Suzanne's Mom's Blog

Photo: Dee Dwyer for NPR.
Grammy winners Aura Valentina Simmons, 8, and her father, Harold Simmons II, sing during a morning practice session in their home recording space before she goes to school in Charles County, Maryland. They go by the stage names Aura V and Fyütch.

It must take a special kind of parenting to help a child deal with being in the limelight. There are so many cases of celebrated children who more or less crashed and burned. Of course, there’s Shirley Temple, who went on to a fine career as a diplomat.

I am definitely rooting for the young star in today’s story.

Ava Berger reports at National Public Radio (NPR), “Aura Valentina Simmons, aka Aura V, may be the youngest-ever individually named Grammy winner, but in her third-grade classroom, she uses the same blocks to figure out fractions as everyone else.

” ‘I don’t really know about Grammys,’ Pragat Patel, Aura’s desk mate, said with a shrug this week.

” ‘That’s the energy I like — chill,’ Aura said, giggling. …

“Aura and her dad, Harold Simmons II, who uses the stage name Fyütch, won music’s biggest prize in February. Their album, Harmony, won the Grammy for best children’s music album. Before Aura’s win, Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter had been the youngest individual Grammy winner.

” ‘I would say it’s the biggest experience I’ve ever had in my whole entire life so far,’ 8-year-old Aura said.

“The 13 songs, which took over two years to write and record, follow themes of love, positivity and inclusion. In ‘I Am Love, I Am Light,’ Aura sings, ‘I love myself, I love me.’

” ‘I like to sing about that because it’s empowering,’ Aura said. ‘It gives hope to people.’ …

“Before heading to school on a recent Tuesday, Aura and her father, wearing matching pops of yellow, practiced in a basement studio at their home in Charles County, Maryland. Aura stays with Simmons during the week because he has a more flexible schedule than her mom, who is a teacher.

“Aura pulled out a violin while Simmons warmed up on the piano. … The pair fell into perfect sync and belted out their album’s title track, ‘Harmony.’ …

“On the red carpet in Los Angeles in February, Aura and Simmons also wore matching colors — this time, lavender. Aura said her fluffy skirt and matching sparkly handbag got lots of attention. …

“Simmons said he was ‘freaking out’ before the announcement, but Aura had a different concern.

” ‘ “Can you get me some popcorn?” ‘ Simmons recalled his daughter asking. ‘I am frozen and I say, “Girl, I’m so sorry — I cannot move right now.” ‘

“When they finally got to the stage to accept the Grammy, Simmons spoke about the power of children’s music.

” ‘Children’s music is more than a genre,’ Simmons said. ‘It is an intention of artists who have dedicated our crafts to educating, entertaining and empowering the next generation, which is our highest calling to care for our children globally.’

“Now, Simmons reflects on what has happened since that history-making moment: ‘Seeing the impact that it’s created — our father-daughter relationship, being a Black dad and daughter — has really put into perspective how important representation is in what we do.’

“Simmons never planned to get into children’s music. His journey started when he was 7, and he performed as a young orator in his hometown of Gary, Indiana.

“After college, as he pursued a full-time music career, Simmons taught music production and poetry to young students.

“Then, when Aura was around 6, she asked to use the microphone and play on the keyboard with her dad. …

“Their first song as a duo, ‘I Am Love, I Am Light’ in 2024, ‘went crazy,’ he said.

“Simmons had a new goal: making music that captured the life he wanted to model for his daughter — with friendship and love. …

“Now, he wants her to have her own solo career. But Aura is adamant. ‘I want to still perform with Daddy,’ she told her dad, leaning in to hug him. …

“She feels like she has two lives: one of autographs and fans and one of math games and buddies at school. … ‘I wanna learn too. I’m an ordinary girl, just like everybody else,’ Aura said.”

More at NPR, here.