Why Christian Singer Tasha Layton Put Her Faith Over Fame
By Movieguide® Contributor
Award-winning Christian singer-songwriter Tasha Layton toured with pop star Katy Perry for four years, but when she was given the opportunity to make her mark in pop music, she turned it down to follow God instead.
Layton’s career began in 2010 when she auditioned for season 9 of AMERICAN IDOL, and although she didn’t make it to Hollywood, other opportunities opened up for her.
She ended up auditioning to be a backup singer for Kesha and Rihanna, and “I got the job, and we were supposed to start on Wednesday at 2 p.m. for rehearsal and leave Friday for Japan,” she shared.
But Layton soon realized that the position wasn’t for her.
“I just felt that small voice say, ‘Don’t do it,’” Layton recalled. “I had gone against that voice enough in life… So I called them and I said, ‘I’m so sorry. I just feel like maybe this isn’t right for me.’ And they were so gracious.”
As soon as Layton hung up the phone, she felt she made a mistake. However, later that day, she got a call from Katy Perry’s manager, who remembered Layton from AMERICAN IDOL, asking her to audition to be a backup singer for the pop star.
“I was the last girl of the day. I met Katy, spoke with her for a few minutes, auditioned and then I got a call the next day. I needed to show up for rehearsal.
“I look back at those days and have a new perspective at the weight that Katy was carrying during that time and the pressure that was on her,” Layton explained. “Waking up so early for photo shoots and interviews. And then the paparazzi.
“Fame changes your brain,” she said, adding, “Katy is a really compassionate person…She’s got a big heart and cares for the people who work with her.”
A few years later, multiple record labels wanted to sign Layton, but she had no desire to pursue that career.
“I had no interest in it at all,” she said. “Having experienced that culture and that pressure from being on the road with Katy and seeing it firsthand, I got a bird’s-eye view of how damaging it can be to your soul.”
“And I just missed singing songs that directly connected people to God. I’ve always led worship in church. And you know, when I’m on my deathbed looking back, I’m not going to care that I built a career. I’m going to care that I helped people,” she shared.
“I just didn’t see how a mainstream deal and the music that they wanted me to sing…was going to be helpful for anyone and much less connect people to who I believe is the Creator of the universe.”
After Layton toured with Perry, she “felt stuck.” But soon, she grounded herself in her faith.
“That’s the impetus for everything that I do,” Layton expressed. “I want [people] to see God’s hand in my life over the years, through the valleys and the hard times… And when they see God’s hand in my story, my prayer is that they’ll be able to see God in their stories, too.”
In addition to writing songs, Layton also wrote a book.
Movieguide® recently reported:
Christian singer-songwriter Tasha Layton just released her first book, “Look What You’ve Done.”
The book — also the title of her popular single — details Layton’s life touring and juggling family.
“Well, interestingly enough, a lot of the content in this book I wrote years ago, before I even had kids, I had started to write down stories,” Layton shared. “I felt like I had lived in 10 lives. So, I started to write down stories where there was maybe an interesting thing about my life, but something that God had shown me during that season. And I just started to write them down so I wouldn’t forget.
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