America’s Got Talent’s Grace VanderWaal Shares Mental Health Struggle

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Grace VanderWaal is putting herself first.

The America’s Got Talent alum made her return to social media to share a heartbreaking update.

The 22-year-old posted on Instagram on March 9th, saying, “Hi everyone, it’s good to be back in touch.” They also shared that they won’t be joining the Natalie Jane tour because they need to focus on their mental health.

I’ve been going through a tough time lately and need to prioritize my own well-being right now. I’m sending love to Natalie and wishing her all the best, and I apologize to anyone who might be upset by my decision.

The singer of “High,” who was scheduled to tour the U.S. and UK with Natalie until June, told her fans she hopes to perform again when she feels ready.

She shared a heartfelt message saying she loves everyone very much and will be releasing new music soon. She expressed her gratitude for their understanding, signing off with lots of love – G.

Oh my gosh, Grace just posted again, and it killed me! She actually apologized to us, her fans! The caption was so simple – just ‘I apologize, sending love to all of you’ – but it was everything. Seriously, my heart! She’s so sweet and I’m just so glad she reached out. It means the world to me, honestly. I’m completely obsessed with her, and this just proves she cares about us too!

Fans and fellow musician Natalie Jane offered support after the singer of “Call it What You Want” shared their news, with Jane commenting, “Health comes first!”

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always admired celebrities who use their platform for good, and it was heartwarming to see the support for Grace’s openness! Jewel chimed in with a sweet ‘Here for you, sis!’ and Carson Daly really hit the nail on the head, praising her honesty and advocacy for mental health. He’s right – mental health is health, and it’s so encouraging when young artists are this brave and self-aware. It’s a really positive step towards normalizing these important conversations.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve often spoken about the pressures young performers face, and Grace’s story is a perfect example. She won America’s Got Talent when she was just 12, which was an incredible achievement, but she’s since shared how difficult that experience was for her. Sadly, she also lost her mother, Tina VanderWaal, to cancer last October, and it’s clear she’s been navigating a lot of grief and challenges.

Looking back, I can definitely see how my childhood impacted my mental wellbeing. It’s been a journey of self-discovery, and honestly, I’m constantly learning how to prioritize self-care. Lately, the biggest breakthrough for me has been simply recognizing what sets me off – understanding my triggers is key!

She explained that after years of dealing with online negativity, it’s become easier to ignore. She experienced a lot of hateful comments when she was younger, but now feels that experience actually helped her cope with the challenges she faces today.

For more stars who have shared their mental health journeys, keep reading…

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He explained that these diagnoses led to a mental health crisis in 2020.

I realized I needed to take serious responsibility for my well-being. Honestly, I never want to go through a health scare again, so I’m committed to prioritizing my mental health. That means seeing a therapist, and I’m even open to medication if that’s what it takes to stay on track.

Honestly, seeing Gucci Mane open up about his struggles really touched me. He said beyond wanting to help others who are going through tough times, his kids – Ice Davis and Iceland Ka’oir Davis, who he shares with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir – were a huge reason he decided to get help when he was struggling. It’s amazing to see how much his family means to him and how they motivated him to prioritize his well-being.

He explained that his wife was expecting their son. He worried about the impact of parenthood on his mental health, fearing a breakdown he might not recover from. That’s why he proactively began therapy and started addressing his issues.

The former star of Gossip Girl shared his experience struggling with body image issues as a young actor, which he described as “body dysmorphia.”

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn revealed they used to strongly dislike their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, he gained weight and then entered a period where he felt pressured to focus on his appearance. He realized that in this new phase of life, and while recovering from depression and isolation, he believed his success and self-worth were increasingly tied to how conventionally attractive he was.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He explained that overcoming his disappointment and personal struggles enabled him to return to things with a renewed sense of self and positive change.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, stating on the The Funny Thing Is podcast, ‘Some people might label it an eating disorder, but for me, it’s just how I’ve lived my life.’ She admitted that food was her primary coping mechanism, and she engaged in extreme behaviors related to it.

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to a diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar, stopping alcohol, and starting yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described this combination as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

She shared that she struggles with food and body image, which is something she’s actively working to overcome. She’s also focused on improving her physical health through natural methods, prioritizing healthy eating.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She explained on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s incredibly hard to talk about, even with those closest to you. She admitted that she personally feels she should be able to handle it, and admitting she struggles feels like a weakness.

