30 Under 30: Gracie Harris

Local Singer/Songwriter

Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill

Sixteen-year-old Gracie Harris has always loved performing.

As a child, her love for music became evident, and was inspired by her father’s taste in Southern rock and her grandmother’s passion for classic country.

“My grandmother is the main reason I got into music,” says Gracie. “She sang the same kind of country music that I do, and she taught me everything I know.”

Gracie channeled her love for performing through competitive dance and cheer while cultivating her musical gifts. She began playing piano and guitar, and when she was 14, her mother encouraged her to share her music with the community.

Inspired by the likes of Miranda Lambert, Loretta Lynn, and other Grand Ole Opry stars, Gracie has performed classic country and Southern rock all around the state, playing 40 shows in the last 7 months of 2022 alone.

She continues to cheer competitively for Jasper High School, attend Mount Vernon Baptist and Glory Fellowship Baptist, and compete in pageants. As part of her platform, she shows her support for veterans by performing at Veterans Affairs Hospitals and VFWs. She is the current titleholder for Miss Heart of Dixie’s Teen 2023.

“It’s such a blessing to have a platform and connect with people,” says Gracie. “I know that God put this in my lap for a reason.” 78