Taylor Momsen is an American singer, songwriter, musician, model, and former actress. Prior to her retirement from acting, she portrayed the character of Cindy Lou Who in the film How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Momsen has been the frontwoman of the American rock band the Pretty Reckless since their inception in 2009. Momsen has said that “music is where I can be me”, stating that “acting is easy. I’ve been doing it for so long and I totally love it. But you’re playing a character instead of yourself. Music is more personal because you’re writing it and you’re involved in every step of it.”
In March 2009, Momsen stated in an interview with OK! magazine that her band the Pretty Reckless had signed a deal with Interscope Records. She played her first tour with her band opening for The Veronicas in spring 2009. After the tour, Momsen began working with guitarist Ben Phillips, who would soon join the band. Momsen subsequently swapped out her former bandmates. She co-writes songs with Phillips; in addition to lead vocals, Momsen also plays rhythm guitar. The band’s debut album Light Me Up was released in August 2010, in the UK, where it debuted at number 6, as well as at number 18 in Ireland. The first single “Make Me Wanna Die” was released in May 2010, while the second single “Miss Nothing” which was released in August 2010, peaked at number 39. Songs from this album have featured in the movie Kick-Ass as well as the television series Gossip Girl.
In July 2011, Momsen announced that the band would be the supporting act for Evanescence during the fall of 2011. Throughout 2012, Momsen and her band toured North America; the second headlining tour, titled the Medicine Tour, began in March 2012 and culminated with supporting dates for Marilyn Manson’s 2012 world tour. Momsen also appeared as guest vocalist on the first track of ex Ministry member Paul Barker’s 2012 album Fix This. In November 2012, it was announced that the Pretty Reckless’ fourth single “Kill Me” would be released in December. The track was the last song to be featured in the Gossip Girl series finale.
Going to Hell was released in March 2014. The release marked the band’s largest sales week to date and landed at number five on the Billboard 200 with over 35,000 copies sold in its first week. The success of the record saw Taylor, along with the rest of the band, break records when they became the first female-fronted band to reach No. 1 on the rock radio charts with its first two singles: “Heaven Knows” in March 2014 and “Fucked Up World” in September 2014. The Pretty Reckless also spent the majority of late 2013 throughout 2014 on tour supporting Going To Hell. In 2014, her band also supported Fall Out Boy in their European leg of their tour.
Throughout 2015, Momsen continued to record new material for the third Pretty Reckless album. On September 29, 2016, the band released the single Take Me Down, which reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The third album, Who Selling For, was released in October 2016. In 2020, Momsen lent her vocals to the American rock band Evanescence for “Use My Voice”, a single from the band’s album The Bitter Truth, alongside other artists such as American rock vocalist Lzzy Hale from Halestorm, Dutch symphonic metal vocalist Sharon den Adel and electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling. The Pretty Reckless released their fourth album, Death by Rock and Roll, in February 2021. The Pretty Reckless became the first female-fronted band to have five number one singles when Death by Rock and Roll hit number one on the charts.
