Grace Potter
Grace Evelyn Potter (born June 20, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She has released five solo albums: Red Shoe Rebel (2002), Original Soul (2004), Midnight (2015), Daylight (2019), Mother Road (2023), and Trespasser (2026). She has also released four studio albums with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, a band she formed in 2002, which disbanded in 2015 upon her divorce from her bandmate: Nothing but the Water (2005), This Is Somewhere (2007), Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (2010), and The Lion the Beast the Beat (2012).
Also recorded as Grace Evelyn Potter
Grace Potter

Aubrey Gemignani · Public domain
- Name
- Grace Potter
- Birth Name
- Grace Evelyn Potter
- Born
- 20 June 1983
- Birthplace
- Waitsfield, Vermont
- Occupation
- * Singer-songwriter
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- rock music
- Education
- Harwood Union High School
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Grace Evelyn Potter (born June 20, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She has released five solo albums: Red Shoe Rebel (2002), Original Soul (2004), Midnight (2015), Daylight (2019), Mother Road (2023), and Trespasser (2026). She has also released four studio albums with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, a band she formed in 2002, which disbanded in 2015 upon her divorce from her bandmate: Nothing but the Water (2005), This Is Somewhere (2007), Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (2010), and The Lion the Beast the Beat (2012).
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gnd · loc · wikidata · Q21042697 · wikipedia · Grace Potter
In this article
Biography
Biography
Potter worked across composer, songwriter, singer-songwriter, guitarist and rock singer and 2 further recorded occupations. The registers place that work in rock music. This article rests on 1 catalogued composition, 5 published texts, 21 issued recordings, 1 digitised documents and 8 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals in concert
Wikimedia Commons

Roadies setting up for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals at nTelos Pavilion.
Bob Mical
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Grace Potter • Birth Name — Grace Evelyn Potter • Born — 20 June 1983 • Birthplace — Waitsfield, Vermont • Genre — * Rock • pop • Occupation — * Singer-songwriter • musician • Instruments — * Vocals • keyboards • guitar • Years Active — 2002–present • Label — Fantasy • Past Member Of — Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Website — gracepotter.com • Illustration — Grace Potter in concert in 2007
Early life
Early life
Potter was born on June 20, 1983, in Waitsfield, Vermont. Both of her parents, Peggy and Sparky Potter, were involved in professional woodworking; her mother was also a piano teacher. Her older sister, Charlotte Potter, is an artist who works with glass. She was exposed to the arts at a very young age and was encouraged by her parents to work with her hands. Potter grew up legally blind in one eye and got bad grades. She was expelled from bands because she could not read music. In 1999, while attending Harwood Union High School, Potter was chosen to attend the three-week Governor's Institute on the Arts session at Castleton University. There, she learned from artists such as poet Verandah Porche. She attended to St. Lawrence University, but dropped out after her sophomore year to pursue a career in music.
Beginnings and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (2002–2015)
Beginnings and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (2002–2015)
• Illustration — Grace Potter and the Nocturnals in 2009 While in college, Potter met Matt Burr, a drummer and her future husband, who convinced her to form a band. They started playing at the Java Barn. The band could only find space to rehearse at 2AM, inspiring the band name, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. They would stay up all night rehearsing and then go to class. The band included Scott Tournet on guitars (including slide guitar and harmonica), drummer Matthew Burr, Michael Libramento on bass guitar and keyboards, and Benny Yurco on electric guitar and vocals. Bryan Dondero played bass guitar, upright bass, and mandolin with the group until his departure in early 2009. In 2002, she released her first album, Red Shoe Rebel. Her second album, Original Soul followed in 2004. The group independently recorded and released one album, Nothing but the Water in 2005 with sound engineer Lane Gibson, who recorded and mastered Original Soul (2004). The band signed a deal with Hollywood Records in December 2005 and re-released Nothing but the Water in May 2006. In 2005, the band was nominated in two categories at the Boston Music Awards, for "Best Local Female Artist" and also for "Best New Local Act". In 2006, the band won the Jammy Award for "Best New Groove". At the Boston Music Awards, the band was nominated for Album of the Year (major) for the re-release of Nothing but the Water and Potter was nominated for Vocalist of the Year. The group released its second album, This Is Somewhere, on August 7, 2007, on Hollywood Records and was the opening act for Gov't Mule on its October and November North American tour. In August 2007, the band made appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. In June 2008, the band was the opening act for the Dave Matthews Band as well as for The Black Crowes. In 2010, the band's cover version of Jefferson Airplane's song "White Rabbit" was included on Almost Alice, the companion soundtrack for Tim Burton's feature film Alice in Wonderland. The group released their third studio recording, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, in June 2010. It included the song "Paris (Ooh La La)". On the album, Catherine Popper replaced Libramento on bass. In 2011, Potter earned her first Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "You and Tequila" with Kenny Chesney. In July 2011, Potter was a guest on Chelsea Handler's show Chelsea Lately. In July 2012, she joined The Flaming Lips during their show at The Lyric in Oxford, Mississippi, which was part of their attempt to break the Guinness World Record for Most Concerts Played in different cities in a 24-hour period. That same year, Potter and The Flaming Lips collaborated on a recording of "My Mechanical Friend", which she also wrote, for the companion soundtrack to Disney and Tim Burton's film Frankenweenie. In 2014, she contributed to their cover of The Beatles' "Good Morning Good Morning" for their With a Little Help from My Fwends album. Potter made guest appearances on The Chew in November 2012 and December 2015.
