Oprah Winfrey isn’t the first celebrity to praise Rosie McKee for her acting skills, but the producer and media titan is now one of the Instagram star’s loudest cheerleaders.

At just eight-years-old, McKee and her family walked the red – or actually purple – carpet during the premier of “The Color Purple” in Los Angeles on Dec. 6. Winfrey invited the Detroit natives after being stunned by McKee’s performance in a skit that reenacted an emotional scene from the 1985 version of the film Winfrey starred in as Sofia.

RELATED: Oprah invites Detroit family to premier of ‘The Color Purple’ thanks to viral video

This opportunity wasn’t the result of sudden stardom. The joy of acting – or as McKee calls it “pretending” – family support and a love of Black excellence is what forged McKee’s path to Hollywood. Her journey has given McKee some insight into what it takes to bring visions to reality.

“Just be patient because it’s gonna happen,” McKee says as her advice to other kids who have big dreams. “Or rather keep the faith because it is happening.”

McKee’s love of acting started blooming at three years old, when her mother, Kenya White, read aloud a pamphlet about Rosa Parks as part of a homework assignment from her Head Start class. White didn’t think McKee was listening. She was just a child after all.

But when White asked McKee what she learned, McKee repeated back what her mom read word-per-word. This taught White to throw away her assumptions about her child’s abilities, and start nurturing her daughter’s gift by giving her permission to play. She saw potential in McKee, and started running around the house for items to dress her daughter up like Rosa Parks. She recorded McKee reciting the words again and posted the video for family and friends. That first post White made of McKee went viral.

McKee’s success quickly became a family affair. McKee may be the star, but big sister A’Blesyn Davis is the magic behind the camera who films, directs and edits the videos. Mama White gathers the wardrobe and chooses the scenes. Collectively, the trio calls themselves The Big Three as a nod to their hometown’s automotive legacy.

Since then, McKee and her family have posted more than 100 videos on her Instagram Go Rosie Grow and many of them have received star-studded attention for her impersonations of famous Black actresses, politicians, singers and other icons in honor of Black History Month. McKee makes sure to have fun with it. Her sparkly dress and long wavy tresses swayed as she reenacted Diana Ross. She brought the sass when she educated viewers about the accolades of Stacey Abrams and Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts.She exuded soulful, spiritual vibes while impersonating Erykah Badu, or as McKee called her Erykah BaDOULA in a nod to the singer’s dedication to help Black women safely bring life into the world.

No matter who she is portraying, the videos are a fun way to commemorate an important time of year for McKee.

“The Black History Month magic is that you can do anything you put your mind to,” McKee said.

As for White, the opportunity to play with her child gives her a chance to portray Blackness from a positive lens.

“When I was growing up at Rosie’s age, Black history was kind of intimidating because it was always about the slaves getting beaten,” White said. “So my version of teaching her Black history is about success to let her know that whatever she wants to be she can be because Black is it.”

Celebrities quickly started to notice McKee’s knack for acting. Roberts shared McKee’s skit on her Instagram story with a message saying, “Have you seen my mini-me?” Badu invited McKee and her family to a concert on her dime. One of McKee’s favorite celebrities, Whoopi Goldberg, not only gave her a personal video shoutout, but she also gifted McKee a case of books. Actress and author Viola Davis is a follower of her account. Rosie even got praise from the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner.

“Wow! Look at this talented girl,” Turner said in an Instagram post two years before her passing. “You are fantastic. Go for your dreams. Big hugs, Tina.”

McKee’s love for singer and actress Halle Bailey is what inspired the skit that made Winfrey proud. This past summer, White took McKee to see the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” to see Bailey frolic in the sea as Ariel in the Disney film. McKee’s face lit up when she recognized Bailey in “The Color Purple” trailer. That’s when White knew they had to try out the Thanksgiving dinner scene from “The Color Purple” for their followers to enjoy.

McKee’s skit has since received almost 4 million views on Instagram. The comments were overflowing with compliments, calling McKee’s work Oscar-worthy and their favorite rendition of the scene. One commenter tagged filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry telling him they found his next star.

