# From Cheesecake Factory to Hot 100

> Alyssa Grace quit her server job after her TikTok breakout 'Bloodstream' hit the Billboard charts.
- Title: From Cheesecake Factory to Hot 100 · Billboard | Shortify
- Summary: Alyssa Grace quit her server job after her TikTok breakout 'Bloodstream' hit the Billboard charts. Raw emotional honesty and direct fan connection on TikTok…
- Keywords: alyssa grace, bloodstream, tiktok, hot 100, cheesecake factory, debut ep, singer-songwriter, artist house, chart success, viral music, Cheesecake, Factory
- Source: Billboard — https://billboard.com/music/pop/alyssa-grace-bloodstream-september-2026-chartbreaker-1236340876
- Author: Lyndsey Havens
- Published: 2026-09-16T16:20:11+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: alyssa grace, bloodstream, tiktok, hot 100, cheesecake factory, debut ep, singer-songwriter, artist house, chart success, viral music
## Server to chart success
Three months ago, Alyssa Grace worked at Cheesecake Factory. Then her song 'Bloodstream' hit the Billboard Hot 100, and she quit to focus on music full-time.

> I was getting a little overwhelmed. So I was like, 'Let's focus on this one thing.'
## Bloodstream climbs the charts
The acoustic single entered the Hot 100 at number 93 in June and has climbed to number 45. It's only her third single, all released this year.
## Debut EP and touring begins
Grace released her debut EP 'Spilling My Guts' in July, featuring 'Bloodstream' alongside earlier tracks. She's now opening for Alex Warren across Australia and New Zealand.
## Headlining tour kicks off
Grace's first headlining tour starts September 21 with 14 dates at 500-capacity venues in New York, Los Angeles, and London.
## Raised on Swift and Sublime
The 19-year-old from Torrance, California grew up listening to Taylor Swift with her mom and Sublime with her dad. Her grandpa taught her guitar at age 11.

> I got a little bit of everything growing up.
## First song about anxiety
Grace wrote her first song at 11 after experiencing her first anxiety attack. The confessional songwriting style became her trademark.

> When you're super young and have anxiety for the first time, you don't really know what's going on.
## Bloodstream speaks to many
The song addresses family trauma and toxic relationships with lines about inheriting her father's anger. Fans relate it to parents, siblings, and romantic partners.

> It could be about a dad, a brother, a boyfriend, an ex-boyfriend, a best friend.
## TikTok feedback healed family
After posting 'Bloodstream' on TikTok in April, Grace saw fans relating it to their parents. This inspired her to address her own family rift and rebuild that relationship.

> This brought us back together. It was really hard to open up about.
## TikTok discovery to record deal
Grace started her TikTok account in October 2024 with just a few thousand followers. An A&R from Artist House discovered her there and signed her in January 2025.

> When someone shows up with real emotion and rawness, you feel it.
## Organic momentum before release
Grace posted a 'Bloodstream' clip just 10 minutes after writing it. The song earned over 100,000 pre-saves before official release through fan enthusiasm.

> Organic momentum led to more than 100,000 pre-saves before the song was ever released.
## Writing for yourself first
Grace calls intuition her superpower and writes based on her own feelings. She admires artists like Noah Kahan who stay true to themselves and prioritize longevity over trends.

> I think it's important to think about how other people are going to relate, but you should be writing for yourself.
## Key takeaway

Raw emotional honesty and direct fan connection on TikTok can launch a music career faster than traditional industry paths.