As if this year’s installment of Pink Ribbon wasn’t already stacked enough with the likes of Natasha Bedingfield, Iyaz, Bruno Mars, The Ready Set, and David Archuletta: Channel963 has decided to take it up one more notch and add rising teen sensation Cody Simpson to the September 23 performance! As a kid growing up on Australia’s sun-drenched Gold Coast, Cody Simpson used to watch his father play guitar and sing for friends and family at parties and backyard barbecues. Seeing how music brought people together, Cody asked for his own guitar and lessons at the age of seven. After learning a few chords from his teacher, Cody wrote his first song. “It was about putting a diaper on a chicken,” he says with a laugh. “Who knows what my seven-year-old brain was thinking?” Cody’s parents encouraged him to keep singing and practicing his guitar. By age 12, he began posting YouTube videos of himself performing covers of songs by artists who inspired him, including Justin Timberlake, Jason Mraz, and The Jacksons. Search for Cody on YouTube and there he is: An appealing blonde 12-year-old accompanying himself on guitar while knocking out stellar covers of “Cry Me A River,” “I’m Yours,” and “I Want You Back.” Cody’s YouTube Channel, which has been active since August 2008, now boasts nearly 4.5 million views and has more than 42,000 subscribers. In 2009, Cody received a message through his YouTube Channel from songwriter and producer Shawn Campbell (Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Ciara) expressing interest in meeting him. Cody and his father flew to the U.S. to meet Campbell and write and record some tracks. In April 2010, Cody signed with Atlantic Records, which is releasing his irresistible rhythmic pop single “iYiYi” featuring Flo Rida on June 1st. “Flo and I worked with some amazing people including Colby O’Donis, Bei Major and DJ FrankE on my debut single” Cody says. “We came up with something really catchy. And I think everyone can relate to the lyrics. The song is about liking a girl and missing her when she’s not around. Who hasn’t been through that?” Cody is currently in the studio working on tracks for his upcoming full length debut on Atlantic Records. For more about this rising young pop singer, songwriter, and guitarist, please visit http://www.youtube.com/codysimpsonmusic.

If you missed Cody’s live chat, you can view it below:

During Cody’s recent trip to NYC (yes, we hung out for a bit, and he was as sweet as ever!), he stopped by New York’s Z100 radio station for a chat and performance. Check out his acoustic cover of “Love So Strong,” above. He also played an acoustic version of “iYiYi” that I am in love with — check it out! Click here for a full photo gallery of his on-air visit.

Cody recently posted about his peformance in LA & said: If you want to walk w/ me & @ZACHBONNER 4 the last mile meet at 2pm @ 2200 Virginia Ave Park, LA! otherwise meet us @ the Santa Monica Pier! anyone gonna come?(;

So i havent been posting alot and i thought of an idea! Im going to make an album called Spotting Cody! and i want you to be the photographer! If you see cody in your city; email me the picture you took to lissacullen00@aol.com and ill post it here! Thanks! hope to see your pictures!(:

Hey everyone! We’ve got a new gallery layout thanks to my bff Abbie at JustinDrewDaily, JessicaJarrellORG & JasmineVillegasORG 

Cody Simpson performed his new song “Boyfriend” at the J-14 In Tune Rocks Concert on August 26, 2010: