All About Gracie Abrams’s Famous Parents, Who Were Behind Hits Like ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Lost’

The Gist

• Gracie Abrams comes from a well-known Hollywood family that spans generations in the film industry.

• Her father is the prolific filmmaker and TV creator JJ Abrams, best known for iconic hits like lost, Alias, Star Wars: The Force Awakensand more.

• Her mother, Katie McGrath, comes from a political background and currently acts as co-CEO of the Bad Robot production company with her husband.

Since the release of her first EP in 2020, Gracie Abrams has been covered by some of the biggest names in music. The singer joined Olivia Rodrigo on her Sour Tour in 2022 and opened for Taylor Swift’s mega-hit Eras Tour throughout 2023 and 2024. A nomination for Best New Artist at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards followed, and as her songwriting success continues to emerge, Abrams is set to make her acting debut in the upcoming A24 movie Please.

Despite her newcomer status in the music industry, Gracie is no stranger to Hollywood. The middle child of JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath, Gracie grew up with a dad directing Star Wars movies and aa powerhouse political strategist turned production CEO mom. And the Abrams are by no means new to the business—Gracie’s paternal grandparents were also film producers. Read on to learn more about the indie darling’s equally famous parents.

JJ Abrams

Her dad, JJ, has been a major Hollywood staple since the 1990’s when he got his start co-creating the cult-classic TV series Felicity. His resume spans several screenwriter, director, composer, and producer roles, even winning multiple Emmy awards for the show lost, which I have co-created. In film, Abrams has become most well-known as the director of hits like Mission: Impossible III, as well as a host of the Star Wars films, including The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker.

Gracie’s musical talents may come from her dad’s side, as JJ has composed the theme songs for several iconic shows, including Lost, Alias, Fringeand Felicity.

In a 2022 interview with iHeartRadio Canada, Gracie shared her father’s impact on her own career. “There’s a privilege in having even grown up around the knowledge of what the entertainment world looks like at all,” she explained. “I feel really lucky that I grew up in a house where there was an adult in my life who was telling stories all the time. To know that that doesn’t have to end when you’re a kid… I think that having that in my childhood solidified my love and appreciation for storytelling… and influenced the fact that I did it all the time.”

Katie McGrath

Gracie’s mom, Katie, is a former political aide who worked in Washington, DC according to People. Her career began as a legislative assistant to Senator Edward M. Kennedy before she transitioned to the entertainment industry, serving as the director of communications at MTV Networks, as VP at a communications consulting firm, and as a founding member of a political media firm. Today, she is co-CEO of Bad Robot production company with her husband. Together, they’ve produced a variety of projects including Star Trek and Westworld.

Katie is also an avid social activist. She is a board member of Pro Publica, ARRAY Alliance, and The McGrath Abrams Family Foundation. In 2018, she worked alongside Shonda Rhimes to fund the Time’s Up organization and support victims of sexual harassment.

In a 2024 interview with NylonGracie noted her mom’s influence on her life and career. “The way that she treats people is how I want to treat people, and for me to see her be that way towards this community that cares so much about the music,” she said. “Her support and encouragement of my writing my whole life is the reason that I’m doing any of this now.”

The Abrams have three children together, Henry, Gracie, and August, and have been married since 1996. While JJ remains tight-lipped about her private life, Katie has shared several social media posts celebrating her daughter’s success. In a 2023 Instagram tribute to Gracie’s Eras Tour performance, she wrote “Bonkers night with the lifers and my girl and my girl’s chosen mother @taylorswift! ❤️❤️❤️.”

Read the original article on InStyle