Graceyn Hollingsworth made a name for herself with the 2020 debut of the animated series, Gracie’s Corner. The series came to life to help address the difficulty in finding diverse content for the homeschool curriculum for Graceyn and her siblings.
Graceyn’s parents decided to fill in the gap, for not only their children, but those nationwide with the creation of Gracie’s Corner. Fast-forward, and now, both Gracie’s Corner and Graceyn Hollingsworth are both household names.
Want to learn more about the voice of Gracie’s Corner and her inspiring journey? Read on and enjoy our exclusive interview as Graceyn Hollingsworth gives BCKOnline a behind-the-scenes look into her world!
Graceyn, your channel Gracie’s Corner is known for combining fun music with important lessons. How did you come up with the idea to mix dancing and education?
My dad and I came up with the idea after watching some of the educational content that my little sister and brother were watching. We thought they were great but would be even better with fun, catchy music also for adults to like, as well as a diverse cast of characters.
What inspires you to create new videos, and how do you come up with the topics and ideas for your songs?
Most of the time my parents help to come up with the ideas; I always give my feedback and add my ideas too. I will think about the topics I would like to see in kids/learning videos.
You make learning fun with your catchy music. Can you share how you balance making your content both educational and entertaining?
We make sure that there is a learning element or a fun nursery rhyme in each video that most kids enjoy singing and that is the way we get our balance in topics. My dad and I record the music, and we then get a script that we write to our animation team to bring everything to life.
What has been your favorite song or video to create so far, and why does it stand out to you?
My favorite song right now is the “Happy Feelin’s” song; it is a remake of a classic song by Frankie Beverly and Maze. I love that song; it was so great to cover that song because it is truly a “feel good song” written by a legend. Rest in heaven, Mr. Beverly.
You’re so young, but you’ve accomplished so much! How does your family help and support you with Gracie’s Corner?
My mom and dad always check in to see how I am feeling. They make sure I have good balance and that I am still able to do all the things I love like spending time with friends and playing basketball. They say they never want it to feel like work or to become something I dislike. Because of that, I only record once a week and sometimes less than that.
How do you choose the topics or lessons you want to focus on for each video, such as breathing exercises or coping skills?
My mom is a psychologist that works with children. She is the expert on the topics that focus on emotions, coping, and being happy and will come up with ideas for songs/videos based on what she knows.
You often create songs that help kids learn about emotional well-being. How do you decide what message is most important to share in each video?
My mom helps a lot with this because she is a psychologist but I also give my input on what I think will help develop emotional well-being in children.
Your channel has been a big hit with kids. What’s it like knowing that your videos are helping other kids and making a positive impact?
It feels great to know that kids are finding what we make is helpful and educational.
What’s next for Gracie’s Corner? Do you have any big plans or ideas for future videos that you can share with us?
There are a lot of things in the works. I hope one day there will be a film or series that showcases the individual characters. There are a lot of collaborations in the work; cannot name names at this time but I am super excited about all of them.
In your spare time, what are some fun hobbies and things that you like to do?
In my spare time I like to play Roblox, talk to my friends on the phone or video chat, shopping, eating out and trying new foods.
Gracie’s Corner is once again nominated in three different categories this year as a part of the 56th Annual NAACP Image Awards, which will air on February 22 at 8/7c on BET and CBS. Make sure to not only tune-in and support this truly talented young lady but also add her to the list of those you are following on social media. We definitely feel that this is one journey that you don’t want to miss out on!
Photo: Gracie’s Corner Instagram; Graceyn Hollingsworth Instagram
