Stephanie Rice

Stephanie Rice began her musical journey at age five, learning piano, and by eight, she had composed her first song. She grew up in a fundamentalist household, often writing in secrecy due to scrutiny. At 18, after coming out to her parents, she faced rejection and became estranged from her family. Music then became a vital outlet for her emotions and a means of survival. She performed at open mics, channeling her experiences into her art. Rice attended the University of Houston, graduating with a degree in biology, and subsequently worked as a researcher at Baylor College of Medicine, often balancing demanding scientific work with evening music gigs. She later co-founded the band Colonial Blue with drummer Corey Chierighino.

Her career took a significant turn when she auditioned for Season 12 of NBC’s The Voice. Her blind audition, featuring “Hold On” by Alabama Shakes, resulted in two chair turns from Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, with Rice ultimately choosing Stefani as her coach. She advanced to the Top 11. Following her appearance on The Voice, Rice transitioned to music full-time at the encouragement of her wife. She released her debut single, “Let Me Go,” in July 2017 and began touring extensively. In 2018, the mayor of Texarkana declared June 16th as Stephanie Rice Day, acknowledging her impact beyond music through her personal story of overcoming adversity.

Rice consistently uses her platform to advocate for the LGBTQ community, drawing from her own experiences of familial rejection and finding support. She has performed at events such as the University of Houston’s Red Dinner III, which benefits LGBTQ students. Her work, which she describes as “artistic thoughts of a scientific mind,” combines her passion for music with a methodical approach to understanding and expressing life’s complexities. She continues to record new music and performs at various national and international events, including Pride celebrations.