Carly Ann Taylor: A Journey from Uncertainty to Musical Success

Written during a season of post-graduation uncertainty, “Why Should I Worry” began as Carly Ann Taylor’s way of confronting fear and stepping boldly into a career in music. What happened next became a defining moment – from performing the track live for the first time in Sacramento to landing a record deal with Curb Records shortly after.

Overcoming Challenges Through Music

Carly reflects on overcoming a turbulent childhood, finding her voice through life’s challenges, and how one vulnerable song became the launchpad for an extraordinary new chapter.

Creating “Why Should I Worry”

Your new single, “Why Should I Worry,” has a timeless and uplifting quality. What was the most rewarding part of creating it?

Thank you so much! “Why Should I Worry” was born from a place of heavy worry, anxiety, and fear of my future. I was really struggling to understand where God was leading me during a specific season of my life. The fear I had was so numbing that I cried out to God to show me a way out.

At that time, my mom encouraged me with scripture from Matthew 6. If God takes care of the lilies and the birds in the air, why wouldn’t He take even better care of me? He holds the whole world in His hands yet cares for me and holds my life and my future. So if this is the truth, then why should I worry?

I had just graduated from college and found myself full of fear for what was ahead. I knew what God was calling me to, but the road seemed extremely uncertain. I graduated with a degree in Commercial Music Production and knew I wanted to pursue a career in music.

After graduation, my parents gifted me the production of a song with a dream producer of mine, Splash Of Soda. I brought in three songs to show him, and he loved “Why Should I Worry.” We finished writing it with my dad and worked on finalizing production over the summer. The song was set to be released in November of 2024 when my dad asked me to open for his band, Hopeful, at a show in Sacramento, which coincided with the scheduled release of “Why Should I Worry.” It was my first time ever performing my own music live outside of college. I closed the show with “Why Should I Worry,” and it was incredible! That night, two A&R reps from Curb Records happened to be in the audience, and long story short, I was offered a deal shortly after. It felt like God was saying, “See? Why should you worry? I told you I’m taking care of your future.”

Now, the song is being streamed and played on the radio all over the world. Hearing testimonies of how God has met people in their struggles through this song has been amazing. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that a song I wrote to process my own inner battles would help so many people!

Finding My Voice

Music served as a form of escape for you while growing up. Can you recall when you first fell in love with singing?

I have been singing since I was three years old, and music was definitely an escape for me during some tough times. I grew up singing the blues but never found purpose in that. When I was 15, my biological half-brother, whom I did not grow up with, invited me to visit him and his wife during the summer in California. During my visit, I opened up about what I was going through in Hawaii. They realized they couldn’t send me back.

I never returned to Hawaii. They took me in and raised me as their own daughter. They are the ones I now call mom and dad. They took me to church the very first Sunday I was there, and I accepted the Lord into my life immediately. That’s when I was introduced to worship music, and everything made sense. Today, music isn’t an escape for me; it brings healing, and I can express my gratitude for how God rescued me and changed my story! I fell in love with singing when I found purpose in it through worship. I was rescued from dysfunction, and my life has been redeemed, so I feel like I have something to sing about!

Building Resilience

You have overcome incredible challenges at a young age. Looking back, which moments do you believe shaped your resilience the most?

When I look back now, I see that God was with me the whole time, even on the hardest days. He had a plan for my life, even when I didn’t see it then. Growing up in a dysfunctional home shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time, but I see it now. Resilience was built through every hard moment, hanging on to hope when I felt I had nothing left. God came in and rescued me at the right time.

I’ve chosen to view my childhood, including the trauma, through a lens of gratitude, not because it was easy, but because God has redeemed it. Leaving everything behind to come to California was a moment that forever changed me. I was desperate for a new life and salvation. I longed for stability and love. When I arrived, I was embraced by a new family and the love of a Savior. Over time, I knew I had to make certain decisions to break the cycles in my family history. Simply changing environments without changing habits wouldn’t yield new results. Moving away from dysfunction allowed me to reshape my mindset and behaviors.

The Lord gave me another chance to change the trajectory of my life and my family line. My new family loved me back to life, and from that point on, I understood the assignment and the gift that was given to me.

Inspiration from Influential Artists

The powerful, soulful nature of your voice has been compared to artists like Adele. Which artists inspire you, and why?

Wow, that is so mind-blowing to me! I’ve always been drawn to powerhouse vocalists like Adele, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, and Tori Kelly. Being compared to any of them is an amazing compliment and an honor! What resonates with me the most is their passionate delivery. These artists inspire me because of their confident performances and the emotion they convey. It has given me confidence for my own performances.

Reflecting on Life Through Music

Your music draws directly from your experiences. How does “Why Should I Worry” reflect your life so far and the beginning of your musical journey?

I wrote “Why Should I Worry” during a time when I had a paralyzing fear of my future. I was struggling to understand where God was leading me. What’s wild is that I met the Curb team the very day the original version was released in 2024. After signing and revisiting the song, it felt like God was gently reminding me of His faithfulness. I wrote the song wanting to believe it, and now it is a testimony. Whether I’m in a season of anxiety or gratitude, the truth remains the same: His provision hasn’t changed, and neither has the promise behind the song.

Releasing “Why Should I Worry” was an exceptional start to my career. Seeing how much it resonates with people and the incredible responses we’ve received makes me believe this is a message from God that I will carry for the rest of my life. Why should I worry?

The Impact of Family Support

After experiencing a difficult childhood, you were embraced by your brother and sister-in-law in your teens, marking a pivotal turning point in your life. How did that support influence your identity and music?

Before I came to California and was taken in by my new family, I sought fulfillment in things that never filled the void. I didn’t know how to love or how to be loved. I didn’t understand sacrificial love until I was embraced by the love of Jesus and my new family. Their consistent love showed me that I was worthy of love without having to earn it. They supported me in pursuing my dreams and were there for me during auditions, performances, and everyday life. I know I couldn’t have done any of it without them! They provided a safe space for me to create and shape my music, and now I can share it with the world.

Connecting Through Your Story

How do you hope your story of survival will connect with listeners?

I hope my music communicates that there’s hope in Jesus and that no one is too far gone! The Lord is in every detail of their lives and has a beautiful plan for them. When we surrender our futures and plans at the feet of Jesus, He is faithful to remind us that He holds it all and is ready to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could think or imagine!

Future Aspirations

Looking ahead, what are your hopes and aspirations for 2026? Can we expect new music in the works?

There’s a lot of new music coming, and I’m so excited about it! This next chapter will explore different parts of my story, different seasons, and sounds that feel authentic to me. I’m also working on some really