KIM Kardashian has paid well into the six-figure range for Kanye West’s pianist Philip Cornish to wake up their kids on Christmas, a source exclusively told The U.S. Sun.
The Grammy-winning pianist, who has been a musical director for Ye since 2019, has played festive tunes during the entire month of December at the family’s $60m mansion for years.
Kim Kardashian with her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren Saint, Psalm, Chicago and North West at the family annual Christmas Eve partyCredit: Instagram/pierresnaps
Grammy-winning pianist Philip Cornish plays the keyboardCredit: Instagram/philthekeys
Philip comes to the family’s Calabasas home “every single morning” during the month of December to wake the kids up “peacefully” as he plays the keys in their living room, Kim previously revealed.
According to an insider, it was Kanye, 47, who first hired Philip to play for his four kids he shares with Kim: daughters North, 11, Chicago, 6, and sons Saint, 8, and Psalm, 5.
“Kanye and Philip have been good friends and collaborators for years. It was all Kanye’s idea to bring him into the house.
“He thought it was a peaceful, creative way to add some magic into the kids’ holiday routine and he insisted on it. Despite Kim originally not fully being on board, she felt it was unnecessary at first.
“But even since their divorce Kim has continued the tradition on her own because the kids love it so much and Kim has grown to love it too,” the source said.
Now, everyone “looks forward” to Philip coming to play every year as the musician has “basically become a member of the family.”
The feeling appears to be mutual, as the insider said Philip enjoys his gig, and the Kardashian clan is also very important to him.
“Philip would do it for free and even tells Kim that but he does get paid. Rather than per day, it’s a lump sum – which at this point is now well into the six figures.
Philip plays piano inside Kim Kardashian’s living roomCredit: Instagram/kimkardashian
The pianist plays tunes at the Kardashian’s $60m residence for her four 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥renCredit: Instagram
“He will also get holiday gifts and food from the family’s chef, which is the full VIP Kardashian treatment.
“It’s a good gig for him, and he seems really satisfied with the dynamic and how he is treated. He doesn’t live too far from Calabasas, he’s deep in the outskirts of LA too so the commute isn’t bad.
“Kim has been nothing but kind to him, and he has even grown closer to the kids and teaches North some piano keys. He’s become part of the family.”
Over the past few years, Kim, 42, has shared a slew of videos highlighting Philip playing a beautiful 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 grand piano at her famously all-beige monotone estate.
Philip’s music can be heard throughout the entire 15,000 square-foot house – which is filled with snowy Christmas decorations, including a hallway double-lined with pine trees.
Kim previously captioned a video of the music director playing: “It’s that time of year!!!
“@Philthekeys comes over every morning to wake my kids up by playing the piano while the mad morning rush is happening to calm their little souls and fill it with beautiful Christmas songs.”
Philip has served as music director for Kanye’s Sunday Service since 2019 and has also produced music with the rapper for years.
On an episode of the Can We Talk R&B podcast, Philip revealed that Kanye randomly called him up one day years ago at 10pm the night before and told him, “I want you to wake the family up with Christmas songs on the piano.”
Philip Cornish (third from the left) with Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Stephen Curry and other A-list palsCredit: Instagram/philthekeys
Kanye West is all smiles as he holds a sold out Sunday Service in Downtown MiamiCredit: Splash
The shocked musician said he responded: “I was like, ‘When?’ And he said, ‘Tomorrow.’
“I said, ‘Just tomorrow?’ And he said, ‘Every day until Christmas’. I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ He was dead serious.”
Philip admitted that when Kanye asks for something, there’s “never a lot of time” to get it done, as “everything is now, no matter what you’re doing.”
Though Philip has been praised for his talents by Kardashian fans, many have critiqued the family for their excess of wealth – especially during the season of giving back.
“Just think of how many people their money could help if they didn’t waste it on stupid s**t like this,” one critic raged.
“Well, isn’t that nice? Kim Kardashian pays someone to play the piano to wake her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren up in the morning. What’s wrong with just saying get the hell out of bed?!” another asked.
“I guess rich people don’t use Spotify,” a third quipped.
“I’m sorry, but this is so tone-deaf and unnecessary. The kids are so spoiled rotten it’s not good for them,” a fourth raged.
Kim has shown Philip playing the piano again this month – a tradition that will seemingly not end anytime soon.
Kim Kardashian posts a video of her family’s Christmas tree, reindeer and professional pianist inside the white living room of her $60M mansionCredit: Instagram @kimkardashian
Kim Kardashian poses with North West at the family annual Christmas Eve partyCredit: Instagram/pierresnaps