A star in the making: Jaylen Lyndon Hunter’s journey from Memphis to Hollywood

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Every week, Defining Moments with Deja takes you behind the scenes to explore the moments that shape who we are – personally and professionally. It’s where real stories, real inspiration, and real growth come to life.

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Singer, dancer, and actor Jaylen Lyndon Hunter joined this week’s episode of Defining Moments with Deja to talk about his role in the new Michael Jackson biopic.

Born in Granada, Spain, and raised right here in Memphis, Tennessee, Jaylen Lyndon Hunter is already making a major impact in the entertainment industry as a triple threat at just 16 years old.

Jaylen began his journey performing in Memphis productions with Young Actors Guild, appearing in shows like The Lion King Jr., The Jungle Book, and To Michael With Love, where he portrayed Young Michael Jackson. From there, his career took off onto national stages as Young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King Rafiki North American Tour and later as Little Marlon in the first North American tour of MJ: The Musical, where he also served as understudy for Little Michael.

Now, Jaylen is stepping onto the global stage in a huge way, starring as Young Marlon in the highly anticipated Lionsgate and Universal Studios film Michael the Biopic. From red carpets in Berlin, Germany, to premieres in Los Angeles, he’s representing Memphis with excellence, humility, and passion while inspiring the next generation of young artists along the way.

This week, we talked about his journey, the unforgettable moments behind the scenes, and what it’s really like being a young performer in one of the biggest music biopics in the world.

Defining Moments with Deja is now streaming on the WREG+ smart TV app every Sunday at 6 p.m.

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