American Idol is back with a historic season 20 this year. The season premiere will feature auditions from contestants like Grace Franklin. She’s a small-town girl with a big stage presence who is sure to amaze judges like Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. Keep reading below to learn more about her with these five fun facts.
1) If you can believe it, this bright young talent is only 16! Posting about her “super sweet sixteen” to her Instagram last week, that means Grace would have only been 15 when she auditioned for the show! Pretty impressive, right?
2) Perhaps her most notable fact is that her grandmother was legendary “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. Grace’s first Instagram post was actually a dedication to her late grandmother. She regularly pays tribute to Aretha on her birthday and anniversary of her passing. Occasionally, throwback photos are posted featuring Grace and Aretha, one of which you can see below.
3) Being the granddaughter of Aretha, Grace definitely inherited her vocal range. In fact, a viral video performance captured Grace singing a rendition of “Ain’t No Way” with Jennifer Hudson. Jennifer captioned the post: “Grace Franklin sings ‘Ain’t No Way’ at Respect premiere. What better what to celebrate Aretha Franklin than for her granddaughter @gfranklin61 to sing her song at the film premiere? She would be so proud!”
The duo sang another one of Aretha’s greatest hits “Natural Woman,” which Grace posted to her Instagram, writing: “surprise! truly an amazing experience getting to sing for such an amazing vocalist. chilling and talking with @iamjhud at my great grandpas old house was so wonderful. she’s so down to Earth, it was like we met before! she did such a great job playing my grandma, I hope all of you enjoy 🙂 @respectmovie #respect #respectmovie“
4) Another standout quality about Grace? Her gorgeous natural curls, and flawless skin! The teenager shared a selfie to social media, showcasing both of these features.
5) Family is super important to Grace. She and her family spend holidays together, and she regularly features them on her account. Check out a family photo below:
One extra bonus fact! Grace posts cover videos singing in her natural God given voice. Check out this one called Heartbreak Anniversary.
Catch Grace Franklin on season 20 of American Idol, premiering February 27 at 8 PM ET, only on ABC.
Related
Who is Faith Becnel from American Idol?
Brittany Gibson was a part of the final five couples who made it to the…
Jacklyn Romano appeared on season one of Peacock’s Love Undercover. She initially set her sights…
Gabby Findley was one of the many women vying for the attention of five international…
Glenn Cassie is a veteran news anchor whose charisma has garnered a loyal fanbase. The…
Jill Ralke is living out every girl’s dream in Los Angeles, California. As Patti Stanger’s…
Heather McLaughlin is a multitalented, successful woman. She is one of famed matchmaker Patti Stanger's…