Reviewed by: Pat Byington
How to cheer on Montgomery native Laurel Taylor on America’s Got Talent
Reading time: 4 minutes
A local voice is heading to one of the biggest stages in the world tonight.
Montgomery native Laurel Taylor, alongside her duo partner Luke, is set to perform on NBC’s America’s Got Talent (AGT) on Tuesday, July 14. Performing as the dynamic duo Butter & Grit, they are bringing their unique sound and deep Alabama roots to millions of viewers nationwide.
Before standing in front of celebrity judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel, Laurel spent years honing her craft right here in the River Region.
Laurel Taylor’s Montgomery + Tallassee roots
Born in Montgomery, Laurel lived in the area until middle school before her family moved to Tallassee. Music quickly became the central pillar of her life, leading her family to make countless trips driving back and forth to Nashville to help her chase her dreams.
Laurel credits her foundational vocal and artistic development to several local institutions and mentors:
- Early training: Steve Pennington served as her very first vocal coach, while Tony Bungner at Guest House Studios acted as her first producer.
- Community roots: She spent her formative years singing locally with Youth Worship Arts at Frazer and at Eastmont Baptist Church.
Though she has lived in Nashville for years, Laurel noted that the backing of her hometown community means the world to her. She frequently sees people from back home leaving encouraging comments on social media, adding that “no matter where life takes you, those roots stay with you.”
Butter & Grit’s journey to America’s Got Talent
Laurel’s musical path eventually led to a partnership with her duo partner, Luke. The two officially came together after their manager sat them down following separate individual projects. Interestingly, the definitive conversation happened over a meal at a Chinese buffet.
Though hesitant at first, the pair trusted the vision because they had already been collaborating naturally while singing together in prisons. The name Butter & Grit was coined by Luke immediately after leaving the restaurant:
- “Butter” represents Luke’s voice, which Laurel describes as “smooth as butter.”
- “Grit” represents Laurel, bringing a “country, gritty edge” to the table.
Breaking into the competitive Nashville music scene required plenty of its own grit. Laurel moved to the city at 18 and spent over a decade navigating the industry before Luke joined her two years ago. Building the duo from the ground up has been a deeply rewarding learning experience for them both.
Stepping onto the AGT stage brought a rare bout of nerves for Laurel, who normally does not get nervous before performing. Facing 5,000 audience members, a large camera crew and iconic judges was intimidating, but the duo focused entirely on letting the audience see their hearts.
Ultimately, win or lose, Laurel hopes their performance sends a powerful message to viewers across America:
“More than anything, I hope people walk away believing that music can truly change lives because it changed ours. We don’t make music for one specific audience—we make music for people. We want to reach the forgotten, the overlooked, the people who feel like nobody sees them. If someone watches our performance and feels a little more hopeful or a little less alone, then we’ve done exactly what we set out to do.”
– Laurel Taylor, AGT contestant, Alabama native
How to watch Laurel Taylor on AGT
- What: America’s Got Talent
- When: Tuesday, July 14 at 7PM CT
- Where to watch: NBC or streaming the next day on Peacock
Will you be tuning in to NBC to cheer on Montgomery’s own Laurel Taylor? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook.
