Dad Writes Song and Helps Daughter, 6, Record Epic Music Video. 16 Years Later, It Goes Viral (Exclusive)

**Childhood Music Video Goes Viral After 16 Years, Reconnecting Father-Daughter Bond**

McKenzie Waddell, a 22-year-old graduate of NYU Tisch Drama, has been taken by surprise as a music video she created with her father at the tender age of six has recently gained viral popularity on TikTok. The video, titled “Party with My Girls 2Nite,” features McKenzie performing alongside her friends, showing off coordinated dance routines and joyful singing, in a nostalgic throwback that has captured the hearts of viewers online.

The journey that led to the creation of this music video started when McKenzie expressed her interest in performing arts. “I’ve always loved music,” she stated in an interview. “My parents enrolled me in voice and piano lessons after noticing my passion for musicals.” Growing up as a big fan of Disney Channel and drawing inspiration from stars like Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus, McKenzie embraced her aspirational creativity from a young age.

At the same time she was nurturing her musical interests, McKenzie was collaborating with her best friend on a web series called “iMcKenzie,” which was a playful tribute to the popular Nickelodeon series “iCarly.” This creative endeavour inspired her father, Kenneth Waddell, who is a filmmaker and NYU alumnus, to write a song specifically for his daughter. The music video was a project of affection rather than professional aspirations, featuring McKenzie in a starring role.

In a TikTok video, a younger version of McKenzie can be seen joyfully singing the song that her father crafted for her. Recalling those days, she explained how Kenneth wrote and recorded the song in their attic studio: “It was such a fun process. He created the melody and parts, teaching me how to sing them.” Not only did Kenneth handle the music, but he also directed the music video, bringing McKenzie’s childhood friends along to dance and sing.

The choreography for the music video was developed by McKenzie’s mother and one of her friends, who taught the moves to the group on the day of the shoot. The filming took place at a local dance studio and in their home, using a green screen to capture different scenes. “It took a few hours,” McKenzie recalled, adding with a smile, “My dad also had fun adding little stick drawings in the video during the editing process.”

Once complete, the music video was uploaded to YouTube, where it initially garnered around 12,000 views. McKenzie found this achievement thrilling at the time. “I thought that was so cool,” she reflected, although she admitted that as she grew older, she felt a bit embarrassed about it. “There was even a time they played the song during morning announcements in third grade, and I cried!” she said. “But as I matured, it turned into a delightful memory, almost like a family lore I could share with friends.”

While McKenzie and her father did not pursue further music video projects, their creative bond continued through various film and acting ventures. “As I grew up, my interests shifted towards acting and filmmaking, just like my dad,” she explained. The two have worked on several collaborations over the years, producing music with friends as a pastime rather than a profession.

Now focused intently on her acting career, McKenzie is eager to set her sights on future projects. “I’ve been working on a television series called Moment to Moment with my best friends,” she shared, adding that Kenneth has been instrumental in their endeavours by helping to produce their short film and refining their scripts. “He’s my biggest cheerleader and my go-to collaborator,” she remarked warmly.

With the viral resurgence of their childhood creation, McKenzie and Kenneth’s story has not only revitalised childhood memories but also strengthened their artistic partnership as they forge ahead in the realms of music and acting. The bond between father and daughter, once sparked by a playful video, continues to flourish through their shared love for creativity and storytelling, leaving the doors open for many more collaborations in the future.