The 25-year-old Seminole High School graduate is releasing a new single on Friday.
Seminole High School graduate Angie Rey, 25, is having a great time living and singing in Nashville -- and visiting the Tampa Bay area as often as she can.
"I love the beach," noted Rey, who's competing on NBC's "The Voice" with Team Kelsea Ballerini.
On Thursday, she will sing at the Yankees game in Tampa. And her new single, "Running Back," debuts Friday.
Rey is on the rise, but she said her family and roots keep her grounded.
"Family and faith are everything to me, and I'm grateful for my three brothers, mother and father," Rey said in a recent phone call from Nashville with her mother by her side.
Moving from a small Southern California town to the Tampa Bay area was the first step in her musical journey, said Rey, who performed all over Pinellas, including Seminole, Indian Shores, Gulfport and downtown St. Pete.
"I always hoped to one day change the world, one song at a time," she said.
Born Angie Rodriguez, she was inspired by the journey from Cuba to America by her father, Rey, and the childhood musical rivalry with her brother, Rey Jr., and she chose her stage name as a tribute to the pair.
Her musical journey began early, leading to a breakthrough appearance on Telemundo's "La Voz Kids," where she reached the Top 18. She soon found her voice in country music, influenced by time spent on her grandparents' farm, where she discovered "the shared values of family, God, and love between her Latin heritage and country music."
She also auditioned for "American Idol" at 15.
"Yes, I was on 'American Idol,' but I'm so glad they never aired the whole audition, just a little snippet of me walking past the camera; I was still working on my music, it just wasn't my time yet," she said.
But she knew fame was in the future.
"My mom always told us, you know, if you plan for Plan B, then Plan A will never work -- and for me that was really important," she said. "I'm not good at anything else (and) I don't want to do anything else. I'm not scared to ask for what I want, and I'm OK with being told no, but that just means I'm just going to keep asking until I'm told yes."
With her winning personality, powerful voice, an ear for great lyrics and melodies, work ethic and determination, Rey was fearless in booking gigs around Tampa Bay, dropping off business cards as her mom drove her around to the bars.
"I never took no for an answer, and I'm already knocking on the door of Kelsea's record label to maybe record ... or tour with her," referring to Grammy Award-winning country star Ballerini, who will mentor her on the NBC show.
Based in Nashville for the past two years, Rey has carved her own path, performing several nights weekly on Broadway and opening for country stars such as Wynonna Judd, Scotty McCreery and Tanya Tucker, while infusing Latin energy into her country originals.
"Music is a people industry, and who you know and being in the right place at the right time," she said. "Nashville is music central, and I wanted to be available if someone called me and said, 'Hey, Angie can you record or play with us?'"
Her experience on "The Voice" has been a dream, said Rey. "All the judges are supportive and so kind," she said.
What did Rey sing for her audition that convinced Ballerini to turn her chair and push the buzzer?
"'Penthouse' ... Kelsea's song. That seems like the craziest idea ever, and honestly, I'm so glad I chose it, because I was listening to the song all the time -- in the car, the shower -- and I knew it was the one I would never forget the lyrics to, even if I was terrified on stage."
Follow Rey's journey on "The Voice" at angierey.com or facebook.com/@AngieReyMusic.
Check out her new single at https://onerpm.link/AngieReyRunningBack or watch "The Voice" Season 27 on Mondays at 8 p.m. on NBC.