STUTTERING FOUNDATION Q & A:


MARYBETH BYRD Season 21, American Idol, ABC


Has your stuttering gotten worse or better since you were younger? How?


It’s completely gone now! I really believe that music was a therapy for me. I notice that sometimes when I get overly excited or nervous, I trip up. But it’s 90% gone!


How did you feel about telling the judges and audience about your own experience with stuttering?


I felt excited that American Idol gave me an outlet to tell my story.


Have your fans reached out to you since you made that admission during the show?


SFA: Do you remember when you fi rst began to stutter?


MARYBETH: When I began to talk.


Does it run in your family? Who else stutters? My grandpa, Jerry Byrd, had a bit of a stutter - but not anything major if I can recall!


Did you seek treatment? Did it help?


My parents put me in Speech Therapy, but noth- ing seemed to help!


Tell us about your experience with stuttering as a child.


We all realized that when I sang, I didn’t stutter! So they encouraged it and I loved it.


How does stuttering aff ect you in your pursuit of a singing career? It’s doesn’t hold me back whatsoever!


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Yes, they have! So much positivity, it’s been very heart warming!


What are the biggest challenges stuttering has presented to you?


It’s definitely been a challenge, but also a gift! God doesn’t make mistakes. As people, if we never had anything to overcome, we wouldn’t be able to grow.


Based upon your experiences, what would you like to tell children who stutter?


I would tell them to find something that they’re passionate about, and pursue it wholeheartedly! Don’t let stuttering hinder you!


Based upon your experiences, what would you tell parents of children who stutter?


Please encourage your kids to be creative in how they overcome stuttering! You’re doing great!


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