Grace Potter

Grace Evelyn Potter was born on June 20, 1983, in Waitsfield, Vermont. She was exposed to the arts early on, with parents involved in woodworking and a mother who taught piano. Despite growing up legally blind in one eye and facing challenges like being expelled from bands for an inability to read music, Potter pursued her passion for music. She attended St. Lawrence University but decided to leave after her sophomore year to focus on her music career. In 1999, while attending Harwood Union High School, she participated in the Governor’s Institute on the Arts, which further cultivated her artistic development.

Potter’s musical journey began in earnest in 2002 when she formed the band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. The band, including Matt Burr, Scott Tournet, and later others, honed their craft during late-night rehearsals, leading to their unique name. The same year, she released her first solo album, “Red Shoe Rebel,” followed by “Original Soul” in 2004. In 2005, the band independently released “Nothing but the Water” and subsequently signed with Hollywood Records, re-releasing the album in 2006. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals gained significant recognition, earning nominations at the Boston Music Awards for “Best Local Female Artist” and “Best New Local Act,” and winning a Jammy Award for “Best New Groove” in 2006. They performed on notable television programs such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Good Morning America,” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” in 2007, and opened for bands like Dave Matthews Band and The Black Crowes in 2008.

Potter continued to achieve milestones with the band, releasing their self-titled album “Grace Potter and the Nocturnals” in 2010, which featured the hit song “Paris (Ooh La La).” In 2011, she received her first Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “You and Tequila” with Kenny Chesney. That same year, she contributed to film soundtracks, including a re-recorded version of “Something That I Want” for Disney’s “Tangled” and writing “Naughty, Naughty Children (Better Start Actin’ Nice)” for “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice.” After the band disbanded in 2015 following her divorce from bandmate Matt Burr, Potter launched a solo career with her album “Midnight.” She opened for The Rolling Stones on their Zip Code Tour in 2015 and performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a New England Patriots season opener. Her solo career continued with “Daylight” in 2019 and “Mother Road” in 2023, solidifying her status as a prolific artist.