# JD McCrary

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American actor and singer

JayDon Born JayDon Howard McCrary[1] (2007-07-18) July 18, 2007 (age 18) Granada Hills, California, U.S. Genres R&B, pop Occupations Singer-songwriter, actor, dancer Years active 2015–present Labels Zoo Mega Gamma

Musical artist

**JayDon Howard McCrary** (born July 18, 2007), known mononymously as **JayDon** (formerly as **JD McCrary**) is an American singer-songwriter, actor and dancer. He starred in *[The Lion King](/source/The_Lion_King_(2019_film))* (2019) as the voice of young [Simba](/source/Simba), played Kenny Payne in *[The Paynes](/source/The_Paynes)*, and also appeared in the 2019 film *[Little](/source/Little_(film))*.[2] In 2025, he signed with [Usher](/source/Usher_(musician)) and [L.A. Reid](/source/L.A._Reid)'s record label Mega, as a joint venture with [Gamma](/source/Gamma_(media_company)).

## Career

### 2015–2019: Career beginnings and acting

McCrary began his acting career in 2015 at age 8 on *[K.C. Undercover](/source/K.C._Undercover)*, where he appeared on two episodes.[3] In December 2016, he made a guest appearance on [Childish Gambino](/source/Donald_Glover)'s song "Terrified".[4] He then had live performances on *[Little Big Shots](/source/Little_Big_Shots)* singing [The Jackson 5](/source/The_Jackson_5)'s "[I Want You Back](/source/I_Want_You_Back)",[5] *[The Ellen Show](/source/The_Ellen_Show)* singing "[Who's Lovin' You](/source/Who's_Lovin'_You)",[6] and the [60th Annual Grammy Awards](/source/60th_Annual_Grammy_Awards) to support Childish Gambino's "Terrified".[7] In December 2017, he sang the national anthem before a [Los Angeles Clippers](/source/Los_Angeles_Clippers) game after a viral singing display a few weeks prior.[8] In 2017, he later appeared on *[I'm Dying Up Here](/source/I'm_Dying_Up_Here)* and *[Teachers](/source/Teachers_(2016_TV_series))* as minor roles.[9]

On January 14, 2018, he released his first official single called "Inviting All of You".[10] On August 13, 2018, it was announced that JD McCrary became the youngest artist to sign with [Disney Music Group](/source/Disney_Music_Group)'s [Hollywood Records](/source/Hollywood_Records), as he released the music video to his second single "My Name" on August 28.[11][12] On January 24, 2019, he released the first single after signing to the label called "Keep in Touch."[13] He stars in *[The Paynes](/source/The_Paynes)* on the [Oprah Winfrey Network](/source/Oprah_Winfrey_Network).

In 2019, McCrary co-starred in the [Universal](/source/Universal_Pictures) comedy film *[Little](/source/Little_(film))*, and provided the voice of young [Simba](/source/Simba) in the live action remake of the [Disney](/source/Walt_Disney_Pictures) film *[The Lion King](/source/The_Lion_King_(2019_film))*.[14][15][16] McCrary said that "[Donald Glover](/source/Donald_Glover) [who voices adult Simba] is so talented that [I] actually did have to take it into consideration, because if Simba is going to grow up to be some sort of figure and you know of it, you have to keep that motive."[17] Also that year, McCrary portrayed a young [Michael Jackson](/source/Michael_Jackson) in the [BET](/source/BET) series *[American Soul](/source/American_Soul)*, which premiered in February. On April 19, McCrary released his debut EP, *Shine*, which includes production from [Jermaine Dupri](/source/Jermaine_Dupri) and [Bryan-Michael Cox](/source/Bryan-Michael_Cox).[18]

### 2024–present: Musical career

In 2024, McCrary rebranded his musical stage name to his birth-name, JayDon. On November 8, 2024, he released his first single under his new stage name, "Ah! Ah!" featuring 310babii.[19] In 2025, it was announced that he officially signed with [Usher](/source/Usher_(musician)) and [L.A. Reid](/source/L.A._Reid)'s record label Mega in partnership with [Larry Jackson](/source/Larry_Jackson_(music_executive))'s [gamma](/source/Gamma_(media_company)).[20][21] In 2025, he released his two singles, "[Lullaby](/source/Lullaby_(JayDon_and_Paradise_song))" and "I'll Be Good". The latter of which received a music video on April 24, 2025.[22]

