I am always impressed by the high quality of the emerging talent in country music. The young, dynamic crop of rising country stars is filled with artists who are authentic, industrious, and respectful of the genre's storied lore and icons. They are eager to make the acquaintance of new fans. Gracee Shriver is among that outstanding group of gifted up-and-comers. A contestant on season 17 of The Voice in 2019, she is primed for even more success doing what she loves and clearly excels at.
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Shriver takes another major step toward that goal with the release tomorrow of her exquisite new single, "Living Proof." (Pre-save HERE) Passionately sweet and sincere, it will endear Shriver to her existing fans and surely win over many additional ones. She co-wrote it along with Mitch Crego and Callie Prince.
Listen to "Living Proof"
In a press release, Shriver talked candidly about what this song represents to her. She also shared what she hopes it will convey to others who have felt the painful sting of being lovelorn.
Shriver noted, "Love songs aren't always the easiest to write, it means you have to be vulnerable. I've gone through a lot of tough heartbreak, but when you find someone worth letting your guard down for, it makes writing like this a whole lot more fun. This song is an honest letter. I was able to surprise my husband with this song at our wedding as our 'first dance' a few weeks ago. I hope those who have found their person can resonate, and those who haven't, feel hope in their heartbreak that the best is to come."
Shriver Showed Her Mettle on 'The Voice'
You find out what someone is really made of when things go wrong and they have to scramble at a moment's notice. That happened to Shriver on The Voice. There was a problem at the last minute with the guitar she was going to use for her performance. Even an older, seasoned artist would have quaked a bit if that kind of mishap befell them.
Not Shriver. She steadily maintained her composure and wowed the judges with her can-do demeanor. A teenager at the time, she was already behaving like a pro. Per Taste Of Country, Shriver was about to launch into her cover of Lady A's song, "American Honey," when something went haywire with an instrument. She proceeded anyway like a real trouper.
She Impressed Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson
Judge Kelly Clarkson was openly agog at Shriver's unfazed attitude. Per the outlet, she exclaimed, ""I want the world to know you had a guitar in your hand and something went wrong with the guitar, and you had to impromptu change your whole performance. That was remarkable. A lot of people would have been thrown off by that." Clarkson praised Shriver for being a "total professional."
Another judge, Blake Shelton, enthusiastically seconded that opinion. "The guitar thing would have freaked me out. The other thing I want people to know at home is how far you have already come from the rehearsal that we had last week to right now. I could not be more proud for you to be my country artist this season on The Voice."
Shelton and Clarkson probably guessed that there would be much more to come professionally from Gracee Shriver. The release of "Living Proof" definitely confirms it.
