Remember the name Greyson Chance? Back in 2010, this 12-year-old from Edmond, Oklahoma, went from a shy schoolboy to an internet sensation, all thanks to a  piano cover of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.” The video, uploaded in April, started with just a trickle of views, but once it caught fire, it spread like wildfire. Before long, Greyson’s heart-pounding performance had earned him millions of eyes and over 72 million views to date!

Piano workshops

Greyson, who’d been tickling the ivories since age eight, didn’t just play the piano—he felt every note. His raw emotion and unique style made his rendition unforgettable. Yet, for the first couple of weeks, the video barely made a dent. That was until May 10, 2010, when buzz-worthy sites like GossipBoy.ca and Reddit jumped on the bandwagon. By the end of the day, it was everywhere. Celebrities, including Ryan Seacrest and Ashton Kutcher, were buzzing about him, and Ellen DeGeneres even got in the mix after Greyson’s older brother sent her the link.

The next day, Yahoo broke the news: Greyson was headed to The Ellen Show. The world was watching as Greyson’s star began to rise, with major outlets like The Wall Street Journal covering his meteoric rise. On his Ellen debut, Greyson not only nailed his “Paparazzi” cover but also got a surprise call from Lady Gaga herself, praising his performance. It was a moment that solidified his fame.

But it didn’t stop there. A few weeks later, Greyson was back on Ellen, performing his original song “Broken Hearts” and scooping up a $10,000 prize in her “Wonderful Web of Wonderment” contest. Ellen didn’t stop at cash—she gifted him a brand-new Yamaha piano and signed him to her new record label.

But was it all too good to be true? Some skeptics questioned the authenticity of Greyson’s viral moment, with the Christian Science Monitor investigating whether the whole thing was staged. Spoiler: it wasn’t.

Fast forward to 2022, and Greyson’s story took another turn. In an emotional interview with Rolling Stone, he exposed the darker side of his rise to fame. Describing Ellen as “manipulative and opportunistic,” Greyson revealed how the media mogul had abandoned him after the success of his first album. He poured his heart into his second album, Palladium, a deeply personal reflection on his turbulent past. In a raw Instagram post, he shared how releasing the album felt like lifting a heavy burden, and he was finally ready to embrace the future.

Greyson’s journey has been a rollercoaster, but one thing is certain: his love for  music remains unwavering. Whether you’re a fan or a skeptic, his story is one of survival, growth, and the unrelenting pursuit of authenticity. Keep up with Greyson’s latest by following him on his social media platforms.