“I’ve been struggling for a while and am choosing myself in this moment,” said the ‘America’s Got Talent’ winner
Credit: Robert Okine/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Grace VanderWaal announced she is stepping back from touring to prioritize her mental health, admitting that she’s been “struggling for a while”
- The singer recently faced personal challenges, including the loss of her mother to cancer in October 2025
- Fellow stars, including Carson Daly, shared messages of support on social media
Singer Grace VanderWaal revealed that she’s no longer going on tour due to mental health struggles.
On Monday, March 9, the America’s Got Talent winner, 22, posted a candid message on Instagram about stepping back in order to take care of herself.
“Hi everyone, it’s been a bit,” she began. “I’m happy to be back and talk to y'all. I unfortunately will not be going on the Natalie Jane tour due to mental health. I’ve been struggling for a while and am choosing myself in this moment.”
“I love you Natalie and know you’re going to kill it, and I’m sorry to anyone who’s disappointed,” she continued. “I love you so much and will be singing very soon. Thank you guys for understanding.”
“I apologize, sending love to all of you🖤” she added in the caption.

Credit: Rebecca Sapp/Getty
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
In the comments section, fellow stars and fans of VanderWaal shared messages of support.
The Voice and Today host Carson Daly wrote, “Mental Health is health. Wish more young artists would be as honest w themselves as you are being. Good on you 🙌”
“Health comes first always!!! ❤️❤️” Natalie Jane added.
The news comes just months after VanderWaal’s mother Tina died from cancer at age 53, a year and a half after she’d been diagnosed. The singer announced the loss in October 2025 in an Instagram post, writing that she “can’t yet find the words.”
“I love you mommy. So much. I wake up and want to call you. I don’t know how to move forward without you. I love you,” she captioned the post.
View this post on Instagram
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
On Christmas, Vanderwaal shared photos with her mother from the 2024 holiday season, sharing how difficult it has been navigating her death.
“Last year at Hudson yards seeing lights with you. Merry Christmas mom. I miss your voice. Everything feels lonely without you. Trying for you, I wish I could talk to you, nothing is the same,” she wrote on Instagram.
VanderWaal won America’s Got Talent in 2016 when she was just 12 years old, and released her debut studio album Just the Beginning in 2017. Her most recent album, Childstar, came out in April 2025.
Read the full article here
