You may know Tasha Layton from her hit song, Look What You’ve Done which became Tasha’s first #1 hit! Tasha also joined Billboard’sTop 5 female Christian artists of 2020 and has quickly become a familiar voice on JOY FM!
So while you may recognize her voice from the radio, did you know you may have seen her before? She was featured on American Idol, season nine with guest judge, Katy Perry. But then became Katy Perry’s backup vocalist traveling on her world tour!
Take a listen to this incredible story about how Tasha used that opportunity to do ministry outside the church walls.
View this video with Tasha, and other interviews with JOY FM artists videos on the JOY FM YouTube Channel.
Kim:
I would love to talk about American Idol, also Katy Perry.
Justin:
That’s season, by the way, American Idol season nine had some powerhouses on it.
Tasha Layton:
Yeah. Tori Kelly, Lauren Daigle. We were all on the same season.
Kim:
Which came first? The Katy Perry or the American Idol?
Tasha Layton:
American idol was first.
Tasha Layton:
And she was actually my guest judge on the show. It’s kind of a funny story. After Idol, I went to my pastor and I said, “I think I might be called to lead music outside of the church somewhere. And I don’t really know what that looks like.” And he said, “Oh, Tasha, we’ve known that for years. We’ve just been waiting for you to figure it out.” And so I’ve always felt a missional call to my life.
And so when I left idol, I just started praying into that and saying, “God, whatever door you want to open, I’ll walk through.” And I got a call to audition for the Kesha Rihanna tour because I had led worship with one of their keys players down in Orange County for a weird convention.
It was so weird how it all happened, but they needed a background vocalist to share on the tour. And so I auditioned, I got the job. We were supposed to leave for Japan on a Friday and the Wednesday before we were supposed to start rehearsals at 2:00 PM, I think. And I just felt like it wasn’t right. I woke up that morning and was like, “I don’t think this is right.” And so I called a couple people and I said, “Do you think I’m making the wrong decision?”
“Yes, you’re self sabotaging, just go do it.” And so, but I had gone against the spirit of God enough in my life, those little whispers, that I knew not to do that.
And so I called them and I declined the job. And immediately I felt regret. I was like, “What have I done? That was an amazing opportunity. And I really feel called to be doing something like this right now.”
And then at 2:00 PM the same time I was supposed to start rehearsal, I get a call from one of Katy Perry’s managers, “Can you be here in 20 minutes?” And so I downloaded the song on my phone on the way to the audition. And then I was the last girl and I stepped on stage and I left for Madison Square Garden two days later with Katy.
And was on the road with her for four years. It was just a wild ride.
Kim:
So because she saw you on Idol?
Tasha Layton:
No, I had a different hair color. So when I was on Idol, I had brown hair. And then when I was auditioning for her, I had darker or red hair. And I haven’t known since I was 16, what my natural hair color is, come on.
And right now it’s all gray.
Kim:
Preach.
Tasha Layton:
So I switched colors a lot. And so I was redheaded and then we were in Germany doing Germany’s Next Top Model, and she runs into the dressing room and she’s like, “Oh my gosh, I judged you on Idol.”
And I was like, “You’re just now remembering that?” And so it was kind of a funny thing, because I’d already been with her for a couple months before she realized it was same person.
Justin:
Now I don’t know if you remember the Katy Perry super bowl show. It’s pretty wild show. There are a lot of costumes.
Tasha Layton:
Yeah. Always a lot of costumes with Katy.
Justin:
You were a cupcake, a lolly-pop.
Tasha Layton:
I had a lot of wigs.
Justin:
What was your favorite?
Tasha Layton:
I was a giant purple cupcake for the tour and I liked that one. I also liked the cotton candy.
Because I’ve always wanted a ‘fro and it was a giant cotton candy wig. That was a ‘fro and I had different flavors.
So I had a nice blue one and a pink one and a white one with peppermints on it. It was just… It was fun.
