Gracie Abrams‘ journey to fame has been one marked by incredible achievements—and some very unexpected reactions from her parents. At just 25, the singer-songwriter has already earned major milestones in her career, including opening for Taylor Swift on 49 dates of her Eras tour and making her Saturday Night Live debut. Despite her impressive rise, Gracie admits her famous parents weren’t quite prepared for her skyrocketing popularity.
“They’re like, ‘What in the world?’” Gracie shared in an interview with Nylon, describing the surprise her mom, Katie McGrath, and dad, renowned director and producer J.J. Abrams, experienced as their daughter’s career took off. However, she added, “But it’s really sweet,” acknowledging the pride and love that come with their reactions.
While J.J. Abrams is known for his work on major franchises like Star Wars and Lost, his fame didn’t help him escape the onslaught of fans eager to meet Gracie’s father. At a recent performance at Madison Square Garden, J.J. was swarmed by fans asking for selfies—not because of his iconic sci-fi work—but because of his connection to his daughter. “They were like, ‘Can I get a picture with you? You’re Gracie’s dad,’” Gracie laughed, demonstrating just how much her stardom has transcended her father’s celebrity status.
Despite their surprise, Gracie’s parents have played pivotal roles in shaping her career. Katie McGrath, co-CEO of Bad Robot Productions, has been especially influential. Gracie describes her mom as “the toughest person I know, and not a softie.” It’s clear that Katie’s strength and character have left a lasting impression on Gracie, who admires the way her mother interacts with people.
“She’s always been a role model to me,” Gracie says. “The way she treats people is how I want to treat people, and to see her interact with fans who care so much about my music is inspiring.”
In addition to teaching her about the importance of kindness, Katie’s unwavering support of Gracie’s musical ambitions has been a guiding force in the singer’s career. “Her support and encouragement of my writing my whole life is the reason that I’m doing any of this now,” Gracie confesses. This relationship between mother and daughter is central to Gracie’s narrative, both personally and professionally.
While her mother provided the backbone of emotional support, it’s her father’s storytelling career that helped shape Gracie’s creative voice. “There’s a privilege in having even grown up around the knowledge of what the entertainment world looks like at all,” Gracie reflects. “I feel really lucky that I grew up in a house where there was an adult who was telling stories all the time.”
For Gracie, the exposure to storytelling didn’t end when she was a child. Instead, it became a driving force behind her songwriting. She credits the environment her father created at home as a key influence in developing her love for narrative-driven music. “To know that storytelling doesn’t have to end when you’re a kid, that made me appreciate it even more,” she says.
Though Gracie admits that she wasn’t consciously thinking about her father’s influence when she was crafting songs, she can clearly see now how deeply it affected her. “I think that having that in my childhood solidified my love and appreciation for storytelling… and influenced the fact that I did it all the time,” she muses.
Gracie’s recent accomplishments show that she is carving out her own place in the entertainment industry. Notably, her performance at Madison Square Garden—a venue where legends like Taylor Swift have taken the stage—was a major milestone in her career. She also continues to grow her following, having gained widespread recognition not only for her music but for her candid, vulnerable songwriting style.
As she navigates this thrilling new chapter, Gracie remains grounded by the love and support of her family. Her parents, though initially taken aback by her rapid rise to stardom, have embraced their roles as proud parents of a burgeoning music star. And while Gracie might have come from a family steeped in entertainment, she’s proving that her success is entirely her own.
Gracie’s story is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t always come with a clear blueprint. It’s a journey of learning, evolving, and building something that feels uniquely personal—just as she’s done with her music.
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