## Artistry

In an interview with *[Vibe](/source/Vibe_(magazine))*, McCrary cited [Michael Jackson](/source/Michael_Jackson) as his biggest influence, as well as [Chris Brown](/source/Chris_Brown), [Stevie Wonder](/source/Stevie_Wonder), [Bruno Mars](/source/Bruno_Mars), [Justin Bieber](/source/Justin_Bieber), [Omarion](/source/Omarion), [Bobby Brown](/source/Bobby_Brown), [Usher](/source/Usher_(musician)) (whom he his currently signed to and mentored by) and [Mario](/source/Mario_(American_singer)).[23][24]

## Discography

### Mixtapes

Title Details Me My Songs & I Released: October 10, 2025 Label: Zoo, Mega, Gamma Format: Digital download

### Extended plays

Title Details Shine Released: April 19, 2019 Label: Hollywood Format: Digital download

### Singles

Title Year "Inviting All of You" 2018 "My Name" "Keep in Touch" 2019 "Winter Wonderland" "Where Do I Belong" "Closer to Christmas" "Stuck With You" (with Coco Quinn) 2020 "Tell Me Why" "Walking on Air" "Don't Go" 2022 "Reminiscin" (featuring J.Dizzle) "Calendar" 2023 "Trip" 2024 "Ah! Ah!" (featuring 310babii) "Lullaby" (featuring Paradise) 2025 "I'll Be Good" "Lullaby Remix" (featuring Paradise, Jay Park, and Louis of Lngshot) "Lullaby Mega Remix" (featuring Paradise and Usher)

### Guest appearances

List of guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name Title Other artist(s) Year Album "Terrified" Childish Gambino 2016 "Awaken, My Love!" "Cautionary Tales" Jon Bellion 2018 Glory Sound Prep "This Neverland" G Tom Mac A Lost Boys Story: The Musical (Original Score) "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" Shahadi Wright Joseph, John Oliver 2019 The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack "Hakuna Matata" Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, Donald Glover

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 2019 Little Isaac The Lion King Young Simba (voice) Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor 2022 13 Brett 2023 Wish Singing Animal

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 2015 Blunt Talk Singing kid Episode: "A Beaver That's Lost Its Mind" 2015–16 K.C. Undercover Young Ernie Cooper 2 episodes 2017 Teachers Ayo Episode: "Brokebitch Mountain" Little Big Shots Himself Episode: "Memory Lane" I'm Dying Up Here Adam's brother Episode: "The Unbelievable Power of Believing" 2018 The Paynes Kenny Payne 2019 American Soul Young Michael Jackson Episode: "68 BC"

