Maddie Hogan
We are told from childhood through story books and Disney tales that following your dreams will open doors, leading us to opportunities to reach our potential and find our community—and if you commit, you’ll see that it’s not just the promise of fiction. The lasting impression of these narratives acts as an inspirational guide. Maddie Hogan has felt her calling since childhood, with her earliest memories of singing Disney Princess songs, hitting the notes with uncanny accuracy, and demonstrating that her musical talent was obvious from the start—as well as her belief that dreams come true.
Rooted in Rhythm
Maddie, born and raised in the heart of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was surrounded by nature and the constant hum of her father’s music. Her father, a musician himself, was both her first collaborator and biggest influence. “I take after him a lot,” Maddie says. “He’s a great songwriter. I actually re-recorded a song he wrote in the 80s and released it on my EP. It’s called “You Got Mad at Me Last Night.’”
In sixth grade, Maddie’s family moved to a one-story rancher with a finished basement—a mirrored sanctuary that quickly became her own rehearsal hall. Between dance moves, vocal warm-ups, and jam sessions with her dad, it was there that her passion truly bloomed. She sang in a family band made up of her sister, father, uncle, and a close family friend, sharpening her performance skills while falling in love with theatrical musicals like Cats, Chicago, and The Sound of Music.
Maddie’s initiative to perform brought her to the stage of every variety show she could participate in since kindergarten. By the time she reached high school, Maddie was her school’s go-to performer for the “The Star-Spangled Banner.” “I really grew to love that song. It’s on my bucket list to sing the national anthem at a major sports game someday,” aspires Maddie. She also tried her hand at nearly every kind of dance—tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, even Irish step.
At age 15, Maddie took a leap into performance arts by enrolling at the John Robert Powers school for modeling and acting. Her talent quickly caught national attention when she competed at the Modeling Across America International (MAAI) convention in New York City. Among hundreds of competitors, Maddie’s talents did not escape the judges.
“I won first place in monologue, second place in singing (I did “At Last” by Etta James), second place in runway walking, and second place in makeup application. I also won three medals for cold reading, legs, and dancing.” Maddie says, “That led me to being hired as an extra for the Nickelodeon film called The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie.”
Finding Her Sound
As a kid, Maddie idolized the theatrical performances of Spice Girls, Michael Jackson, and her all-time favorite band KISS, who she’s seen live more than 11 times. She started by covering Beatles and Led Zeppelin tunes but dreamed of being a pop star who belted out powerhouse ballads. “At first I envisioned being like Christina Aguilera or Brittany Spears,” and thriving in the pop scene. But as she matured, her artistry and vision began to evolve with her talents.
After high school, she enrolled at Musicians Institute in Hollywood to study vocal performance. Though the big city didn’t feel like home, the experience gave her a realistic taste of the industry. “I’m not a city girl,” she laughs. “But I kept learning through playing live. That’s where the real education happened.”
Maddie is an exceptionally versatile musician, but when she has to pin it down, she describes her sound as “Pop-rock-country.” “Some days I feel like Mac Miller, others like Lainey Wilson or Lady Gaga,” she says. Her influences also include Freddie Mercury, who she quotes often, especially how she approaches playing live: “Give the people what they want” has become a motto to her.
From Singer to Songwriter
The shift to songwriting came naturally in her early 20s. “It happened organically,” Maddie says. Her first original song, “Relationship Road,” was born from a breakup text exchange, with certain standout messages, including “I don’t want to go down relationship road.” It struck her, and she turned it into lyrics. “I kind of Taylor Swifted him,” she jokes. But what started as a personal outlet soon became a powerful form of connection. “I knew if I went through this, others had too. That’s the beauty of songwriting: relatability.”
As a songwriter, Maddie draws inspiration from both her own life and the stories of those around her. She sees herself first and foremost as a storyteller, often writing in the first person to give voice to imagined perspectives. For seven years, she played her original songs live without ever recording them. “When people started reacting to my originals—it was so gratifying. I remember thinking, ‘This is what I’m supposed to be doing.’”
