Whitney Woerz, born October 22, 2000, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She has made numerous appearances on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. In January 2015 she began recording her debut EP, set to release in November. In August 2015, Whitney also recorded an album of covers at the legendary FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. There, she found connections to her musical roots that doubled as inspiration and added a sense of rawness to her music. Glenn Rosenstein (Madonna, U2), mixed and produced Whitney’s recordings for a series titled, “The Fame Sessions: LIVE from Muscle Shoals.” The videos, available on YouTube and other social media outlets, earned over 1.2 million views in less than four weeks.
Through continued collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer, Glenn Rosenstein, Whitney will release her first EP, Behind the Smile, in November 2015. Behind the Smile highlights Whitney’s search for direction as she faces the challenges of being both an artist and a teenager. The album also incorporates subtle imagery of a vintage Polaroid. Like her music, the camera reflects happy faces that carry stories hidden behind a veneer. Such themes exemplify Whitney’s strength as a songwriter while simultaneously reflecting an awareness of relevant teen issues.
Whitney has also helped raise awareness by participating in anti-bullying programs. Her advocacy against bullying coupled with her experience helping friends with depression has helped create a foundation for her musical wisdom. Together with the music label Black Vine, Whitney has officially committed to sharing a portion of her music profits with the organization LETS Bring Change 2 Mind, chaired by Glenn Close. Bringchange2mind.org is “a non-profit organization working together to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness.”
Whitney continues to develop a sincere and affirmative message. The journey to FAME studios led her to find her own musical roots and embrace self expression while her life experiences provide insight to advocate awareness of serious social issues. This unique combination has helped Whitney gain recognition with fans. Her impressive artistry spread quickly across social media, resonating with a wide and varied audience. The November 2015 release of Behind the Smile stands to illuminate Whitney’s talent and personality as she connects with fans, affecting them with a message of hope and inspiration.