Christian Music Singer Shares Her Path From Katy Perry Backup Singer To Gospel Icon

A former backup singer for Katy Perry, Christian singer Tasha Layton, shared how she turned down the opportunity to pursue fame as a pop singer to dedicate herself to God through singing Christian music. 

Layton had served as a backup singer for Katy Perry for four years and also competed on the show ‘American Idol’ before she found her calling as a Christian singer. She wanted to be able to share her testimony through her music, most recently releasing a single titled ‘Never’ which is based on how she turns to God whenever going through harsh times. 

"When I was growing up, I wanted to be in ministry full-time," Layton told Fox News. "I wanted to be married with a family. I just had this picture of what I wanted life to look like. I was in my 30s and that still hadn’t happened. I just thought, ‘What’s wrong with me? God, are you holding out on me? Did I do something to deserve this?’ The deepest part of my heart wanted this thing and it wasn’t happening. I just felt like I was forgotten and abandoned."

Layton's path to Christian music stardom has been one with many turns, all starting back in 2010 when she tried out for Season 9 of ‘American Idol.’

"Some people I knew were auditioning and asked me to go just hang out," Layton recalled. "I ended up learning that you can’t go hang out in the line unless you are signed up. I thought everyone was crazy. There’s 14,000 people coming to the Rose Bowl [in California] and they’re only choosing 300. Like, none of us have a shot. This is just for fun. And then when I got picked… I was like, ‘Oh, I gotta follow through with this now!’"

Ultimately, the Christian music singer did not manage to take first place in the show but was able to make connections from it that led to future employment. 

"The keys player played keys for Kesha, and they were needing a background vocalist for the Kesha/Rihanna tour," she shared. "She told me that I should audition. I thought, ‘Maybe this is the open door that I’ve been praying for to do music outside the church.'… I got the job, and we were supposed to start on Wednesday at 2 pm for rehearsal and leave Friday for Japan."

This job ultimately ended up not being for her though, with Layton recalling a voice telling her “‘Don’t do it,’” leading to her ultimately turning it down. There ended up being no bad blood though, with the singer saying that “they were so gracious” when she turned down the opportunity. 

"As soon as I got off the phone, I thought, ‘I have made a huge mistake. I’m self-sabotaging. What have I done?’" she said. "At 2 p.m., the same time I was supposed to be starting rehearsal with Kesha, I get a call from Katy Perry’s manager. ‘Can you be here in 20 minutes?’… I had taken off my 9-5 to go to this other rehearsal. So, I downloaded the song on my phone, and I learned it on the way to [the studio in] Hollywood. I was the last girl of the day. I met Katy, spoke with her for a few minutes, auditioned, and then I got a call the next day. I needed to show up for rehearsal, and we were leaving for Madison Square Garden on Friday."

One of the managers for Perry had remembered Layton from her stint on ‘American Idol,’ which helped her to get the position. The pop superstar herself didn’t specifically remember Layton, with her saying that she “had a different hair color [then] when [she] auditioned.” Regardless, Layton and Perry were able to become friends during the tour even while under the intense spotlight. 

"I look back at those days and have a new perspective at the weight that Katy was carrying during that time and the pressure that was on her," she explained. "Waking up so early for photo shoots and interviews. And then the paparazzi. Fame changes your brain… But we had a blast. I think I crossed almost everything off my bucket list when I traveled with her because on days off we’d do fun things and activities… We got to experience a lot of the world without the pressure of being the artist."

Layton had many positive things to say about Perry, calling her “compassionate” and saying she has “got a big heart” even while so many others in the scene did not act that way. 

But even with all the touring and stardom that accompanied it, it wasn’t enough to draw Layton in. She recalled that many different labels had been interested in signing her for a pop career but she “had no interest in it at all.” 

"Having experienced that culture and that pressure from being on the road with Katy and seeing it firsthand, I got a bird’s-eye view of how damaging it can be to your soul,” she shared. “And I just missed singing songs that directly connected people to God. I’ve always led worship in church. And you know, when I’m on my deathbed looking back, I’m not going to care that I built a career. I’m going to care that I helped people. I just didn’t see how a mainstream deal and the music that they wanted me to sing, the kind of thing that they wanted me to do, was going to be helpful for anyone and much less, connect people to who I believe is the creator of the universe."

Layton’s career has been one with many twists and turns but it just goes to show how God has a plan for everyone. She may have never imagined that when she first tried out for ‘American Idol’ it would lead to her having a solo Christian music career but here she is today able to share her faith with a massive audience.