Emily Ann Roberts Turns Embarrassing Viral Video Into a Lesson Every Aspiring Artist Needs to Hear
Emily Ann Roberts has always been known for her authenticity, but her latest viral moment may be her most relatable yet.
The Voice alum and rising country star recently stumbled upon a fan-filmed video of herself performing — only to realize most of the audience wasn’t paying attention. The clip showed people talking loudly over her music, barely glancing at the stage.
“At first, I thought, ‘Oh cool, someone took a video of me!’” Roberts said in a candid TikTok. “Half a second later I thought, ‘That’s kind of embarrassing because nobody’s paying a lick of attention to me, and they’re talking really loud. I wish this wasn’t on the internet.’”
But then, she had a change of heart.
“Thank God by the end of the video, my brain had come full circle and I thought, ‘You know what? Who cares? The girl who took this video cares. She was paying attention.’”
A Message From the Heart
Rather than wallow in embarrassment, Roberts used the moment to inspire other up-and-coming artists. Speaking with the wisdom of someone who’s spent a decade grinding in Nashville, she reminded her followers that moments like these are just part of the journey.
She recalled a show years ago in Texas where the crowd barely noticed her.
“Nobody cared,” she remembered. “We got done with our first song, and you’d have thought we hadn’t even played.”
But instead of giving up, Roberts and her band doubled down — performing as if they were on the Grand Ole Opry stage. The next day, her producer got a message from a fan who said Roberts “acted like she was on the Opry, right there on that patio.”
That moment stuck with her.
“Okay, Emily Ann, that’s what you do,” she said. “That’s how you put on a show. Because you never know who’s watching. Somebody always cares — even if you can’t see them.”
“Put Your Best Foot Forward — Always”
Roberts ended her video with a powerful reflection on faith and perseverance:
“If [God’s] the only one watching, then by golly, I better put my best foot forward for Him. What else are my options? To throw in the towel? No. That ain’t an option for me — and it ain’t an option for you either.”
Her message quickly resonated across the country community. Fellow artists flooded the comments with love and support — Mae Estes wrote, “Why am I crying?” while Walker Hayes dropped two flexed bicep emojis in solidarity.
A Reminder That Purpose Comes Before Applause
In an industry where attention can feel like currency, Emily Ann Roberts reminded everyone that the real reward comes from showing up — even when no one’s watching.
Because, as she proved once again, the right people always are.