Katelyn Tarver (born November 2, 1989) is an American actress and singer-songwriter.Abrams, Margaret (March 30, 2020). "Katelyn Tarver shares her favorite songs to keep you company". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved on June 19, 2021. She has independently released four EPs since 2011, most notably Tired Eyes in 2017."Katelyn Tarver Takes On 'Labels' In Empowering New Song: Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved on June 19, 2021. She is also known for her recurring roles as Jo Taylor on the Nickelodeon series Big Time Rush, Natalie on the ABC series No Ordinary Family, Jesse in HBO series Ballers and Mercedes on ABC Family The Secret Life of the American Teenager."Q&A: Katelyn Tarver on her mental health, trying new recipes during quarantine". April 27, 2020. Retrieved on June 19, 2021. She co-wrote "Crazy Stupid Love" for the British singer Cheryl which peaked at #1 on UK Singles Chart in 2014."Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved on June 19, 2021.
Career Music In 2003, Tarver took part in the reality television program American Juniors, where she was one of the Top 10 finalists, before being eliminated from the competition on August 12, 2003.Lo Grasso, Sandy, "Katelyn Tarver: American Junior to Idol", StarShine Magazine, November 28, 2005.
On June 14, 2011, Tarver independently released her debut EP, A Little More Free, produced by Matt Grabe.nylon,. "Katelyn Tarver Serenaded Us At #Playlisted". Nylon. Retrieved on June 19, 2021. She was Honor Society's opening act on their June–July 2011 "Wherever You Are" tour."Honor Society + Action Item + Katelyn Tarver + I Love Monsters". Vienna, VA Patch. May 9, 2011. Retrieved on June 19, 2021. Tarver also toured alongside the bands The Cab and Parachute during the summer of 2012."The Cab and Parachute with Katelyn Tarver". Foxborough, MA Patch. June 19, 2012. Retrieved on June 19, 2021.
In 2014, Tarver co-wrote Cheryl Cole's 2014 single "Crazy Stupid Love". Two more singles, "Weekend Millionaires" and "Nobody Like You" were released on the streaming platform SoundCloud in 2015. "Weekend Millionaires" was re-released on iTunes, Spotify, and other digital retailers on July 28, 2016. Another new track, "What Do We Know Now", was released in October, followed shortly by the BURNS-produced "Hate To Tell You" the following month."Listen: Katelyn Tarver - 'Hate To Tell You'", Clash Music, November 11, 2016.
In 2015, Tarver was featured on the Lost Kings track "You", which was released by Spinnin' Records as a single off their EP The Bad.Hartounian, Nanor. "Lost Kings Team Up With Katelyn Tarver On "You"". Nylon. Retrieved on June 19, 2021. In 2016, Tarver released a cover of Jeremih's song "Planez"."Premiere: Katelyn Tarver - 'Planez' (Live Session)". Clash Magazine. Retrieved on June 19, 2021.
Tarver's second EP, Tired Eyes, was released on March 10, 2017.Garafano, Lauren. "11 Side-By-Sides Of The "Big Time Rush" Cast Then Vs. Now". BuzzFeed. Retrieved on June 19, 2021. Her song "You Don't Know" went viral on YouTube and amassed over 50 million views by mid-2021."Katelyn Tarver - You Don't Know". Retrieved on June 19, 2021 – via www.youtube.com. In 2018, Tarver released her third EP, Kool Aid. The EP received positive reviews from multiple music review websites including Clash."Katelyn Tarver's 'Kool Aid' Simply Sticks With You". Clash Magazine. Retrieved on June 19, 2021.
In 2019, Tarver released five singles as well as her fourth EP, Kool Aid: Sugar Free (Acoustic). In 2020, she released nine singles including "Feel Bad". The music video of "Feel Bad" was directed by Se Oh and premiered on March 26, 2020, with Billboard."'Songland' Winner Katelyn Tarver Confronts the Messy in 'Feel Bad' Video: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved on June 19, 2021. Later that year, Tarver co-wrote Jake Scott's song "Like No One Does"[email protected], CARL HOOVER. "Songwriters Jake Scott and Katelyn Tarver meet new audience at Common Grounds". WacoTrib.com. Retrieved on June 19, 2021. The single was released on April 7, 2020."Premiere: American Singer-Songwriter Jake Scott Roams Hawaii for Openhearted ‘Meet My Shadow’ Video -". May 21, 2021. Retrieved on June 19, 2021.
