Why Grace VanderWaal's 'Don't Assume What You Don't Know' Has Fans Buzzing

Did you know Grace VanderWaal auditioned for and won America's Got Talent when she was 12 years old? Interestingly enough, the star was too young for the venue she really wanted to audition for: American Idol. (The minimum age for Idol is 15, FYI.) So if we're clear on anything, it's that VanderWaal knew what she wanted from a very young age and had the talent to back it up.

The singer-songwriter has famously considered candy bracelets to be her good luck charm, and clearly, there's something to it because VanderWaal has soared musically. (Though we'd credit her voice and talent as the real good luck charm... no diss to candy.)

VanderWaal has come a long way from her first audition. The singer has grown up (but she's still surprisingly young for how successful she is), proving that with a completely new, edgier look that has fans divided. Although there might be division about her appearance, fans are in consensus about one thing — her new single, "Don't Assume What You Don't Know," is an all-out hit.

Grace VanderWaal debuted her single "Don't Assume What You Don't Know" on March 5, 2021, to very excited fans after dropping a tease on Instagram. The music video is both edgy and mesmerizing, offering a surprising turn from the ukulele we're so accustomed to seeing her playing. And to be honest, the whole scene is remarkably different from VanderWaal's previous aesthetic. Case in point: She sports a pixie cut featuring devil horns. Very rock 'n' roll!

VanderWaal discussed the song with Nylon and explained that the track offers an honest view of "a young person navigating the industry in Hollywood." VanderWaal is, after all, a reliable source on the subject. "The song is all about the fantasies of Hollywood and how I've personally witnessed the debunking of all those myths," VanderWaal said. "People put fame and beauty on such a pedestal, as if that's the answer to life and all of that. I want people to take away [from the song] that your life is awesome, and my life is awesome, and everyone just makes the best of what they have and can find their happy sh*t in their own sh*t."

In addition to the song having a solid message, Twitter loves it. "I'm gonna be listening to 'Dont Assume What You Don't Know' by Grace Vanderwaal for the next year," one fan tweeted. Another was shocked by the transformation: "Is this the girl who won AGT playing Ukulele? Wow she's grown A LOT." The transformation, as well as the song, is clearly a banger.