Gracia Harrison

America first fell in love with GRACIA HARRISON when she yodeled her way onto season three of NBC’s The Voice. However, Harrison had long since established an accomplished résumé. Preceding her television debut appearance on the nationally-acclaimed show, she had already shared the stage with Luke Bryan and Daryle Singletary, as well as met Miley Cyrus and Jimmy Fallon.

Becoming a recording artist and entertainer is not simply a dream for Harrison; music has been a constant healing companion. She shares an endearing story involving an unlikely song choice for a toddler. “When I was about two years old, I used to sing and dance to ‘Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train’ by the Tractors.” She adds, “I would stand on the fireplace at my grandparents’ house and sing. I liked to pretend it was my stage.” Harrison admits that she “kind of brushed it off when people told me to join church choir and talent shows,” opting for a more intimate setting instead. “I’d put on ‘concerts’ in my front room for my parents and brothers. I’d put down a blanket on the floor and that was my “stage.” Then I’d sign autographs after!”

Making the commitment to pursue music professionally in her pre-teen years, Harrison joined church choir and entered singing competitions. “I entered my first talent show at the Illinois State Fair and placed fourth. I went on to enter the Sangamon County Fair talent show and won that one. I think that was the moment I realized that I wanted to do this for a living… because I love it!” When Harrison was seventeen, she entered an online contest through MySpace Karaoke and Hollywood Records. She explains the contest process: “You had to pick one of three Miley Cyrus songs to cover, and if your video had 100 views or more, it would be considered to be viewed and critiqued by Miley. The winner would be flown to NYC, all expenses paid, to meet Miley backstage at the Jimmy Fallon show. I won!”

Loretta Lynn, Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, LeAnn Rimes, Miranda Lambert and Kellie Pickler are among the female vocalists who have been influential in helping Harrison craft her own musical style. “From day one, I have always been influenced by Jennifer Nettles. I won my first talent show with one of her songs. Her voice is so beautiful and unique and I love her twang! I absolutely admire Loretta, who was a true pioneer for all female country artists to follow; she exemplified the concept that it’s perfectly okay to not let the business define the artist that you are. In the same way, Miranda is very down-to-earth and not afraid to be herself and do things her way.” Another inspiration is LeAnn Rimes, because “she was so young when she started in the music business and she’s a fellow yodeler. I can really relate to her.” Harrison also admires Kellie Pickler. “She had a really tough life growing up – as did I – so I’ve always admired her for having the courage to audition and making it as far as she did on American Idol then transitioning into a being successful solo artist since the show. With me being on The Voice,” she adds, “it is inspiring for me to see that even though you didn’t win the top prize at the time, if you continue to work hard, you can still be successful.”

One attribute that immediately sets Harrison apart from her peers in the music industry is her yodeling, a skill she was introduced to while competing on the Colgate Country Showdown. “A girl sang ‘Cowboy’s Sweetheart,’ and my mom said to me, ‘Gracia, that’s so cool!’” Harrison admits that she wasn’t as impressed at the time. “I said, ‘Moooooom, please, that’s so weird and cheesy.” In a twist of irony, Harrison was visiting her grandmother’s house a few months later and as she listened to LeAnn Rimes’ Unchained Melody album, she fell in love with that very tune – yodeling and all. “I ran downstairs a few minutes later to tell my family I had learned to yodel!” She shares, “It took me a few years to refine my vocal control but I figured it out within a few minutes!”

Those precious minutes turned into the opportunity of a lifetime, as Harrison prepared for her national television debut on NBC’s The Voice. She was the first contestant in the show’s history to yodel during her blind audition, earning her a spot on Team Blake. Of the experience, she shares: “I loved how the crew and everyone took us seriously and knew that this is something we all loved to do. I felt like they really did want to help portray me and my fellow contestants in the best way possible and help make our dreams a reality. It was such an awesome experience… I love them all!”

Harrison did initially have second thoughts about auditioning with “Cowboy’s Sweetheart.” She explains, “Going into The Voice, I was so nervous about my song choice, not because I didn’t think I was talented enough. Growing up people my age made fun of me for yodeling, so I had become very self-conscious about it. I knew that it was something that was difficult for a vocalist to do and also that it