Today we’d like to introduce you to Terrance Reed.
Terrance, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Terrance, and I’m originally from Waco, Texas. My story started in church. I grew up at Carver Park Baptist Church, where I began singing in front of an audience when I was only three or four years old. My parents always tell me I was able to hold a note at just nine months old, so music has truly been part of me for as long as I can remember.
One of the defining moments of my childhood came when I was seven years old. I had the opportunity to open for Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Le’Andria Johnson. After my performance, she told me something I’ll never forget: “No matter what anyone says, keep going and don’t stop.” Those words have stayed with me ever since and have become one of the guiding principles of my life.
While music was my first love, education became my second. I’ve always believed that knowledge is power. Throughout elementary school, I threw myself into every opportunity I could find. I competed in history fairs, academic competitions like Destination Imagination, participated in theater, and joined choir. I still remember performing a solo during an elementary Christmas concert. I only sang a few lines, but the audience erupted with applause. At the time, I didn’t understand why. Looking back, I realize people were hearing something in my voice before I ever recognized it in myself.
Before I even entered middle school, my future choir director, Mrs. Marshall, introduced herself to my parents after hearing me sing and told them she couldn’t wait for me to join her program. During middle school, I performed in musicals, talent shows, and school productions. Those talent shows changed everything for me. Every performance was met with incredible energy from the audience, and for the first time, I realized I had a gift. I didn’t know exactly what “it” was, but I knew I had the ability to make people feel something. Ironically, despite the success, I never expected to make the auditions. I was always my own biggest critic.
As I continued growing, I was invited to perform at city events, banquets, conferences, private dinners, and for elected officials throughout my community. By the time I reached high school at Midway High School, my interests had expanded beyond singing. I became part of the Midway Morning Show, where I served as an on-air personality before eventually becoming an executive producer, director, and editor. I transformed the daily announcements into something people genuinely looked forward to watching. I loved entertaining people, making them laugh, and creating moments that brought the school together.
High school also taught me confidence. As a Black student in a predominantly white school, I refused to hide who I was. I dressed the way I wanted, expressed myself unapologetically, and continued showing up as my authentic self, even when not everyone appreciated it. That experience strengthened my voice and reinforced the importance of authenticity.
Today, I’m entering my final semester at the University of North Texas, majoring in Communication with a minor in Legal Studies. College has allowed me to combine leadership with creativity. I currently serve as President of Poetic Justice, an organization that provides students with a platform to express themselves through the arts. I’ve also served as Director of Programming and Head of Planning for the Black Student Union, Marketing Chair for the Progressive Black Student Organization, and as a Student Alumni Ambassador.
Throughout my time at UNT, I’ve had the honor of singing the National Anthem at university events, performing throughout Denton, and receiving nine Black Student Union awards, including Performer of the Year, Visual Artist awards, Best Event, and the Community Impact Award. Those recognitions mean a great deal to me because they represent not just talent, but the impact I’ve been able to make through service and creativity.
Most recently, I released my debut single, “Kold,” which is now streaming on all major platforms, and I’m currently working on my first full-length R&B album.
As I enter this next chapter, my goal is simple: to chase every opportunity that aligns with my purpose. Whether that’s television, music, brand strategy, entrepreneurship, or entertainment, I want to create work that leaves people feeling better than when they found it. I believe great R&B music makes people feel something, and that’s the kind of artist I want to be. My hope is that one day people will look back and say, “He helped bring soulful R&B back.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. While I’ve been blessed with incredible opportunities, every stage of my journey has come with challenges that have shaped who I am today.
One of my biggest struggles has been overcoming self-doubt. Even when I was receiving standing ovations or being selected for performances, I rarely believed I was as good as everyone else thought I was. I would walk into auditions expecting to hear “no,” and I spent years learning to quiet that inner voice and trust the gift God gave me.
Another challenge has been learning to embrace being different. I’ve always stood out. The way I speak, the way I dress, the way I think, and the way I create have never fit neatly into what people expected. If I wanted to wear a suit to school, I wore a suit. If I wanted to wear a fur coat because I liked how it looked, I did. None of it was ever about getting attention or pleasing other people. It was simply who I was.
I remember asking my mom one day, “Why am I like this? Why do I think so differently? Why am I always creating? Where did I get this from?” I never felt like I completely fit into any friend group because my dreams and the way I viewed the world were so different. It wasn’t until I got older and started surrounding myself with artists, actors, influencers, entrepreneurs, and other creatives that I realized there wasn’t anything wrong with me. I wasn’t meant to fit in. I was meant to create my own lane.
