The holidays are here and that can only mean one thing… Christmas music is in full swing!

Whether you’re grooving to the older tunes or bobbing along to the newer ones, the theme remains the same; the holidays are a time for reflecting, rejoicing and being around the ones we love.

If you’re a big fan of the Christmas music scene, perhaps you have heard of a priest that sings with such beautiful authority, that he’s even won over the tough judge, Simon Cowell.

His name is Father Ray Kelly. He hails from Ireland but has recently garnered international attention for his voice.

Father Ray first came to the world’s attention in 2014 when he performed the ever-so-popular, “Hallelujah” for a bride and groom. Not only did the couple adore his performance, but so did the world. He signed a contract with Universal Music Ireland that same year.

Ironically, even though he loved singing, he never pursued his passion as a career. In fact, it was solely a hobby. But the video catapulted Father Kelly into fame. Today, the video has over 70 million views and counting on YouTube.

Since then, the priest has been a part of several television shows, interviews, and concerts across the US and Europe. One of his most notable appearances, however, has been on the hit show, Britain’s Got Talent where he performed on live television and in front of Simon Cowell.

He performed the R.E.M. hit song, “Everybody Hurts.” Needless to say, he blew the crowd away. Cowell was also extremely moved stating that it was one of his “favorite auditions ever.”

He didn’t win the show but he did rack up millions of views for his performance.

Although he is a very busy man, he is still very active in his parish as it is still his top priority.

But it looks like there is no slowing down for the 64-year-old priest. He recently released a DVD Christmas special titled, A Christmas Concert In The Heart Of Ireland. Judging by the clip that has made its rounds on the internet, it’s definitely worth viewing.

In the clip, Father Ray sings the 1940s holiday classic, “Little Drummer Boy.”

Though the song is known for its catchy “Pa rum pum pum pum’s,” some might not know what the song is actually about.

The lyrics tell a story of a poor boy who plays his drum for baby Jesus as a gift. He can’t afford to bring him anything so instead, he plays the drums for him at Mary’s approval.

The setting of the performance is none other than a majestic church with gorgeous lights of various hues including purple and green.

In a Christmas sweater, Father Ray bobs along to a modernized, up-tempo and catchy beat. Though it’s been tweaked, there’s no mistaking what song it is.

Father Ray seems to have found his stride. He appears much more confident and comfortable than he did in his past videos. Though all are great, there’s a sense of sureness in him that we hadn’t seen before. It’s always a rewarding experience witnessing someone succeed in their dreams.

The video lasts for four minutes but it feels much shorter than that.

Since then, Father Ray has written a memoir titled, Hallelujah: Memoirs of a Singing Priest. He is also set to be a competitor on Dancing with the Stars next year!

Watch the full video below.

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Source: See It Live