Making a Splash
Maddie had been visiting her grandmother in Cape May for years, but it wasn’t until her early 20s that she started exploring the local music scene. One night, her father took her to an open mic hosted by MQ Murphy at The Mad Batter. “I signed up on the spot. Everyone was so welcoming. I did an original song and had such a great response.”
That night was pivotal. “My dad said, ‘You made quite a splash, Mad.’” And he was right. She quickly found herself playing at nearly every venue in town—from Cape May Winery and Congress Hall to The Rusty Nail and The Brown Room. “Even though I’m a Delco girl, Cape May became home. I feel accepted here—something I struggled with for most of my life.”
American Idol: Golden Ticket
In a twist of fate that felt scripted for TV, Maddie received an email from a casting agent inviting her to privately audition for American Idol in 2014. Thinking it was spam, she ignored it—until a follow-up message confirmed it was real. She auditioned via Zoom, and five minutes later was invited to Atlanta to sing in front of Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr.
“I kind of blacked out walking through those double doors,” she recalls. “But I sang ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ and Jennifer asked me to play guitar and sing something else—so I did ‘Born This Way’ by Lady Gaga.”
Two out of three judges said yes (Keith was the lone holdout), and Maddie got her golden ticket. She later captured the moment in a self-written track called “Golden Ticket.” Though she didn’t advance far in Hollywood Week, the experience validated her as an artist. “The show aired January 2015, so I was on Season 15 of American Idol. It was pretty surreal seeing myself on TV. But more than that, it showed me I was ready,” says Maddie.
On A Roll
Since her Idol debut, Maddie has invested much focus and time in her music career. In 2021, she released her first two singles—“Wrong Guy”and “Heart Bruises”—recorded with Grammy-winning producer Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo. A year later, she dropped “BeautifulTemporary,” which went on to win Best Song in a Music Video at the Scotland International Festival of Cinema, a video directed by Tristan Sachar.
She currently collaborates with Nashville’s award-winning producer Dr. Ford, releasing songs including “Private Life,” “No Wonder,” “ATM Machine,” “Golden Ticket,” “Gotta Get Me Some,” and “Relationship Road.” She relishes regularly visiting Music City, soaking in the inspiration of this creative epicenter, and participating in its staple singer-songwriter rounds, where a few musicians share the stage in an intimate exchange of taking turns playing their originals.
She also works with Netherlands-based producer Hi5, who has remixed several of her tracks. Maddie creates multiple versions of her songs—ballads, EDM remixes, and multi-genre full band productions—showcasing her range and adaptability. Maddie was recently recognized in Nashville Music Scene Magazine as an Artist/Songwriter to watch in 2025.
In film, Maddie recently appeared as the best friend in Killing Mary Sue, a movie that took home Best Picture, Best Actor(Dermot Mulroney), and Best Actress (Sierra McCormick) at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Two of Maddie’s songs—“Heart Bruises” and “Gotta Get Me Some”—are featured in the film. The film recently premiered at Cape Square Entertainment in Rio Grande.
The Maddie Hogan Band
After years of solo performances, Maddie now fronts The Maddie Hogan Band and will play her originals and fan-favorite covers at shows throughout the summer. On July 12, she headlined her first original showcase at End of the Road Theater in North Cape May, with fellow singer-songwriter Johnny Miller opening the night.
Maddie’s journey is proof that the path paved with passion is full of promise. Whether she’s belting ballads on stage, crafting songs from personal experiences, or acting alongside Hollywood stars, she brings every ounce of her creativity to the surface. And for the girl who once sang Disney songs in a forest cottage and performed for basement mirrors, she clearly fulfills her youthful aspirations every day by pursuing what she loves, while receiving acclaim for her efforts.
“I’ve always known this is what I want to do,” says Maddie. “The stage is where I’m supposed to be. Once I start singing, it’s all gravy. I never want to get off.”
