While the world awaits the release of Gracie Abrams’s third studio album, Daughter From Hell, fans are looking for any information they can get on what the record is about. Luckily, the singer sat down with Spotify and Olivia Rodrigo on July 7 to discuss her upcoming project, and the significance it holds to her life now. In the interview, Abrams continually referenced her mom, Katie McGrath, a point of inspiration for the album. So, what do we know about Abrams’s mom, what has she said about her in the past, and what is their relationship like now?
Abrams is one of the most accomplished and adored nepo babies of our time — her father being the infamous JJ Abrams, the director and main visionary behind the Star Wars sequels. Abrams’s mother, McGrath, is also high up in the industry as a film and TV producer and the co-CEO of Bad Robot Productions. McGrath is also a well-known activist, and was one of the early supporters of the Time’s Up organization.
Abrams spoke to Rodrigo in their Spotify conversation about her mom, and about the title track song that’s inspired by her. “‘Daughter from Hell’ is a song that really is a love letter to my mom, and an apology, and also the big reveal that I don’t know if I will ever live up to the woman that she is, ” Abrams admitted. Rodrigo shared that she cried after listening to the song, and called her mom right after.
“I was brutal growing up to my parents, like I was really hard on them,” Abrams continued. “And I think when you’re in a place where your relationships with your family are full of intense friction … you never think that will be different. And you certainly never think you’ll want as much time as you can get with them.”
Abrams is definitely looking back on her relationship with her mom ahead of her album release, so it feels only right to round up what she’s said about her mom in the past. Here are some quotes Abrams (and McGrath) have shared about their relationship.
- On Writing About Her Mom
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Abrams told Primetimer about her mother’s initial reaction to the title song. “I sent it to my mom and was like, ‘So sorry it took me 26 years to write one that wasn’t laced with some kind of angsty anger. Like I wanna be you now, Mom.’ She cried. I want more than ever to say thank you to the people who made me who I am.”
- On Her Apology To Her Mom
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Abrams confided to People in June about how she grew up, and the strain it had on her relationship with her mom. “I wish I could go back and spend all of the time that I spent fighting my mom just listening to every drop of wisdom she has for me,” she told the publication.
- Her Mom’s Birthday Wishes
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While it’s not technically a quote from Abrams about her mom, last September, McGrath posted an adorable dump of unseen pictures from Gracie’s childhood and now as she and her family celebrated her daughter’s birthday. She wrote in the caption, “Happy 26th to our girl! We love you wicked!”
- On Their Relationship Now
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Abrams said she and her mom have a super close bond these days. She told Popcast in June 2026, “My mom and I, we earned our relationship we have now, for sure. She is my favorite person. We FaceTime. I call her like six times a day.”
- On Getting Older & Cherishing Family
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It seems that the improvement in Abrams’s relationship with her mom has helped her have better relationships with her family as a whole. In her Table Manners podcast appearance, Abrams said, “I want as much time as I can get with them and as much of their wisdom. And they’ve been so patient with me my whole life.”