'Grinch' Girl to Rock Queen... Taylor Momsen Dominates Macy's Parade and Reaches Billboard No. 1

"I Fought to Quit Acting"... Proving She's a 'Real Musician' After Shedding Child Star Label

The rebellious Jenny Humphrey from the TV series 'Gossip Girl', and the lovely Cindy Lou Who from the movie 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. Taylor Momsen (32), who remained in the public's memory, has taken over the streets of New York as a powerful rocker.

On the 27th (local time) at the 'Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade', Taylor Momsen took the stage leading her band 'The Pretty Reckless'. With her dark smoky makeup and charismatic vocals, she overwhelmed the audience, no longer just someone's sister or a child actor.

◆ Conquering Billboard with a New Song After 4 Years

The band is currently experiencing a second peak in their career. Their latest single 'For I Am Death' recently topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. This marks the band's 8th No. 1 record.

Momsen expressed her excitement in an interview with ABC Audio, saying, "It's really amazing and surreal. I can't believe a song we haven't even played live yet has reached No. 1."

◆ "This Was Killing Me"... The Truth About Her Acting Retirement

Now known as the 'Queen of Rock', her journey was not smooth. In 2015, at the age of 15, she stopped acting and dedicated herself to music. Recently, she appeared on the popular podcast 'Call Her Daddy' to share her struggles from that time.

She recalled, "Choosing music was an easy decision for me, but breaking away from existing relationships (like contracts) was a very long fight. At that time, I was telling everyone, 'This life is killing me.'" After that intense struggle, she found her true self and is now thriving, leading the work on the band's fifth studio album in 2025.

◆ The Return of 'Grinch'... Singing Christmas Again After 25 Years

This Thanksgiving season, she has also prepared a special gift for her fans. She released a holiday EP 'Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas'.

Notably, among the tracks, she has remade the movie 'Grinch' OST 'Where Are You Christmas?' into a rock version, which has become a hot topic. The song she sang at the age of 7 in the 2000 film is now being sung again by her as a rock star 25 years later, evoking a strange sense of emotion and nostalgia among fans.

Meanwhile, Taylor Momsen took the stage at the 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame' induction ceremony held in Los Angeles on the 8th, performing a tribute to the legendary band Soundgarden, once again proving her solid position in the rock music scene.