Then Winfrey entered the comments giving McKee a “Standing O” for her performance and insisted she be her guest for the premier. White was in disbelief until she saw the blue checkmark verifying Winfrey’s account. A call from Oprah Daily requesting a video call interview solidified the reality that Winfrey was interested in learning more about McKee. Oprah Daily told White that they were going to be interviewed along with multiple super fans of “The Color Purple.”

So McKee and her mother arrived on the call dressed in all purple. White noticed only Oprah Daily’s associate producer Annastacia Gladston was on the screen. While the producer inquired about McKee’s love for the movie, White asked herself why she couldn’t see the rest of the fans chosen for this opportunity. The producer then asked if they had heard from Winfrey since she commented on the video. White said no, but they weren’t worried. They knew Winfrey would be true to her word.

Winfrey considered that her cue to join the call and sang, “Oprah’s true to her word.”

McKee and White’s jaws dropped when Winfrey’s face appeared on the screen. It was there that Winfrey extended a formal invitation for McKee and her family to join her for the premier – all expenses paid by Winfrey, of course. McKee deserved it. “I saw you, Miss Rosie, and all of your wonderful portrayals,” Oprah said. “The whole dinner table scene, which is the hardest scene in the movie to do…. When I did it years ago, it took us three days to do that scene—and you nailed it!”

A few weeks, a shopping spree and a flight later, McKee, White and Davis were at the premier receiving so much love. Author and Black feminist Alice Walker, who won the Pulitzer Prize for writing “The Color Purple” book in 1982, hugged and stamped McKee’s head with forehead kisses as if she were her grandchild. Blitz Bazawule, director of the 2023 version of the film, high-fived McKee and repeated the comments he left on her video.

“You are brilliant. You’re a genius,” Bazawule said. “And I meant what I said. I do want to work with you someday.”

McKee squealed when Halle Bailey complimented her sparkly purple jacket and layered tulle skirt, which was assembled by Detroit fashion designer Alexandra B.

“Oh my God, I actually started crying when she came up to me,” McKee said. “It was the best moment ever. I got to meet my favorite favorite celebrity.”

McKee’s older sister Davis stumbled over her words when actress and singer Amber Riley spoke to her as if she was a friend. Being among the energy of such powerful celebrities encouraged Davis to keep pushing for her dreams to be a filmmaker.

“It felt really comfortable,” Davis said while holding back tears. “I still felt starstruck, but at the same time seeing everybody there and how it feels to be there made me want to be there but not as a guest but because I invited you here because it is my movie.”

White was expecting a more uppity vibe from Hollywood. But “The Color Purple” cast gave McKee the family treatment by filling her spirit with affirmations:

“You’re so precious,” singer and actress Fantasia Barrino said. “You’re special.”

“You’re so talented,” actress Danielle Brooks said.

“You’re such a princess,” actress Phylicia Pearl Mpasi said. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

The whole occasion still feels like a fever dream to White and her family. But they are trying to stay focused and keep up with the tidal wave of popularity Winfrey created for them. McKee’s Instagram following skyrocketed from 30,000 in September to more than 97,800 as of Thursday. White said the family is hoping that someone will invest in their work by providing better studio-quality equipment.

White is overwhelmed with pride thinking about how far they’ve come as a family.

“This taught me you never know who is watching,” White said. “Prior to this, we were making videos for family fun because we noticed Rosie’s talent early on…We weren’t doing this for Rosie to get roles or to get picked up on movie screens or even make movies. This was something we enjoyed doing and to help her to be more confident about what we saw in her early in life.”

The comment White sees the most on McKee’s Instagram videos come from people who believe their lives would be different if they’d had a mother like White who spoke life into their dreams instead of fear. White said it’s a common issue she sees with parents – and it is a problem that should end.

“Instead of telling your kids to sit down when they’re dancing too much or hush up when they’re singing too loud or ‘don’t do that’ when they’re drawing, nourish that because you never know what’s growing inside of them,” White said.

Be sure to keep an eye on the Go Rosie Grow Instagram account for this year’s Black History month videos from the family.