Medicine Hat family video of grandmother reacting to granddaughter’s song draws millions

The following year, rule changes prevented her from competing again, a move the family believes was tied to her win.

“It was always just an inspirational story in my family,” Tripp said.

“She entered just for fun, and then she won first place,” she added.

“I’ve always loved finding true stories to turn into songs; this one just kind of found me.”

Tripp says the story had been passed down for years and stood out as both inspiring and meaningful, eventually becoming the foundation for the song.

“I had heard that story growing up, and it was always something my family used to teach lessons,” Tripp said.

“I realized one day I hadn’t turned it into a song, and then it just sort of started writing itself.”

She wrote the track two years ago with help from family members to ensure historical accuracy, but it wasn’t until recently that it reached a wider audience.

A video of her grandmother hearing the song for the first time was filmed during a family gathering in Medicine Hat and posted to TikTok earlier this year, where it quickly went viral, nearing two million views.

“It was surreal,” Tripp said.

“My phone just kept going off, and I didn’t really understand what was happening at first.”

The response has helped grow her audience and opened new opportunities, including connecting with other musicians and expanding her reach online.

“It’s helped me take that next step as an artist,” Tripp said.

Beyond the online success, Tripp said sharing the song has also created a meaningful moment with her grandmother.

“It’s been really special to share that with her,” Tripp said.

“She thinks it’s funny that people love it so much, and it’s been nice to see her reaction to all of it.”

The single will be part of her upcoming debut EP, Willow Sap, which she is continuing to develop.

As an independent artist, Tripp has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the remainder of the project, with plans to release the full record later this year.

“The song needed a home on a record, [and] I’m doing everything I can to make that happen this summer,” Tripp said.

Tripp said she hopes to build on the momentum and continue telling real-life stories through her music, bringing overlooked moments from the past to new audiences.

by Jett Schwaier

Medicine Hat family video of grandmother reacting to granddaughter’s song draws millions

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