Boyertown native and Nashville recording artist Stephanie Grace came home to perform at Boyertown Area Junior High West on Friday, November 7th.

Grace — who will open for the Charlie Daniels Band this spring — corralled up a crowd ages 2 to adult and performed a few of pop culture’s biggest hits along with her own originals.

“It’s so heart-warming and thrilling to be playing in front of my hometown. Everyone has been so incredibly supportive which is so humbling. Whenever I’m on stage, I feel like this explosion occurs and it’s like a big party,” she said. “Getting to share that experience with a large hometown crowd is so neat and rewarding. Especially because I feel like my hometown has kind of watched me grow up. They get to see my growth in every performance.”

BASH Show Choir performed as the opener to the show. They performed the “Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America”, and Bruno Mars’s “Just The Way You Are”.

Steph will be opening for The Charlie Daniels Band on May 1st at the Santander Performing Arts Center in Reading. Tickets range from $34.50 to $81.35 and are available through Ticketmaster.

Grace said the excitement of the huge upcoming performance still hasn’t sunk in.

“To be opening for a legendary country act is such an honor, and I feel so blessed to have gotten this opportunity. The Santander Performing Arts stage is one I’ve wanted to perform on since I saw Taylor Swift there in 2006. I’m insanely excited! May 1st can’t get here soon enough!”

Grace has been visiting many different elementary and junior high schools around the state, giving mini-concerts and talking to kids about the importance of bullying prevention and setting goals to achieve a dream.

Grace said she also has teamed up with an organization named “Aevidum”, writing a song for their new campaign, “The Talk.” She will be visiting schools across Pennsylvania with them.

“I’m super excited,” she said.

Aevidum is an organization that aims to create a positive mental health environment. According to its website, it wants to spread an “I got your back mentality” at schools and communities across America. Aevidum started in 2004 after a student died from suicide. The organization earned SADD’s National Activity award in 2009. They have been recognized for their efforts by the Pennsylvania Senate, Pennsylvania House, and some of the nation’s top mental health experts.

Stephanie also has a few other songs in the works, she said. “These songs are a little different than my usual style, so I’m excited to see what everyone thinks!”