Kim Kardashian pays Kanye West’s pianist a whopping sum to wake her children up on Christmas

HIDDEN HILLS, CALIFORNIA: Kim Kardashian knows how to sprinkle magic into the holiday season and this time she had something special for her kids.

The SKIMS mogul, 44, has continued a heartwarming Christmas tradition for her children -- North,11, Saint, 9, Chicago, 6, and Psalm, 5, and this year it involved none other than Grammy-winning pianist Philip Cornish.

Kanye West’s Christmas tradition turns Philip Cornish into a Kardashian

Philip Cornish, who has served as Kanye West's Sunday Service musical director since 2019, plays Christmas songs in the Kardashian mansion every morning during the holidays in December.

Reportedly, Cornish’s visits began years ago when Kim's ex-husband West introduced the idea.

According to The Sun, "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."

Initially skeptical, Kardashian quickly grew fond of the tradition, which has become a beloved family staple.

Cornish himself has embraced the role, earning the Kardashian family's warmth and even teaching North some piano keys. "He’s become part of the family," an insider shared.

Cornish’s magical melodies fill Kim’s 15,000-square-foot Calabasas home, bringing serenity to the morning rush.

Kardashian previously shared a video of Cornish on Instagram, writing, "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."

Kanye’s last-minute idea made Cornish a Kardashian holiday staple

Cornish reminisced about how it all started during an episode of the 'Can We Talk R&B' podcast, recounting West's late-night call.

“Kanye called me randomly at 10 pm and said, ‘I want you to wake the family up with Christmas songs on the piano.’ I asked, ‘When?’ and he said, ‘Tomorrow. Every day until Christmas.’”

Cornish added that when West wants something, "everything is now, no matter what you’re doing."

For his daily December visits, Cornish receives a lump sum reportedly well into six figures, along with holiday gifts and meals from the Kardashian family’s chef.

"Philip would do it for free and even tells Kardashian that, but he does get paid," the insider revealed.

"It’s a good gig for him, and he seems really satisfied with the dynamic and how he is treated."

The festive spirit extended to the Kardashian-Jenner family’s Christmas Eve party, which Kardashian described as a "low-key" and "intimate" gathering this year due to ongoing construction.

Still, the family didn’t compromise on glamor.

Kardashian told Vogue, "We’re still dressing up to the nines, because that’s what we do. The soiree featured a thoughtful touch with dozens of bottles of Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila, topped with red bows and candles. "

"How cute is this? We can all take one of these as a little parting gift," Kardashian captioned a video on her Instagram Story.