Kaitlyn Maher

Kaitlyn Maher
Maher performing at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in 2009
Background information
Birth nameKaitlyn Ashley Maher
Born (2004-01-10) January 10, 2004 (age 20)
Novi, Michigan, U.S.
OriginAshburn, Virginia, U.S.
GenresPop, rock, religious[1]
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, guitar
Years active2008–present (singer)
2009–present (actress)
LabelsUniversal Music[2]
Websitewww.kaitlynmaher.com.usa

Kaitlyn Ashley Maher (born January 10, 2004) is an American singer and actress known for being the Youngest Top 10 Finalist on America's Got Talent and for her roles in films such as The Search for Santa Paws, Santa Paws 2, Free Birds, and the PupStar series; as well as television shows such as FOX's The Goodwin Games and PBS' Mack and Moxy. She serves as the first-ever youth ambassador for the global nonprofit Compassion International and is a national debate champion, singer/songwriter, and global advocate.

In 2008, at the age of 4, Maher appeared on the third season of America's Got Talent and for her audition sang "Somewhere Out There". She reached the top 10 of AGT season 3, and was the youngest person to ever reach that level. Maher has since appeared live at The Great Kids Expo[3][4] in Chantilly, Virginia, on October 25, 2008, a live broadcast of the 2008 lighting of the National Christmas Tree,[5] on December 4, 2008, attended by President George W. Bush and over 7,000 guests, and the 2009 Cherry Blossom Festival on April 11, 2009, attended by First Lady Michelle Obama.[6] On October 3, 2009, Maher was the opening act of The Addi and Cassi Hempel Fund benefit.[7] Maher appeared in a Harris Teeter[8] commercial airing during December 2008. She was also selected by Compassion International as its first ever Child Ambassador, visited children in El Salvador with Compassion, got to meet her sponsored child, and shot a music video to her title song "You Were Meant to Be." Maher has toured internationally and sang on behalf of special needs children for the nonprofit, Jill's House;[9] for critically ill children at the National Institutes of Health Children's Inn; for wounded warriors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; and for retired soldiers at the Veterans' Affairs Center in Washington, D.C.[10]

Maher signed a recording deal late in 2009 with Indie Extreme for the release of her debut album You Were Meant To Be.[11] The album was released December 15, 2009.[12] Maher appeared in the Disney movie Santa Buddies[13] as the voice for the character Tiny,[14] which was released on November 24, 2009. Maher played the orphan Quinn in The Search for Santa Paws.[15] She played Sarah Reynolds in Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups.[16] In 2013, Maher starred alongside T.J. Miller, Scott Foley, Becki Newton, and Beau Bridges as Piper Goodwin in the FOX TV series The Goodwin Games.[17] She acted as the President's Daughter in Free Birds, alongside co-stars Amy Poehler, Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, and George Takei.[18] From 2016 to 2019, she played the lead roles of both Tiny and Scrappy in AirBud's four-film PupStar series.[19] She has acted in supporting roles in the Disney movie Treasure Buddies, the PBS TV series Mack and Moxy, the Disney series Disney's World of English, the AirBud film Russell Madness, and subsequent 2020 film series Russell Maniac, among others.[19]

Maher continues to write and release music, including her 2023 album "When Did We All Grow Up?" and subsequent singles "We Could Be" and "Fill It Up" in 2024.[20]

  1. ^ Kaitlyn Maher; You Were Meant to Be AllMusic Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  2. ^ You Were Meant to Be (CD – Universal Music #77128) AllMusic Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  3. ^ "Every Thing For Healthy, Happy and Safe Kids of all ages". Great Kids Expo. 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  4. ^ Hendrickson, Lisa (October 16, 2008). "Four-Year Old Singer Kaitlyn Maher to Perform at Great Kids Expo". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012.
  5. ^ "(Photo Gallery) – Four Year Old Singer Kaitlyn Maher to Performing at the National Christmas Tree Lighting – (Photo Gallery)". zimbio. December 4, 2008.
  6. ^ Cheney, Catherine (September 2, 2009). "Singer's Only 5, But Career Hits The High Notes". The Washington Post.
  7. ^ Hempel, Chris (July 30, 2009). "Kids Helping Kids: 5-year old Singing Sensation Kaitlyn Maher To Perform".
  8. ^ Garman, Erica (December 4, 2008). "Ashburn's Kaitlyn Maher to Sing at National Christmas Tree Lighting(includes Harris Teeter commercial)". LoudounExtra/The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 27, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  9. ^ "Mobius Supports Local Nonprofit Jill's House at 2017 Celebration of Special Children". mobius. August 22, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  10. ^ "3-Year Old Delivers Pitch Perfect Rendition Of 'The Star-Spangled Banner'". Country Rebel. September 30, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  11. ^ "Indie Extreme Signs 5 Year Old Singing Sensation, Kaitlyn Maher". News. BREATHEcast. December 4, 2009. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  12. ^ Kaitlyn Maher; You Were Meant To Be Amazon.com
  13. ^ "Kaitlyn Maher – Disney's Next Star". Disney Dreaming. 2009. Archived from the original on September 9, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  14. ^ "Twelve Things You Didn't Know About Kaitlyn Maher". KOL: Movies and TV. AOL. 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  15. ^ "The Search for Santa Paws". Disney Movies. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  16. ^ "Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups". Disney Movies. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  17. ^ "Kaitlyn to Star in Fox's Comedy Series, The Goodwin Games (October 2012)". www.kaitlynmaher.com. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  18. ^ Free Birds (2013) - IMDb, retrieved December 31, 2021
  19. ^ a b "Kaitlyn Maher". IMDb. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  20. ^ "Kaitlyn Maher". Spotify. Retrieved August 10, 2024.