
WHEN YOU HIT A WALL Let Music Change Your Path
From Backstage @ Upstage by Upstage Lung Cancer
August 20, 2025 · 36 min
About this episode
Jacy Dawn Valeras shares her inspiring journey from aspiring country music singer to successful producer and advocate for Upstage Lung Cancer after facing a vocal cord injury.
HOST: Hildy Grossman, CO-HOST: Jordan Rich GUEST: Jacy Dawn Valeras, Award-winning Television Host, Producer, Podcaster and Music Business Executive Hildy welcomes Jacy Dawn Valeras—television host, producer, music business executive, and podcaster with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Jacy shares her life-long dream of becoming a country music singer. With her father’s encouragement, family’s support, and her own determination and talent, she succeeded in sharing the stage with some of country music’s biggest names. But just as her star was rising, a vocal cord injury forced her to stop singing—for at least a year. Overcome and unsure of her future, Jacy faced a turning point. By refusing to give up, she found a new way to channel her love for country music: writing songs and helping other artists shine. She also mastered digital marketing, launched her own successful business, and began guiding performers at every stage of their careers. Her journey didn’t stop there. Jacy now hosts a popular podcast where she interviews high-profile guests about their paths to success. What’s more, in honor of her father who ultimately lost his life to lung cancer, she works…
People in this episode
Host: Hildy Grossman
Guest: Jacy Dawn Valeras
Topics covered
- music industry
- resilience
- advocacy
- personal journey
- country music
- podcasting
Keywords
- country music
- vocal cord injury
- podcast
- music business
- advocacy
- resilience
- Upstage Lung Cancer
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Upstage Lung Cancer
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