Daily Inspiration: Meet Janelle Grace

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janelle Grace

Hi Janelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started singing and playing guitar in second grade. My older brother would practice his guitar next to my room and that’s what influenced me to take guitar lessons from my teacher named Monica Kramer. She’s the one who got me started with music life. First time performing was at church and other special events followed. Songwriting in elementary years and I was an active member of swing choir performing in many music contests in highschool. I took 3 years of classical opera training in high school which included Italian
Opera. This then led to a road for a job serenading to diners tables at the Macaroni Grill in Lincoln and Omaha Nebraska and becoming a wedding/ occasions singer in my spare time. Competed in many singing contests such as Colgate Country Showdown, at Nebraskaland Days, True Value Showdown, and a talent show in Kearney Nebraska called “Galaxy of Stars” in which I successfully placed in some of these. I also spent lots of my free time in Omaha Nebraska competing in karaoke contests and would perform with bands at clubs. Being born and raised in Nebraska I was surrounded by country music and became inspired to become a country singer. I lost my dad to liver cancer/Cirrhosis when I was a teenager so I learned at a young age how important it is to have no regrets. Took a trip after graduating from dental hygiene college to Nashville Tennessee in Sept 2010 and pursued the road to Nashville when I returned from vacation. More details of this trip is on YouTube called “The Journey of Janelle Grace” it’s my backstory which explains what happened to me on my trip that brought me to Nashville Tennessee. I then drove to Memphis for dental hygiene clinical/written board exam with my patient. When I showed up for the exams they were closing the door on candidates as I was unfortunately running late to get to it. After mentioning I drove all the way from Omaha Nebraska for this they reconsidered and I was in the door. When I returned to Nebraska after the exam my online results were not favorable. At first I felt very defeated and thought it just wasn’t meant to be. Very confused and skeptical I pursued to look into this even more. The board called me after I inquired and asked questions and informed me that there was an error and that I had indeed passed the exams. Full of celebration in my music dental soul, pure hope, and joy I started applying for dental hygienist jobs in Nashville Tennessee. More details of this road to nashville story @ website jdgrace.net

