The 13-Jan Ideal - Anna Graceman

This new 13-Jan segment is to highlight a person who is the 13-Jan ideal; a person who stays true to themselves at all tiimes, is doing something admirable to make a change in the world, or who has a great story with a great message. This weeks 13-Jan ideal is Anna Graceman. She is a 12 year-old singer/song writer who has written over fifty published songs. Anna has been seen on television shows such as "Ellen" and she was a finalist on the 2010 season of "America's Got Talent". Her naturally strong and soulful voice makes you feel as if she is singing just for you and her songs about growing-up, staying true to yourself and the complexities of becoming a teenager, are easy to relate to and are enjoyed by thousands of fans across the world. Anna just released her first album and the debut single, "Showtime" is a catchy and fun tune about a young girl feeling the pressure to fit in while staying true to her own beliefs and values. This message can be appreciated by all 13-Jan fans who are entering their teen years and feel the pressure of their peers, the media, or their own perceptions of what a teenager is supposed to be. The music video for “Showtime” can be seen on Anna's YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ9_87swh3U. The video was directed by David Palmer who has directed many music videos for such well-known singers as Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige and "Lil" Wayne. The “Showtime” video is based on Anna singing into a microphone while in her room doing the things that young girls do such as reading teen magazines, observing herself in the mirror, and wondering just who she is and how she fits in. “It’s about a young girl trying to figure out who she is, what her place is in the world and how she’ll find her way,” says Anna. “My favorite part of the song is the bridge! ‘Mirror, mirror with disgrace, make me wanna hide my face…’ Don’t we all have those days when we just want to hide?!” Anna's talent has been evident since she was just a toddler and her father recorded her songs to post on the Internet so other family members could enjoy them. It was Ellen Degeneres who "discovered" Anna and had her on her television show, where Anna just wowed everyone with her performing talents and charming personality. “It was the first time I ever performed in front of a large crowd,” recalls Anna. “And I’d never been on TV before. You know, I’m from Juneau which is a really small town, so all of my friends were really surprised and excited for me. I was nervous, of course, but Ellen is an amazing person and she is very easy to talk to, so that was really cool.” Ellen had Anna back on her show just a few weeks later to meet Taylor Swift, one of her idols. Anna is destined for stardom but she maintains her humble nature by keeping up with her schoolwork, spending time with her family and friends, and working on her music. Anna Graceman IS the 13-Jan ideal because she hasn't conformed to the stereotypical Hollywood image. She has not let her new found fame change her or swell her head. She stays grounded, true to herself, and sings about the challenges faced by preteens and teens who struggle to "fit-in" but insist in keeping their identify and values firmly in place. Congratulations, Anna! You are the first to be recognized as the 13-Jan ideal.