How Lucy Hale made it in Hollywood with her mother’s help: from Memphis childhood and moving to California, to star of Pretty Little Liars, a country-music career and her love of Mountain Dew
The actress and singer’s supportive mother, Julie Knight, cashed in her retirement fund to move to Los Angeles, working nights and waiting in parking lots during her daughter’s auditions
Lucy Hale began singing as a child
Hale, 35, began singing before she even knew what she was singing about.
One of her earliest memories is of travelling with her mother to compete in a vocal competition, where she sang Martina McBride’s “A Broken Wing” and “Happy Girl”.
“I guess I was like nine and I hadn’t grown into my full head of hair,” Hale told The Tennessean in 2014. “I looked like a bobble head, but I had always loved Martina McBride. There’s no way a nine-year-old can sing a Martina McBride song. It was kind of hysterical.”
In the next few years, what started as a hobby became clear to her: it was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Determined to make it happen, she began convincing her mother to move to Los Angeles.
Her mother moved to California with her
When Hale was 15, mother Julie Knight decided to cash in her retirement fund, pack up their life and move to Hollywood to support her daughter’s dream.
Knight worked nights and slept during the day, also waiting in parking lots while Hale auditioned for roles.