The Grammy-winning artist often talks about safeguarding her well-being, like blocking out negativity online, and offers guidance to others who might be struggling.

When asked for mental health advice, she told Vogue that the most important thing is patience. She emphasized being patient with yourself, resisting impulsive decisions, and allowing time to pass. She believes that difficult feelings will eventually subside with time.

As people adjusted to social distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the singer of “Firework” shared how challenging and stressful times like these can be.

She tweeted that it’s hard to decide what’s more difficult – avoiding the virus or dealing with the sadness that comes with this new way of life. Katy explained that she often finds herself retreating to her car for comfort, saying it’s become her safe place since there aren’t many other options for getting away.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and shared her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

After her panic attacks started happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Kendall explained that she experiences both good and very anxious days, making her mood fluctuate. This is why she wanted to get involved with the cause – she hopes to help people feel less isolated and alone.

The actor known for playing Black Adam has publicly discussed his experiences with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to talk about their mental wellbeing.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to learn this, but it’s important not to be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men, especially, often keep their feelings bottled up, but remember you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting mental health support when he discussed his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many other people go through similar things, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re not alone.”

The actress from Empire is a strong advocate for seeking therapy and has publicly discussed her experiences with depression. She shared with Variety that talking to a therapist is essential for her to cope and manage her mental health.

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist shared that her struggles with an eating disorder and performance anxiety prompted her to try a new type of PTSD treatment involving MDMA and psilocybin.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any nervousness for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation – almost like a change in air pressure – that she felt with the audience. This made her understand how much she thrives on and needs that powerful, emotional connection with people while performing her music.

She explained that prioritizing her mental well-being and stopping birth control led her to a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained that she decided to stop taking birth control because it felt like a break from societal expectations of womanhood. It might sound unusual, but she felt liberated and like she could explore new possibilities without those constraints. She believed letting go of those expectations opened doors for her.

In a 2017 Instagram post, the Riverdale actress shared that she battled serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and credited the support of her family and a therapist with saving her life. She encouraged others to seek help, stating that asking for it is the most important first step and that everyone has immense value.

The singer of “What He Didn’t Do” has spoken about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the August 2025 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder since childhood.

Over the past decade, I became used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start working through everything. It wasn’t something that started recently; I’ve actually been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child, around 6 or 7 years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly shared her mental health coping strategies for years, both in public speaking engagements and on social media like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she told Health magazine, this could involve things like medication, consciously focusing on ten positive aspects of life for every negative one, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has publicly discussed her experiences with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken challenge for new mothers.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became simpler to talk about her experience each time. Her hope was to show others that this could happen to anyone, and to help those going through it feel less ashamed and isolated.

While promoting her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, describing a feeling of “darkness” during that period.

Cara shared with the publication, as reported by W Magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn to find joy within herself. ‘It took me a long time,’ she said, ‘but now I’m able to be happy on my own.’

Ariana Grande encouraged fans to prioritize their mental health after responding to a tweet asking about her therapist. She shared that therapy has been life-saving for her on numerous occasions.

She added, “Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. You don’t have to suffer in silence, and healing from trauma is possible. I have a long way to go, but just realizing that change is possible is a good first step.”

The singer has been honest about her struggles with addiction, her recovery, and her mental health, and she often explores these experiences in her songs.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous journey with both good and bad days. She previously shared on Instagram, “Remember, if you’re going through a tough time, life has its challenges, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has openly discussed mental health, both through her work – like her portrayal of Rue in the show Euphoria – and in her personal life.

Zendaya has spoken about experiencing anxiety after a 2013 appearance on Ellen, when her microphone malfunctioned. She shared this on an app she used to have. Over time, she’s found ways to cope with these feelings, explaining that it’s sometimes necessary to take a break to reduce stress.

In a recent interview with WSJ. Magazine, the singer openly discussed her struggles with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme emotional swings – periods of intense happiness followed by weeks of debilitating lows.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but after finding the right medication, her life has dramatically improved.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

She shared that she’d kept her mental health challenges private for a long time, but finally decided to speak openly about them at the 2018 Global Changemakers Award. She explained that she believes holding onto secrets can actually worsen your well-being.

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2026-03-10 15:50