Life & Work with Gracie Binion of Franklin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gracie Binion.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was, for all intents and purposes, born into music. My parents were traveling worship artists, and I grew up traveling with them a lot, listening to all kinds of live music, from true gospel to CCM. I always loved to perform and sing for my family when I was a toddler, and that didn’t go away for a long while. I started writing songs when I was 7 or 8, and my parents never stopped championing my gifts. I’m very blessed in that way. They paid for countless talent conventions, and trips to LA to write with music producers when I was 11. I was never forced into anything, and you can bet your bottom dollar I knew exactly what I wanted. As I grew up, I developed some pretty common insecurities, body image issues, the whole lot. I didn’t wanna write pop music anymore because I thought my older friends didn’t think it was “cool,” so at 13, I told my parents I was done pursuing that. Despite my innate and deep seated insecurities, I knew I loved what my parents did, and had been around enough circles to know that I wanted to lead worship. I knew I loved the presence of God, and the act of worship. So, I put my pen to paper writing worship music. I kept writing, and at 15, I signed a development deal with Integrity Music. My parents had been signed with them, and had just raved about my love for writing. That deal lasted 3 years, until I was 18, and during that time, I wrote countless songs with countless writers and producers. At 18, I signed a record deal with them and eventually released a small EP. That contract ended at the age of 21, and at this point, I had been through the ringer in a toxic relationship with a man I knew. I had also learned and come to know the presence of God for myself, through my suffering. Soon after that deal ended, I felt the Lord push me to pursue a ministry school in Nashville, TN. So, I packed my bags and moved to the town I was born in, from the town I had lived in for 15 years- Dallas, TX.

During my first year of ministry school, i had a life-altering encounter with the Lord. I came to know Him in a way I never had before. My purpose for living completely changed. It was no longer about music, or being used by God, or exercising my gifts. Everything became about spending time with Him. Everything became about pleasing Him. Since that encounter, I’ve been in an endless pursuit of God. I met my fiancé in ministry school, and we’re set to get married on February 14th, 2025. The Lord has opened countless doors, and I can genuinely say that none of those doors matter if He’s not on the other side. I’m in the middle of an album release now, and am writing for many more future projects. I’m so extremely grateful that God allows me and encourages me to do what I’m best at, and the only thing I really know how to do.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I guess I kinda gave a long answer before, and touched on this. Life isn’t easy when your career looks different than everyone else’s. Not everyone understands the financial struggles that come with artistry. Everything’s always pretty inconsistent when you’re traveling uphill, which is why I’ve had to get to know the only truly consistent thing in this world, that being the presence of God. I’ve experienced different bouts of depression – being a natural born creative comes with a lot of deep thinking, hahah. I’m also sort of a nepotism baby, which actually can result in a bit of imposter syndrome. Feels like I sometimes don’t deserve every opportunity given, but I continue to thank God.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been a singer/songwriter for practically my entire life. I think the fact that I started so young is pretty wild. And the songs were good, too! Funny, because why was I writing about heartbreak when I was 10, but good nonetheless.

What’s next?
I know I’ll release albums for the rest of my life, but I’ve come to look forward to the real life little things more than anything else. Getting married is really exciting.

Contact Info:

• Website: GracieBinion.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madisongracebinion/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTp0-HXiDJUTIUeT8MERHBw?sub_confirmation=1