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have overcome to this day of February 2025 over 50 setbacks and obstacles on this roller coaster journey in Nashville unrelated to aspiring music career. One of the many highlights and the first main setback was I got hit by a truck as a pedestrian near music row on St Patrick’s Day 7 months after moving Nashville Tn in March of 2012. 6 months (Sept 2012) to the day of truck incident I was served a broken bottle at a restaurant and swallowed some glass that abraded tissues in throat and affected my vocal chords. I was put on vocal rest for about 3 months. After vocal chords healed my vocal coach at the time by the name of Judy Rodman mentioned my classically trained vibrato wasn’t as present as it once was almost like a divine intervention took place and the glass changed the sound of my voice. It was more fitting for the country genre now. Then a few months after that November 2012 I got in a car wreck. No injury, but I did get a new car out of it. I felt like Nashville didn’t want me here. I felt so defeated and thought I made the biggest mistake of my life following my dreams by moving here. In the end of 2012 I randomly ran into a lady by the name of Wynne Adams from Nebraska at a music industry Christmas party whom I knew from competing in Wynne’s talent contest in Kearney Nebraska called “Galaxy of Stars” She does artist developing in Nashville and took me under her wing and that’s when I became an artist. With the funds I got from all mishaps I recorded my first EP album called Faith, Hope, Believe at Main Frame recording studio with engineer Nathan Smith. This project was done to get myself out there as a singer and song writer after feeling like I lost so much time with all setbacks. Through the following years in Nov 2016 I released a 10 song true story album with companion DVD (also viewable on YouTube—(The Journey of Janelle Grace) the backstory and title of album called “You Can Overcome”that I produced with engineer Nathan Smith at Main Frame recording studio. Co-producers Nathan Smith and Kevin Robey and Kevin was one of my co-writers on this album of journey in Nashville full of many adversities and setbacks. Media interviews and TV appearances with Nashville Entertainment Weekly followed shortly after the release. But the personal setbacks continued after the release that really shook me up. A phone call one of my close friends died in a plane crash in Dec 2016 in the Smokey Mountains the day after Christmas. She was one of my biggest fans and played a part on getting me to Nashville as well. She was supposed to come to my record release show in November 2016 but didn’t make it and our last conversation was her planning on coming to my show. Then after a few radio interviews in Nebraska with more media getting lined up for my album in Nashville. September 2017 I got a phone call my mom passed away suddenly. So everything I had going came to a sudden hault. Went back home to Nebraska for bereavement leave and returned to Nashville after a few weeks to go through the stages of losing a loved one. All aspects of my life came to standstill. I didn’t know how to overcome this extreme painful grief and loss. Being the only girl and the youngest my mom and I were close. Listening to a still small voice that said “keep going” I picked up my guitar and started to do online Music Monday shows called Janelle Jams in April 2018 on my media pages Facebook and Instagram and ignited my passion of doing music again. In 2020 working in full time healthcare took a toll on my health and I was starting to experience very rare symptoms. I was diagnosed with a possible brain aneurysm in Dec 2020 and had surgery to explore it Jan 2021. After surgery I was told no aneurysm was found and it was a misdiagnosis. Then later spring of 2021 my skin started to turn kind of yellow and I knew something definitely wasn’t right as I was experiencing multiple symptoms of bruising, dizzy spells and etc. In fall of 2021 I was told I’m in the first stage of liver disease which was caught in time before it turned to cirrhosis like my dad had. I was in complete shock that I was indeed following my fathers road of a short life. Becoming a stronger woman through adversity I was able to reverse my liver diagnosis in 5 months time and lost over 30lbs as an outcome at that time. Sept 2021 I was an indirect victim of a drive by shooting where I lived at, well let’s just say my car was parked at the wrong place at the wrong time and in the line of fire targeting the car parked next to mine and totaled my car with many bullets. My neighbor got shot multiple times and I witnessed some of the aftermath of the crime. The silver lining of this tragic incident, I never wanted to be alone in my apartment again as I was sleeping at the time of the crime and was woken up by gun shots and crawled into my closet and was shaking until the shots stopped. This incident propelled me to get a dog. She was 4 at the time I got her. I drove out of state about 8 hours to get this dog all by myself. I remember the emotion I had while driving, bound and determined to get this dog. She’s a unique long haired Jack Russell terrier named Starlet and she’s the best special thing that has ever happened to me in my life! I rescued her and she rescued me. And one last highlight, 7 months of 2024 I had no quality of life. In July 2024 I was injured and not able to walk without pain until late August and then on Sept 8th – Dec 2024 (3 months) I had an incident that happened to my voice and I wasn’t able to talk without pain and it was intermittent days I couldn’t talk at all nor sing. I went to a physician and did not like what the possible diagnosis could be. I sat on my couch and heard that still small voice again “Vanderbilt” I just got my voice completely back in beginning of December 2024 after going to Vanderbilt Voice Center for a second opinion on possible reason I lost my voice. They gave me right diagnosis and I was healed and ready by 2025! So 2024 completed the over 50 setbacks for me but I’m still standing and just had a show with my band this January. The beginning of 2025 has brought on lots of unexpected expenses or inconveniences is what I call them. But choosing to believe the lemon into lemonade mind set I believe the best is yet to come! Many people have asked “How did you stay after all of this?” I believe everything happens for a reason and without my strong faith in God and a friend in Jesus, my family, and friends I wouldn’t still be in Nashville. Many thanks to all my friends in the music and dental community of Nashville who were genuinely supportive, had my best interests, and very helpful in my trying times on this roller coaster journey I have endured and overcome. For the year of 2025 I have new music scheduled to be released this spring that I’m so excited to inspire others and feel emotion through the music. I want to
be a light in the dark for others. As I once was in the dark but now the light and I am so ready to get out there and inspire others with new music. Get ready, the story says it all!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a dental hygienist and a singer song writer. I love taking care of my patients and educating them on their oral health and being a part of their overcoming journey to improve and maintain good oral and systemic health. I have been a dental hygiene provider in the Nashville community for many many years now and have felt much reward in helping others. I currently work at a great family owned private practice. Also as a singer song writer I want my story and music to inspire and touch others. I want to be an inspiring artist to others that you can overcome life’s challenges by staying positive and never giving up. I have lived it and I know! I’m also in a country band called “N2 Country” that has done some shows for Nashville Rescue Mission and other places throughout Tennessee.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Playing and singing in my first acoustic show. “If I Had A Hammer” in my hometown for the elderly community. Also wearing matching outfits my mom would make for her and I to wear for Christmas and Valentines. Helping my mom decorate our home for every holiday even May Day! Riding with my dad in his truck to deliver vegetables to his friends and family from his garden and going fishing with dad.

Pricing:

• “You Can Overcome” album -All digital platforms
• Hard copy of CD/DVD at website store- 20.00

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.jdgrace.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdgrace26?igsh=MXZ4YWJyNWp6OHg1Zw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AAL4Etugc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: Janelle Grace
• Other: https://youtu.be/iDSLqTIUokU?si=x9ZFeUqUAzJ6L9yS