Solo career
Solo career
• Illustration — Potter performing in 2015 After Potter's divorce from Burr, the band disbanded. In June 2015, Potter was the opening act for the Rolling Stones during the Zip Code Tour, and joined them onstage to perform "Gimme Shelter". Potter's next solo album, Midnight, was released in August 2015 on Hollywood Records, produced by Eric Valentine. Several notable artists contributed to the album: Rayland Baxter, Audra Mae, Noelle Scaggs of Fitz and the Tantrums, Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, and Nick Oliveri of Queens of the Stone Age. In September 2015, Potter performed The Star-Spangled Banner during the New England Patriots' season opener. In 2016, her collaboration on the song "Wild Child" on Kenny Chesney's album The Big Revival garnered award nominations from the Academy of Country Music, CMT Music, and the Country Music Association. Potter was the musical guest on the episode of Conan that aired on January 25, 2016. • Illustration — Potter in 2018 Daylight, produced by Eric Valentine, was released in October 2019 on Fantasy Records. It features guest musicians Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius, and Benmont Tench. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Potter launched weekly streaming media performances from her home in California and her childhood home in Vermont and performed a special episode on the set of the original Star Trek. Potter's fourth solo album, Mother Road, was released in August 2023 on Fantasy Records.
Artistry
Artistry
On guitars, Potter primarily plays the Gibson Flying V; however, she also plays classical guitars with nylon strings. On keys, she plays the Hammond organ. Her voice has been described as soulful and bluesy and she has been compared to Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. She has also been described as a "grittier Patty Griffin".
Personal life
Personal life
Potter is legally blind in one eye and is bisexual. Potter said that she does not belong to any religious group but values a spiritual life. Potter married bandmate Matt Burr on May 11, 2013. They divorced in 2015, at which time the Nocturnals disbanded. Potter married her current husband, record producer Eric Valentine, in 2017. They have one son, born in 2018. In 2011, Potter founded the Grand Point North music festival in Burlington, Vermont. Potter has supported and fundraised for the Alzheimer's Association in honor of her paternal grandfather's battle with Alzheimer's disease. In June 2015, Potter was presented the "ASCAP Harry Chapin Vanguard Award" by WhyHunger for her work towards defeating world hunger. Potter lives in Topanga, California. She previously lived in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, where she owned a 1920s Spanish bungalow that she refurbished; she sold the house in 2017.
Solo
Solo
List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions • Title — Album details — Peak chart positions • US — US Rock — US Taste. • Red Shoe Rebel — * Released: 2002 * Label: Dream On Productions — — — — — — • Original Soul — * Released: May 5, 2004 * Label: Grace Potter Music, Indie911 — — — — — — • Midnight — * Released: August 14, 2015 * Label: Hollywood — 26 — 4 — 3 • Daylight — * Released: October 25, 2019 * Label: Fantasy — 74 — 9 — 20 • Mother Road — * August 18, 2023 * Label: Fantasy — — — — — — • Trespasser — * August 21, 2026 • "—" denotes releases that did not chart
As lead artist
As lead artist
List of singles as lead artist showing year released, selected chart positions, and album name • Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Certifications — Album • US — US AAA — US Country — US Country Airplay — CAN — CAN Country • "I Want Something That I Want" — 2008 — — — — — — — — — — — — — Music from One Tree Hill • "Wild Child" (with Kenny Chesney) — 2015 — 56 — — — 9 — 1 — 69 — 3 — * RIAA: Gold — The Big Revival • "Alive Tonight" — — — 29 — — — — — — — — — Midnight • "Empty Heart" — — — 15 — — — — — — — — • "Love Is Love" — 2019 — — — 8 — — — — — — — — — Daylight • "Back to Me" (featuring Lucius) — — — 28 — — — — — — — — • "Mother Road" — 2023 — — — — — — — — — — — — — Mother Road • "Good Time" — | — — 14 — — — — — — — — • "Love Me Not" — 2026 — | — — 8 — — — — — — — — — Trespasser • "—" denotes releases that did not chart
As featured artist
As featured artist
List of singles as featured artist showing year released, selected chart positions, certifications, and album name • Single — Year — Peak chart positions — Certifications — Album • US — US Country — US Country Airplay — CAN — CAN Country • "You and Tequila" (Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter) — 2011 — 33 — 3 — 3 — 62 — 5 — * RIAA: 4× Platinum — Hemingway's Whiskey
Other appearances
Other appearances
List of other appearances showing year released, other performing artists, and album name • Title — Year — Other performer(s) — Album — Note(s) • "Wellwisher" — 2009 — Phonograph — OKNO • "Ordinary Man" — Gregory Douglass — Battler • "Something That I Want" — 2010 — rowspan="2" none — Tangled — also credited as co-writer • "Naughty Naughty Children (Better Start Actin' Nice)" — 2011 — Prep & Landing: Naughty vs Nice: The Complete Soundtrack • "My Mechanical Friend" — 2012 — The Flaming Lips — Frankenweenie Unleashed! • "You and Tequila (Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre)" — Kenny Chesney — Welcome to the Fishbowl • "I Shall Be Released" — 2013 — Don Was, Matt Burr — Love for Levon: Benefit to Save the Barn • "Whisper in Your Soul" — Gov't Mule — Shout! • "Good Morning Good Morning" — 2014 — The Flaming Lips, Zorch, Treasure Mammal — With a Little Help from My Fwends • "Gold Dust Woman" — 2015 — Warren Haynes, Railroad Earth — Ashes & Dust
with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Studio albums • Nothing but the Water • This Is Somewhere • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • The Lion the Beast the Beat
Life and work
Life and work
Grace Potter was born on 20 June 1983 in Waitsfield. Potter held the nationality of United States. Potter was educated at Harwood Union High School. Potter worked as composer, songwriter, singer-songwriter and guitarist, and the authority record catalogues a further 3 occupations under the same name, among them rock singer, film director and musician. Potter was active from 2002. The fields Potter worked in include rock music. Potter played the guitar. Potter worked in English.
