Since I first featured Gracee Shriver in 2021, a lot has happened to The Voice alumna. First, she graduated from Belmont University. More recently, the singer/songwriter got married. But even in the midst of her busy life, Shriver managed to release a lot of new music, including her most recent, "Living Proof," a song that was written specifically for her wedding.
In 2022, Shriver released "Alone Some," a song she wrote during a difficult time. As the pedal steel wails, she sings, "Just because I'm alone some, doesn't mean I'm lonesome." The heartfelt tune emphasizes that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel.
In 2024, Shriver teamed up with Gena Johnson (Chris Stapleton, Kasey Musgrave) to produce the rambunctious Yodel-Ay-He-Hoe, the pithy but honest "Fake Blonde," and the introspective "Hurts When You're Healin'."
Earlier this year, she gave us "Bad Boy," a song about a boy with a bad reputation, but she can't help it because she wants him badly. She wrote that song with some of her pals at Warner Chappell Music.
"Rich" is a song she is very proud of because it was written about her parents. She explained, "Keaton and I just got married at 22, so young, and my parents got married at 22 as well, so it's a full circle moment." The song acknowledges that they Didn't have a comma in their bank account/ but they found they were rich as two young kids could get. Her parents didn't have two dimes to rub together, but because they had each other, they were rich.
Gracee Shriver got married on June 28th and surprised her husband with the song "Living Proof," which is an honest love song that finds beauty in vulnerability. After dating for several years, her fiancé/now husband wondered why she had never written a love song about him.
She shared, "For some reason, breakup or revenge songs just fall out easier."
She wrote "Living Proof" with some of her friends at Universal and saved it for her wedding. This personal track was first unveiled in the most meaningful way as a surprise for her husband at their wedding, where it became their first dance.
With the words, I guess that the man upstairs/ is a man of His word/ I thought that He didn't care/ Well, it turns out he heard/ Every tear, every scream on the bathroom tile/ You sitting here looking back into my eyes/ Don't have to question if my prayers broke through/ Well, you're my living proof, the wedding guests were in a puddle once they completed their dance.
The song is a perfect wedding song for any person of faith who is wondering if God hears their prayers.
In August, Shriver got to walk the red carpet at Dolly's Musical at Belmont's Fisher Center. It was another full-circle moment as Shriver's great-grandfather was an entertainer at the old Silver Dollar City that Dolly purchased and turned into Dollywood. He remembers Dolly walking by and winking at him.
Last week, Shriver had her WSM Opry radio debut, where they premiered "Living Proof." She stated, "We got to play 'Rich' live, and they played 'Living Proof' over the radio. It was a blast."
Be on the lookout for the "Living Proof" video coming soon and an original Christmas song that will be released later this fall.
You can follow Gracee Shriver on her website, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, TikTok, and all streaming services.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.