In 2021, Tarver collaborated with Will Anderson and launched a side-project called REAVES. Their debut EP, The First EP, was released on June 4, 2021.
Tarver was the winning songwriter on the Old Dominion episode of Songland, with her song "Young" being featured in a Jeep commercial in which Tarver also starred.Fern, Celia; ez, (August 22, 2019). "Songland: Why Katelyn Tarver Might Look so Familiar". Oprah Daily. Retrieved on June 19, 2021.
In 2025, it was announced that Tarver would reunite with her former Big Time Rush cast-members in a new concert tour titled the In Real Life Worldwide Tour as a supporting act.
Acting On January 29, 2010, she made her acting debut on Big Time Rush as Jo Taylor, a girl the boys admire. Her debut episode was "Big Time Love Song" which aired on February 5, 2010. She developed feelings for Kendall Knight (Kendall Schmidt) and they started dating. But the world tour changed everything: Jo became a television star and Kendall became a pop star. On "Big Time Break-Up" which aired on June 25, 2011, she landed a role in a movie in New Zealand which would keep her and Kendall apart for three years. She returned in season 3's episode "Big Time Surprise", which aired on September 22, 2012.
From 2010 to 2011, Tarver appeared as Natalie Poston in 5 episodes of the ABC series No Ordinary Family."Quarantine Diaries: L.A. Pop Singer Katelyn Tarver". GRAMMY.com. March 24, 2020. Retrieved on June 19, 2021. In 2012, she appeared as Mercedes in ABC Family's series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
In 2018, Tarver appeared as Jesse in 8 episodes of the HBO series Ballers. She was cast as Cydney Walker in the ABC Signature television pilot, None of the Above, in 2021.Porter, Rick; Porter, Rick (November 16, 2020). "Gregg Wayans to Star in Freeform Comedy From ‘Black-ish’ Veteran". Retrieved on June 19, 2021.
Personal life Tarver married musician David Blaise on July 19, 2014. In July 2025, Tarver announced in an Instagram post that she was divorced.
Filmography + Television roles Year Title Role Notes 2003 American Juniors Herself Contestant (Top 10) 2010–2013 Big Time Rush Jo Taylor Recurring role, 34 episodes 2010–2011 No Ordinary Family Natalie Poston Recurring role, 5 episodes2012 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Mercedes Recurring role, 8 episodes 2014 Dead on Campus Natalie Kellison Television film (Lifetime) 2017 Famous in Love Rachael Davis Recurring role (season 1), 5 episodes 2018 Babysitter's Nightmare Claire Carven Television film (Lifetime) 2018 Ballers Jesse Recurring role, 8 episodes 2019 Songland Herself Episode: "Old Dominion" 2020 Twentyfiveish Rosie Main role 2026 The Hawk Natalie Recurring role, 6 episodes
Discography
Studio albums Title Details Wonderful Crazy Released: November 8, 2005 Format: CD, Digital download, Streaming Label: TC Music Subject to Change Released: November 12, 2021 Format: CD, LP, Digital download, streaming Label: Independent Quitter Released: February 9, 2024 Format: CD, LP, Digital download, streaming Label: Independent Tell Me How You Really Feel Released: March 6, 2026 Format: CD, LP, Digital download, streaming Label: Independent
Reissues Title Details Brand New Day Released: September 27, 2006 Format: CD, Digital download, streaming Label: Trident Style Inc
