Wedgwood Elementary Welcomes Back American Idol Contestant Payton Taylor
Click here to view a photo gallery of Payton Taylor's visit.
Wedgwood Elementary School students and staff wildly welcomed back homegrown talent and 2019 American Idol contestant Payton Taylor during a visit to her former school on March 22nd. The 22-year-old Taylor will be among a field of competitors in Hollywood, Calif. during this season of the popular singing competition.
Taylor attended Wedgwood Elementary from 2004-2008. She spent three years of middle school at Chestnut Ridge Middle School, before moving with her family to Nashville to pursue her dream of a professional music career. On Friday, Taylor stopped in to visit with her favorite Wedgwood teacher, Maryann Garten, who she commended for “pulling out the best in me and always encouraging me to be myself.” Garten’s fourth-grade students greeted her with homemade posters and peppered her with questions. She then performed several of her songs during a school-wide assembly, including her original song, “Rhinestone,” which earned her the American Idol golden ticket.
After declining the opportunity to compete in the 2018 American Idol competition, when she and her sister, Taryn, were both invited into the competition, Payton returned to the competition solo in 2019, punching the golden ticket handed to her for a second time by judges Lionel Ritchie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.
Taylor traced her growth in music, from elementary chorus to singing at church and in musical theater to becoming a singer-songwriter. She also shared frustrations and words of encouragement for students who now sit where she once was.
“One of my biggest regrets is not joining strings when I was your age,” Taylor said. “All I want to do now is play the violin, and it is so much harder to learn when you are older. I encourage you to try it, and if you really love it, stick with it. Practice and work at it. Music was the biggest thing that made me happy. Whatever your passion, give it time and let it grow. Listen to your gut and your heart. These things will let you know what you are supposed to do.”
After performing, Payton left the students with autographed cards, encouraging them to tune in for this season of American Idol and to pursue dreams of their own.
Nashville singer and Wedgwood Elementary alum Payton Taylor is overwhelmed at the greeting as she enters Maryann Garten’s classroom for visit on March 21st.
Fourth-grader Christina Frizano showed off Payton Taylor buttons that she crafted.
Payton Taylor felt the love from the Wedgwood audience during her return to her former school.
2019 American Idol contestant Payton Taylor performed her original song “Rhinestone” for the audience.