Gracie Abrams, Paul Mescal
Singer Gracie Abrams, daughter of JJ Abrams, gains renewed attention after appearing publicly with actor Paul Mescal on the red carpet. Instagram/Gracie Abrams

Gracie Abrams has become one of the most talked-about names in music and celebrity circles. Public interest spiked when the singer-songwriter appeared on the red carpet with actor boyfriend Paul Mescal at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards on 22 February 2026.

But beyond her high-profile relationship, Abrams has carved out her own path in the industry. So who exactly is Gracie Abrams, and how did she rise to prominence?

Early Life and Family Background

Gracie Madigan Abrams was born on 7 September 1999 in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in Pacific Palisades and is the daughter of filmmaker JJ Abrams and producer Katie McGrath. Her grandparents, Gerald W. Abrams and Carol Ann Abrams, were also producers.

Abrams has two brothers, Henry and August. Her paternal heritage is Jewish, while her maternal background is Irish Catholic. She attended The Archer School for Girls in West Los Angeles and graduated in 2018.

After school, she enrolled at Barnard College in New York City to study international relations. She took a break after her first year to pursue music. She began writing songs at the age of eight after her mother encouraged her to keep a journal.

She later said, 'I can't imagine myself, as a kid, just randomly falling into song-writing, had I not been journaling since before I could even read my handwriting back'. She added, 'It felt so private... I felt so amped to have discovered this sacred space in my journal'. These early habits shaped her creative process.

Music Career And Breakthrough

Abrams signed with Interscope Records in 2019. She gained recognition with her debut extended play Minor in 2020, followed by This Is What It Feels Like in 2021. Her singles include I Miss You, I'm Sorry.

In 2023, she released her debut album Good Riddance. That same year, she received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. She also featured on a remix of Noah Kahan's Everywhere, Everything, marking her first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Abrams appeared on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2023. Her second studio album, The Secret of Us, was released in 2024 and debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200. Singles from the album include Risk, Close to You, I Love You, I'm Sorry, and That's So True, with the latter peaking at number four on the Billboard Global 200.

She collaborated with Taylor Swift on the track Us, which was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. On 26 May 2025, Abrams won the American Music Award for New Artist of the Year. She has also performed as an opening act on Olivia Rodrigo's Sour Tour in 2022 and Taylor Swift's Eras Tour from 2023 to 2024.

Musical Style And Influences

Abrams' music has been classified as pop, bedroom pop, folk-pop, indie pop, and indie folk. She has cited Taylor Swift, Robyn, Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Costello, Bon Iver, Elliott Smith, Kate Bush, Lana Del Rey, The 1975, James Blake, Lorde, Metric, The Killers, and Phoebe Bridgers as influences. Her touring experience has included live performances alongside Swift and Rodrigo.

Relationship With Paul Mescal

Since 2024, Abrams has been in a relationship with Irish actor Paul Mescal. The pair have recently made their red carpet debut at the BAFTA Awards in February 2026, confirming their status as a red carpet-official couple.

Her previous relationship was with songwriter and producer Blake Slatkin from 2017 to 2022.

Read more