I’ve also had to deal with criticism for simply being authentic. As a Black student in a predominantly white high school, I refused to hide who I was. I was expressive, loved fashion, and wasn’t afraid to use my voice. Some people didn’t like that, but I learned early that you’ll never fulfill your purpose if you’re constantly trying to make everyone else comfortable.
The hardest challenge I’ve ever faced, though, was losing my grandmother. In 2019, she suffered several major strokes that completely changed her life. Physically she was still here, but mentally and emotionally, the grandmother I had always known was gone. In many ways, I began grieving long before we laid her to rest in 2025.
She was my best friend. She understood me in a way very few people ever have. I could tell her anything, call her anytime, and she always knew exactly what to say. She believed in me before I fully believed in myself.
One of the hardest things to accept is that she never got to see me graduate from high school, and she won’t get to watch me walk across the stage at college either. Before everything changed, she looked at me and said, “You’re going to be successful. I know you are, and I can’t wait to see it.” Those words have stayed with me every single day.
I still wish she could be here to experience all the milestones that are still ahead of me. But I also believe she’s watching over me. Every performance, every accomplishment, every opportunity I receive is, in some way, for her too. I hope that wherever she is, she’s smiling because I’m becoming the man she always believed I could be.
Those experiences taught me that success isn’t about avoiding hardship. It’s about continuing to move forward despite it. They’ve made me more resilient, more compassionate, and more confident in who I am. Today, I no longer see being different as something to overcome. I see it as my greatest strength.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At my core, I’m a storyteller. Whether I’m singing, speaking, directing, producing an event, building a brand, or leading an organization, my goal is always the same: to make people feel something.
Most people know me as a singer and entertainer because that’s where my journey began. I’ve been performing since I was a child, and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to perform for thousands of people at concerts, civic events, conferences, universities, and community celebrations. Recently, I released my debut single, Kold, and I’m currently working on my first R&B album, which I hope reminds people what soulful, timeless music feels like.
But my work extends far beyond music. I’m passionate about leadership, marketing, brand strategy, and creating experiences that people remember. As President of Poetic Justice at the University of North Texas, I’ve had the opportunity to build a platform where students can confidently share their gifts and talents. Through other leadership roles across campus, I’ve planned events, led marketing campaigns, developed creative concepts, and learned how to turn ideas into meaningful experiences that bring people together.
If I had to say what I specialize in, it’s creating moments. Whether it’s a performance, an event, a campaign, or even a conversation, I want people to leave feeling inspired, entertained, or understood.
What I’m most proud of isn’t any single award or accomplishment. It’s the impact I’ve had on people. Throughout my time at UNT, I’ve been honored with multiple awards recognizing my performances, leadership, creativity, and community impact. While those recognitions mean a lot, what means even more are the students who tell me they finally felt seen because of an event I created, found confidence after performing on a Poetic Justice stage, or were inspired to pursue their own dreams because they saw someone who looked like them doing the same.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t separate creativity from leadership. I’m equally comfortable performing on stage, leading a board meeting, developing a marketing strategy, directing a production, or speaking in front of an audience. I’ve never wanted to fit into one box because I don’t believe people were created to live in one.
Above all, I strive for excellence in everything I do. I don’t create simply to be noticed. I create because I believe excellence honors the gifts God has given me, and if I’m going to put my name on something, I want it to leave a lasting impression. My hope is that when people think of Terrance, they don’t just remember a great singer or a strong leader. They remember someone who inspired others to dream bigger, create fearlessly, and never be afraid to stand out.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
To be honest, this is probably my least favorite question because I don’t really believe in luck. I’m not a leprechaun. I don’t wake up hoping luck finds me.
Everything that’s happened in my life has come from God’s grace, hard work, and people who chose to believe in me.
I grew up hearing the saying, “If it had not been for the Lord on my side, where would I be?” That’s how I look at my life. I’m blessed. That’s the only way I know how to explain it.
Have I worked hard? Absolutely. I’ve spent years practicing, studying, performing, leading organizations, and creating opportunities for myself. But there have also been moments that I know I couldn’t have orchestrated on my own. Doors opened that I didn’t have the power to open. People spoke my name in rooms I wasn’t in. Opportunities found me at exactly the right time.
People can call that luck if they want to. I call it favor.
So no, I don’t think luck has played a role in my life or my career. I don’t strive off luck. I strive to be obedient, work hard, stay prepared, and trust that God will do the rest. Every opportunity I’ve been given has been a blessing, and I never want to take that for granted.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrancereedii?igsh=ZTIxcDdkNjVmNG40&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1LdGoosMFt/?mibextid=wwXIfr
