Life after Idol: Doors, dreams open for New Kent’s Grayson Torrence

After appearing on American Idol, New Kent's Grayson Torrence's career has been non-stop from the studio to the stage.

Photo courtesy of Grayson Torrence

“Just crazy.”

Those were the words of how New Kent native Grayson Torrence described her life and reception after returning home from her run on American Idol.

Torrence finished in the top 24 on the show, receiving praise from Lionel Ritchie and Luke Bryan while besting over 100 singers. And while she didn’t emerge as the winner of the show, the exposure has done more to her career than she could have imagined.

“I’m still getting use to being recognized,” she said in a July 9 interview. “I constantly feel like I forgot someone when they say they know me.”

The New Kent native’s journey didn’t come easy as she had to deal with a lack of sleep and a rushed atmosphere during live television shows. Now, she’s traveling up and down the east coast performing at varying locations, from food trucks to big states like NOVA Live. And when she’s not touring, she’s working in the studio.

“I have like 300 hundred unreleased songs that I just need to start getting out there,” she said when asked about her writing process. “I’m like Taylor Swift: You can’t break my heart or I’ll write a song.”

Torrence said looking from the outside in, she didn’t realize how much she cried. Coming from a tight-knit family, she felt the love as her family rooted her on and inspired her. That love transpired on the show, with Richie pointing her out as she comforted and supported her fellow contestants. And even when her time came to an end, she felt the love as others came and spent time with her in her hotel room.

But life after American Idol also allowed her to reflect and give her a more grounded insight when telling those from small localities such as New Kent to chase their dream.

“Get your ego up!” she said, spewing confidence in the interview. “It’s going to be knocked down a few pegs sometime. You have to believe in yourself at the end of the day.

“You can have friends that help, but it’s going to be up to you to have the mentality that you can do this,” Torrence continued. “I didn’t have that before. I had to develop that on the show. I kept forgetting everyone else there can sing, and it was insane.

“But that doesn’t minimize your talent as a person or an artist,” she added. “You’re just different, and that’s why you’re here.”

In the meantime, Torrence is working on her original musica and hoping to have a release out in the near future.

“I want to come out with a small EP of six songs or soon just to get something out there,” she said as she wrapped up the interview. “We’re also looking at doing a Christmas song!”

Torrence said she is super proud of the way she handled herself with grace in front of a national audience. She isn’t slowing down soon as many appearances are slated around the area.

But for now, she’s just a young lady who is living a big dream that continues to get bigger.