Grayson Rogers is passionate about country music and building his career. He’s also a proud new girl-dad and Navy spouse, too.
Rogers didn’t always want to be a country singer. In fact, it never even entered into his goal planning or dreams. Growing up, he had his heart set on becoming a professional football player.
“When I graduated from high school, my life was kind of all over the place. My parents were in the middle of a divorce. Around the same time my girlfriend of three years broke up with me too,” he laughed.
Looking for a change, he reached out to family friends in Pittsburgh, PA to see if he could head their way for a bit. “I had spent some of my childhood there and was just ready to get out of Florida away from the drama,” Rogers admitted.
He laughingly called himself a “closet singer.” Naturally shy and an admitted introvert, performing wasn’t ever a thought. From the shower to the car, Rogers was known to belt out his favorite songs and it was noticed. Those family friends encouraged him to pursue it.
“I started messing around and putting up YouTube videos of me singing,” he shared. His aunt and uncle, who just happened to be in the business, took notice. “They really honed in on my potential and really helped me blossom to where I needed to be.”
Rogers began going to karaoke bars, using it as an opportunity to practice and work on his shyness. It paid off.
After a year, he moved to Florida and started a band. Their following began to grow and the guys played all over the state and throughout Georgia, too. It was there he met his now wife, Kayla, a Navy Reserve sailor, a lawyer who earned her bachelor of science in legal studies while attending South University and went on to study at NSU Shepard Broad College of Law.
Eventually, Rogers realized he too was ready to go further. Though the band had seen success throughout the area, it wasn’t moving in the direction he’d hoped to see.
“I was kind of getting burned out to be real, playing the same clubs over and over again,” he admitted. “Kayla was actually the one to say we should go to Nashville.”
And they did. “I love this town, I love the city. Everyone is very supportive of one another,” Rogers added.
As he continued to work toward building a career in country music—Rogers was proud to support his wife in her military and legal career.
“Being a military spouse has been awesome,” he said. “Everyone that knows me knows how much I love the military. I’m so grateful for their sacrifices and to be a small part of the community. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
The local and military community camaraderie was on full display in 2020 when Kayla was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though it was a scary and challenging time, the couple credited their faith and their incredible community with bringing them through it. Rogers wrote a song and shaved his head in solidarity along with Kayla. The song he wrote became their anthem, he said.
They also received endless support from the Navy, Rogers added. As she was undergoing chemotherapy and surgeries, Kayla advanced to chief petty officer. He shared a photo with a message on social media and it quickly went viral.
A year later, the couple welcomed their first baby girl. Managing a career while balancing family life and Kayla’s responsibilities in the Navy and her civilian career as a lawyer is a challenge Rogers welcomes—even when people assume it’s him serving instead of her.
“As a male military spouse it could be easy to get offended by the assumptions. I just let it roll off my shoulders because I am so proud of her,” Rogers said.
The other assumption they battle is the one indicating the Reserves don’t work very hard compared to their active duty counterparts. “Just because she’s in the Reserve doesn’t mean it’s one weekend a month. She’s constantly on the phone with her sailors and her responsibilities are never far from her mind, even though she isn’t on a base every day.”
So, what would readers be surprised to learn about this up
and coming country singer? He’s a distant relative to Roy Rogers and George Clooney. “I also live and breathe football, and when it’s not on I’m a diehard gaming fan,” Rogers said. He often goes live on Twitch, chatting with fans about everything from music to life struggles. Rogers has amassed a large following through the platform and hopes to continue to grow.
Though managing the new role of dad has slowed his singing career, Rogers is excited to share that he has new music coming out at the end of 2022. Tune in for that! As for future goals, this proud military spouse and country singer has his eyes set on creating extraordinary music all while growing and soaking in time with his family. One day at a time.