Josh Groban Gets Vulnerable: "I felt like a talentless piece of SH*T!" How He Battled Inner Demons & Found Happiness

Josh Groban’s personal reflections reveal the complexities and burdens that accompanied his early career success.

Groban Faced Early Pressure and Self-Doubt Due to His Rise to Fame

Groban speaks about feeling pressure and isolation in the wake of his rise to fame. His sudden catapult to stardom forced him to balance the desire to be a student with the reality of being seen as a burgeoning celebrity. The “shiny aspects” of fame brought confusion and inner turmoil.

Teenage Groban Debut With Celine Dion Sparked Career, Causing Anxiety and Fear of Failure

The "Celine moment" at the Grammy rehearsal, Groban's career-defining debut at 17, was a source of anxiety and terror for him. He was concerned about satisfying the expectations of notables like David Foster and Celine Dion. Groban reflects on this pivotal point with a mix of nervousness and a "purity of heart." Despite the fear, this moment kickstarted his trajectory to stardom.

Despite Major Achievements, Groban Struggled to Find True Happiness, Always Chasing the Next Goal

Despite earning Tony and Emmy nominations and selling 35 million albums, Groban struggled to experience true happiness. He was always chasing the next goal or fixated on whether he completed the job, rather than savoring the victories. The pattern of needing to meet others' expectations and never breaching a "ceiling to joy" defined Groban's early career.

Groban Prioritized Satisfying Others and Proving His Worth Over Pursuing His Artistic Passions

Groban remembers being hyper-focused on criticism, perceived failures, and lacking stage presence. This caused a "shame spiral" after performances. Despite his global success, Groban was entangled in a quest to prove his worth and meet external expectations, which led him to question his talent, second-guess his abilities, and decline significant opportunities, like performing with Celine Dion.

Second-Guessed Self, Focused On Criticisms Over Successes

His early career was plagued by self-doubt and a tendency to dwell on negative feedback. Even with immense success, Groban couldn’t break free from the cycle of perfectionism and self-critique. The pressure was so intense that it initially made him turn down the prospect of performing with ...

Josh Groban, the acclaimed singer, shares his journey towards self-discovery and inner peace, moving from a relentless pursuit of validation to clinging to fulfillment and happiness. His growth process involves therapy, gratitude, embracing the present, and expanding his identity beyond music.

Groban Shifts From Seeking Validation To Pursuing Fulfillment and Happiness

Through Therapy, Gratitude, and Slowing Down, Groban Has Reconnected With His Authentic Self and Life's Simple Joys, Like Spending Time With Loved Ones

Josh Groban admits to his past life being dominated by the perpetual chase for the next goal or achievement. He talks about his awakening to the importance of savoring good moments through therapy and reflection with gratitude. Relishing the pleasure of being in the present with loved ones, like his brother, baby nephew, brother's wife, and girlfriend has become crucial to his sense of peace.

Groban Found Peace By Appreciating the Present Rather Than Chasing the "Next Big Thing."

Groban expanded his identity beyond music by engaging in theater, which he notes was a decision for his soul, leading to domino effects of positive outcomes, teaching him that contentment lies in pursuing what genuinely excites him. Therapy and gratitude have played vital roles in his journey, helping him appreciate the joy in simple experiences with family and refocusing his performance approach on serving audiences rather than seeking validation.

Groban Found That Vulnerability and Letting Go of Perfection Enhanced His Creative Expression and Fulfillment

Groban Embraces Quirks, Releases Playful Side

Rekindling his love for performance without the need to be the “ultimate performer,” Groban now embraces his personality's quirks and goofiness. He reminisces about his early days as a goofball who loved comedy and highlights that the expansion of the internet has now favored showing multiple facets of a person. Today, he celebrates his playful side on social media, contrasting with the earlier days when presenting a more serious performer's façade was essential.

Groban Credits Partner For Ma ...

Josh Groban channels his personal and professional success into philanthropic efforts, specifically focusing on youth arts education.

Groban Uses His Success to Support Youth Arts and Education

Groban established the Find Your Light Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing grants and resources to arts programs. He sees philanthropy as a way to repay the support he received, enabling youth to explore their creativity and the arts.

Groban Founded the Find Your Light Foundation to Offer Grants and Resources For Arts Programs, Acknowledging the Arts' Impact on His Life

Describing his foundation's role in supporting the arts, Groban explains that he wants to find his younger self in other students and provide them with the access and wisdom he had. This reflects his commitment to supporting youth arts and education. His fans even contributed to this cause by raising money for a foundation he aspired to start, presenting him with the initial funding.

Groban Sees Philanthropy As Repaying Support, Enabling Youth to Explore Creativity and Arts

Diving headfirst into philanthropy, Groban focuses his foundation’s efforts on arts education, a field he credits with saving his life. Groban believes it is his responsibility to ensure children have access to the arts, distributing grants nationwide to both in-school and after-school programs.

Groban Advocates For Children's Access to Arts Education, Believing It Fosters Empathy

Groban Advocates For Arts Before Congress, Highlighting Its Impact on Youth Growth

Groban hasn't restricted his efforts to financial support; he has also taken to advocacy. He testified before Congress about the transformative power of arts education and shared his own experiences to illustrate the medium's potential in changing lives.

Groban's Foundation Partners With Schools, Programs, and Organizations to Fund and Sustain Arts Education Initiatives

Moreover, the Find Your Light Foundation partners with schools, after-school programs, and organizations, providing grants to sustain arts education, especially at a time when these programs face budget cuts. Groban highlights the significant influence of the arts o ...