'Indigenous pop star' Brooke Simpson performs at Raleigh American Indian Heritage Celebration

The Halifax County native spoke to WRAL News to talk about how life has been after the show.

“I’ve been trying to catch my breath along the entire way, but I’m just so grateful for every opportunity and every open door.”

Simpson finished fourth on AGT and third on The Voice and she’s the first contestant to be that successful on both shows. Since AGT, her career has taken off. She has a campaign with Nike, two billboards in Los Angeles and Time Square and has released two new singles.

“It’s so interesting, especially to listen back to my first single, and to think about the song that I most recently released during Native American heritage month ‘HALIWA’ which is named after my tribe,” she said.

“It just feels like I have evolved so much as an artist, as a writer, and of course the opportunity like AGT and one’s like this one. It’s just making me an even better artist and the indigenous pop star I’m meant to be,” she added.

Its the pride for her culture, her Haliwa-Saponi Tribe of North Carolina that brought her to the museum of history’s American Indian heritage celebration. She came to embrace her culture and perform her new single.

“I’m proud of who I am, and as long as I have a platform, I want to make sure that the light is shined on my tribe and my people as well,” Simpson added.

The celebration featured songs, dances and educational pieces about Native Americans history. Simpson hopes her success will inspire more Indigenous youth.

“I love the fact that when they get to see me like this on a TV screen," she said. "It reminds them oh someone else that looks like me. I can do that too. No dream is impossible. There’s no glass ceiling.”

One of her biggest takeaways from the experience on this journey is to never give up on what you're passionate about.

“Whatever your dreams are do it," she said. "Don’t even chase them. Like grab a hold of them and run with them. You already have everything you need. Take it and run with it and do you. Don’t wait until you’re older. Be you and be you right now."

Brooke Simpson’s new music is available to stream now.