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** R&B ONLY (July 25, 2025). [*JayDon on rebranding from JD McCrary*](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/v_AZvylZFA4) (video). Event occurs at 0:07. Retrieved December 5, 2025 – via YouTube.{{[cite AV media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media)}}: CS1 maint: url-status ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_url-status))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** George, Rachel (January 29, 2018). ["5 Things to Know About JD McCrary, Childish Gambino's Young Grammys Co-Star"](https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/8096915/childish-gambino-jd-mccrary-5-things-to-know). *Billboard*. Retrieved February 21, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Canter, Brian (November 2, 2016). ["First Look: "KC Undercover" Returns With "Undercover Mother," "Trust No One Episodes"](http://headlineplanet.com/home/2016/11/02/first-look-kc-undercover-returns-undercover-mepisodes/). *Headline Planet*. Retrieved February 21, 2018.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Starling, Lankan (December 6, 2016). ["JD McCrary Is The Precocious 9 Year-Old Singing on Childish Gambino's "Terrified""](http://www.thefader.com/2016/12/06/jd-mccrary-featured-zombies-awaken-my-love). *The Fader*. Retrieved February 21, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Cheatle, Juliet (May 14, 2017). ["JD McCrary: Who is child singing sensation from Little Big Shots?"](https://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/jd-mccrary-who-is-child-singing-sensation-from-little-big-shots/). *Monsters and Critics*. Retrieved February 21, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Reddy, Subba (January 15, 2018). ["Kid Singer JD McCrary Wows with 'Who's Loving You' Performance The Ellen Show"](http://whateverlife.com/kid-singer-jd-mccrary-wows-with-whos-loving-you-performance-the-ellen-show-on-whateverlife/). *Whatever Life*. Retrieved February 21, 2018.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Nyren, Eric (January 28, 2018). ["Donald Glover Sang With the Voice of 'The Lion King's' Young Simba at the Grammys"](https://variety.com/2018/music/news/childish-gambino-grammys-performance-kid-1202679775/). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. Retrieved February 21, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Keaney, Quinn (December 11, 2017). ["The Actor Playing Young Simba in The Lion King Reboot Blew NBA Fans Away With His Voice"](https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/JD-McCrary-Singing-LA-Clippers-Game-Video-44352387). *Pop Sugar*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Who Sang With Childish Gambino At The 2018 Grammys?"](https://www.ibtimes.com/who-jd-mccrary-10-year-old-performs-childish-gambino-grammys-2018-2646548). *International Business Times*. January 28, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Inviting All of You - Single"](https://music.apple.com/us/album/inviting-all-of-you-single/1334762528). *iTunes*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Jd Mccrary, Youngest Solo Artist To Sign With Hollywood Records Releases 'My Name' Video"](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Jd-Mccrary-Youngest-Solo-Artist-To-Sign-With-Hollywood-Records-Releases-My-Name-Video-20180828). *Broadway World*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["THE LION KING'S JD McCrary Signs to Hollywood Records"](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/THE-LION-KINGS-JD-McCrary-Signs-to-Hollywood-Records-20180813). *Broadway World*. Retrieved November 27, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["JD MCCRARY RELEASES NEW SINGLE 'KEEP IN TOUCH'"](http://tigerbeat.com/video/jd-mccrary-keep-in-touch/). *Tiger Beat*. January 25, 2019.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Andreeva, Nellie (January 30, 2017). ["OWN Picks Up 'House of Payne' Spinoff From Tyler Perry"](https://deadline.com/2017/01/own-the-paynes-house-of-payne-spinoff-tyler-perry-more-the-haves-and-have-nots-if-loving-you-is-wrong-love-thy-neighbor-cnaceled-for-better-or-worse-1201897435/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved February 21, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Galuppo, Mia (June 19, 2018). ["'Lion King' Actor JD McCrary Joins Marsai Martin in 'Little' (Exclusive)"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/little-movie-lion-king-actor-jd-mccrary-joins-universal-comedy-1121119). *Hollywood Reporter*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Davis, Justin (December 8, 2017). ["The 10-Year-Old Playing Simba Alongside Donald Glover Has A Cooler Life Than You"](http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2017/12/jd-mccrary-lion-king-interview). *Complex*. Retrieved February 21, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["What To Expect From The Characters In The Upcoming 'The Lion King' Adaptation - Entertainment Weekly"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftRPVHyELXo&t=19s). *[Entertainment Weekly](/source/Entertainment_Weekly)/[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Shine - EP by JD McCrary"](https://music.apple.com/us/album/shine-ep/1459186620). *iTunes*. Retrieved April 22, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["JAYDON - AH! AH! (FT. 310BABII)"](https://www.lucung.com/projects/jaydon-ah-ah). *Lucung*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["JayDon signs with Usher, L.A. Reid's New Label 'Mega" in joint venture with Gamma + Drops new single "I'll Be Good""](https://bringbacksoulmusic.com/jaydon-signs-with-usher-l-a-reids-new-label-mega-in-joint-venture-with-gamma-drops-new-single-ill-be-good/). *bringbacksoulmusic*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["JayDon Signs to Usher and L.A. Reid's Mega Label, Shares 'I'll Be Good'"](https://ratedrnb.com/2025/03/jaydon-signs-to-usher-and-l-a-reid-mega-gamma-ill-be-good/). *RatedRNB*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Be Good, I'll (April 24, 2025). ["I'll Be Good Music Video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFoevPP8hxY&pp=ygUTamF5ZG9uIGknbGwgYmUgZ29vZNIHCQmECQGHKiGM7w%3D%3D). *YouTube*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Jefferson, J'na (November 28, 2017). ["Interview: JD McCrary Talks 'The Lion King,' Working With Donald Glover"](https://www.vibe.com/2017/11/jd-mccrary-interview/). *Vibe*. Retrieved March 22, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Audible, Treats. ["Jaydon Press Release"](https://audibletreats.com/jaydon/).

## External links

- [JD McCrary](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6556377/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States Artists MusicBrainz 2

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [JD McCrary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JD_McCrary) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JD_McCrary?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.