Putting On a Smile
Talking about mental wellness with Hayden Grove.
“My name is Hayden Grove, and I’m a singer. It’s still a dream come true to get to say that.” Grove was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, where he lived until he was 18. He spent a year at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, before he transferred to The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, in 2012. “I’ve lived in Cleveland, Ohio, since graduation in 2015 and have had quite the journey since coming to town,” says Grove. “After receiving my degree in Journalism from Ohio State, I was a sports reporter for nearly 10 years, while simultaneously singing as a sort of hobby from time to time.” In 2025, that changed drastically, and he became a full-time singer and musician after spending time on Season 27 of NBC’s hit television show, ‘The Voice’.
“I truly believe my journey in music has a divine element. I feel as if I came out of the womb humming a tune,” says Grove. “My father— a singer and pianist as a youngster— always loved music and could quickly tell that I had an affinity for it.” Grove says his father would ask him to sing songs such as “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” when he was a child, and he happily obliged.
“I don’t know that I realized then that music could be an outlet for what I was feeling, but looking back, I think it was pretty quickly that I knew that music had much to do with the way I was feeling,” says Grove. Music was always there for him, regardless of what he felt; there was always a song that could bring comfort to Grove. “I used it as an outlet— a way to get away from the world and just enter my own little dreamland with the soundtrack of my choosing.”
For Grove, Music plays a massive role in his mental well-being, “Without it, I’m lost. As I mentioned, music is a vessel that transports me to the most beautiful places. I close my eyes and let the sounds whisk me away to magical dreams, places I long to be, and situations I long to endure.” He emphasizes that the joy that music brings him is different from any other joy he has experienced. “Magic is really the only word that comes to mind,” he says. For him, music immediately brings light to the dark. “I truly believe music is God’s universal language of love.”
He says that he can’t pin down a specific album or project that marked a turning point in how he spoke about mental health in his music, but that there are albums that marked turning points in his mental wellness journey. “Michael Bublé’s 2009 album, ‘Crazy Love,’ was there for me when I really started to feel the beginnings of my journey into mental illness,” says Grove. While he didn’t understand what he was facing mentally at the time, he knew if he turned on that album, it would instantly bring him joy.
“The story behind my single, ‘Put On a Smile,’ is either a really long one or a really short one. The long version, according to Grove, is that when he was in high school, he started to feel this ‘dark cloud of fear’ that would follow him. He couldn’t escape it or avoid it. “It wouldn’t leave. I would cry for no reason. I would have anxiety that would make me unable to leave my bed. I would lash out in anger,” says Grove. His parents could sense that something was wrong and took Grove to see a psychiatrist. He was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. “It was the biggest relief to know that there was help for me and that I wasn’t a lost cause,” says Grove, who has continually worked on managing his mental health through medication, exercise, therapy, music, and more.
Grove says the song is an upbeat reminder that it’s ok not to be ok, and that there are so many resources and people who are there to help. “I just don’t want anyone to feel the way I felt— alone and without hope. I hope ‘Put On a Smile’ joyfully does that. If one person has been helped through my story or through this song, then I’ll be happy.”
When asked how he hopes his music helps others, Grove emphasized he hopes it helps others just feel better, “I hope that kids listen to it and, if they’re struggling, remember the lyrics and talk to someone. The world will be a much better place once we completely remove the stigmas associated with mental illness.”
Grove's toolkit is unique to him, and it includes music, faith, open conversation, psychiatry, exercise, and therapy.
On Faith: “I’ve had a relationship with God since I was a young boy, and we have spoken every day since I was introduced to Him. He is my everything. There are so many questions and things in life that are simply unanswerable and uncontrollable. Faith is the only thing that we have.”
On Exercise: “It is such a crucial part of managing my mental health. I’ve always been a mover, and being blessed enough to be able to move my body does wonders for my brain.”
On Psychiatry: “It helped me to understand that mental health is also physical health. My brain does not produce an adequate amount of serotonin, so it needs a little boost. Some people don’t like to take medication, but it’s been an absolute Godsend for me. It’s allowed me to live a largely normal and joyful life for the past 15 years, and that is a blessing from God.”
On Therapy and open conversation: “Both have also helped tremendously, as it’s allowed me to dive into everything that comes up in this brain of mine. Having an open dialogue allows me to continue to work through anything and everything that may come to my mind. It’s also a great reminder that you’re never alone.”
Grove shared that when his mental health is at its worst, his brain tries to trick him into believing that no one is there for him. That’s when he holds steadfast in his faith in God and reminds himself that there are people who love and support him.
“In my estimation, vulnerability is the biggest strength we have, which is why it is so difficult for many people— especially men— to be vulnerable. When David took on Goliath, he didn’t use armor. He was vulnerable. Yet, he had faith,” says Grove. “Vulnerability is just removing armor, which I believe is the bravest thing you can do. That’s what I would say to those that are struggling to reach out. Be brave. Be bold. Be the happiest, healthiest version of you. You can do it. You are never alone.”