR STUDIO.

YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT ONLINE.

AND DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW US ON ININSTAGRAM BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS AND VIDEOS THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND LEARNING A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT LOUISVILLE TODAY.

WE'LL SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!