Jamie Grace on Her Battle With Tourette's, Christian Music Career
Jamie Grace has stolen the hearts of many Christian music lovers with her number one single “Hold Me.” But looking at the successful teen, it would be difficult to tell that she battles with Tourette's Syndrome and is persevering to complete her college education.
It's been an exciting year for Grace. With releasing her first album on tobyMac’s Gotee Records, touring, and being well received by fans, the 19-year-old has had her hands full.
Life has greatly changed for Grace, who started from a humble place, by making YouTube videos of cover songs and some original tunes, along with being a BREATHEcast intern.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Amassing about 100 videos, she caught the eye of producer tobyMac, who tweeted about working together. Initially believing the tweet was fake, the authenticity of it was realized when her manager-mom was contacted on behalf of tobyMac.
A spokeswoman for Tourette’s Syndrome, the teen had been making moves before she began with Gotee Records but is now continuing to help change lives through her music, managing her illness and pursuing her scholastic goals.
In a BREATHEcast interview, the busy renaissance woman took time out to let her BREATHEcast fans into her world.
BC: Its been an exciting year for you. How have you adjusted from being a "regular" teenager to having such a large platform?
Grace: It's been a pretty exciting probably what – 13, 14 months. It's been pretty crazy but I definitely have that sense of normalcy with my parents, my sister, and her husband. I travel a lot and I tour a lot on the weekends but I always know that somewhere in the mix I’m going to get a good old family dinner in there, where I’m still the baby in the family. I’m going to have to deal with my brother-in-law picking on me and my sister picking on me and stuff like that.
BC: Along with being a great singer and songwriter, you raise awareness for Tourette’s syndrome. What prompted you to start "Teens With TS" and to raise awareness in general?