Catalogued output
Writings on music
These are catalogued publications carrying the name — editions and printings, distinct from the works they contain and from writing about the subject. The 2010s are the densest part of the run, with 2 titles, and that concentration is a fact about what the registers have catalogued rather than a judgement on the work itself.
5 editions carry dates between 1912 and 2021
The run opens with What we did to Bernard Carlin and closes with Within the Loudest Silence
The entries follow Open Library
What we did to Bernard Carlin
1912
Some types of industrial poisoning
1929
Tangled
2010
Hippie Chick
2015
Within the Loudest Silence
2021
Tracks used in film and television
Potter's song "Apologies", was used in an episode of One Tree Hill; Potter also made a cameo appearance as a street performer in the episode. "Apologies" was also featured on All My Children, Kyle XY, and Brothers & Sisters. The song "Falling or Flying" was featured on ER and Grey's Anatomy and appeared on Volume 3 of the latter's soundtrack. In 2010, Potter re-recorded "Something That I Want" with altered lyrics for the end credits to Disney's animated feature Tangled. In December 2011, Potter was the voice of Carol in Disney's Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice, for which she also wrote and recorded "Naughty, Naughty Children (Better Start Actin' Nice)." In 2011, the song "Paris (Ooh la la)" was featured in the Season 2 promo for the TNT television series Rizzoli & Isles. In 2012, the song "Nothing but the Water" was used in trailers for the short-lived 2012 ABC drama Last Resort. Potter's version of the Stealers Wheel song "Stuck in the Middle with You" was used as the theme song for the Netflix series Grace and Frankie (2015–2020). In June 2017, her song "Instigators" was featured in the video game Dirt 4. In 2019, the song "The Lion the Beast the Beat" was featured in the season 2 episode of Cloak & Dagger titled "Vikingtown Sound".
Primary material
Recordings and discography
The discography assembled here shows how Potter's work has been published in sound, not what Potter made. 19 sound issues are catalogued, carrying dates from 2002 to 2026. An issue is a published recording, distinct from the composition it carries, from a printed score of that composition and from any single performance of it; none of the entries below is counted in the catalogue of compositions above, and several of them carry the same work in different readings. The 2020s are the densest decade of publication, with 13 issues. The performers and issuing labels are as the discographic register states them; where it names no performer the article names none.
Oasis
2025
Losing You
2025
We'll Be Alright
2020
Midnight
2015
Mother Road
2023
Before the Sky Falls
2025
Good Time
2023
Red Shoe Rebel
2002
Poison in My Well
2025
I Want Something That I Want (Duet)
2008
Trespasser
2026
Love Me Not
2026
Eachother
2020
Medicine
2025
Love Is Love
2019
Something that I want (accoustic)
2024
Grace Potter’s Road Trip
2024
Original Soul
2004
Daylight
2019
Primary material
Documents and archives
institutional register
- Discogs authority file 796323
General reference · Discogs
- GND (German National Library) authority file 1034063391
General reference · GND (German National Library)
- ISNI authority file 0000000050995078
General reference · ISNI
- Library of Congress authority file no2007105798
General reference · Library of Congress
- MusicBrainz artist authority b1103b87-3b91-4ec5-9d7b-15c2d1e486af
General reference · MusicBrainz
- VIAF authority file 26851551
General reference · VIAF
reference work
- “Grace Potter”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Authority records
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
institutional register
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
GND (German National Library) authority file 1034063391GND (German National Library)
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Library of Congress authority file no2007105798Library of Congress
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Secondary witnessinstitutional register
Wikidata, structured authority record Q21042697: Grace PotterWikimedia Foundation
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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