Extended plays Title Details "I'll Make It Real/Lover Boy" Released: December 15, 2005 Format: CD, Digital download Label: TC Music, LLC "Chasing Echoes" Released: March 6, 2007 Format: Digital download, streaming Label: TC Music, LLCA Little More Free Released: June 14, 2011 Format: CD, Digital download, streaming Label: IndependentTired Eyes Released: March 10, 2017 Format: LP, Digital download, streaming Label: Duly Noted RecordsKool Aid Released: August 31, 2018 Format: Digital download, streaming Label: Katelyn TarverKool Aid: Sugar Free (Acoustic) Released: March 8, 2019 Format: Digital download, streaming Label: Katelyn Tarver
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications Title Year Album "Wonderful Crazy"2005 Wonderful Crazy "I'll Make It Real"(featuring Aaron Agassi) "Chasing Echoes"2007 "Weekend Millionaires" 2016 Tired Eyes "Planez" "What Do We Know Now" Tired Eyes "Hate to Tell You" "Love Me Again" 2017 "You Don't Know" "Never Fade" 2018 Kool Aid "LY4L" "Labels" "Kool Aid" "Sinking In"(With Jake Scott) 2019rowspan="11" "Cynical" "Somebody Else" "Heaven"(With SJ) 2020 "Feel Bad" "Made It This Far" "So Would I" "Young" "Side of My Heart" "Fall Apart Too" "Hundred" "Shit Happens" 2021 Subject to Change "All Our Friends Are Splitting Up" "Nicer" "Hurt Like That" "Year from Now" "What Makes A Life Good?” 2023 Quitter "Starting To Scare Me” "Cinematic” "Parallel Universe” "Ignorance Is Bliss” "Quitter” "Friend Like You” "Japanese Cafe” "One Without The Other” 2024 "Revisionist History” "Just A Person”
As a featured artist Title Year Album "Broke"(Joe Budden featuring Katelyn Tarver) 2015 All Love Lost "You"(Lost Kings featuring Katelyn Tarver) The Bad EP "Another Universe"(BASTION featuring Katelyn Tarver) 2016 Crystal EP "Illegal"(Fareoh featuring Katelyn Tarver) "I'm Here Now"(Tawny Newsome & Alex Kliner featuring Katelyn Tarver & Paul F. Tompkins) 2018 The Supergroup: Songs from Season 1 "Take Care"(Dillistone featuring Katelyn Tarver) 2019 rowspan=2" "Walking on the Moon"(Leucadia featuring Katelyn Tarver)
Promotional singles Title Year Album "Lover Boy" 2005 I'll Make It Real/Lover Boy "Careless Whisper" 2007 Wonderful Crazy "It's Good" 2011 A Little More Free "Nobody Like You" 2015rowspan="5" "You Saxo Suelta"(with Esli Guzmán & Darek Sotelo)2019 "Cool" "Dionne" 2020 "The Only Exception 2022
Other appearances Title Year Other artist(s) Album "I'll Never Fall in Love" 2003 American Juniors "Us Against the World" 2009 Mitchel Musso Mitchel Musso "What We're Told 2016 Everett Champion Aesthetic Sound Life's a Cherry Pie 2020 Phil Danyew The Planters
Music videos +As Lead artist Title Year Director "Wonderful Crazy" 2005 "I'll Make It Real"(featuring Aaron Agassi) Treb Monteras II "Weekend Millionaires" 2016 Chuck Willis "Planez" Chuck Willis "Hate to Tell You" 2017 Alejandro Reyes-Knight "You Don't Know" Chuck Willis "Never Fade" 2018 Luca Venter "Labels" Nathan Presley "Kool Aid" Luca Venter "Sinking In" (with Jake Scott) 2019 Nathan Presley "Cynical" Se Oh "Somebody Else" Se Oh "Heaven"(with SJ) 2020 Spencer Sutherland "Feel Bad" Se Oh "So Would I" Nathan Presley "Shit Happens" 2021 Katelyn Tarver & Patrick Jones "Nicer" Fiori "Year from Now" Nathan Presley "What Makes A Life Good?” 2023 "Starting To Scare Me” Skyler Brown "Cinematic” "Parallel Universe” "Quitter” "Japanese Cafe” "One Without The Other” 2024 "Revisionist History” "Just A Person”
+As featured artist Title Year Main artist Director "You" 2016 Lost Kings
Songwriting credits Year Song Artist(s) Album 2014 "Crazy Stupid Love" Cheryl Only Human 2018 "Young" Old Dominion 2020 "Like No One Does" Jake Scott TWENTYTWENTY2021"Secret" Joshua Bassett Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free "Set Me Free"2022"All in Due Time"Sad Songs in a Hotel Room Source: - Discography at Spotify Source: - Discography at AllMusic
References
External links