Lily Meola is an American singer-songwriter from Maui, Hawaii, best known for earning Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer on Season 17 of America’s Got Talent with her original song “Daydream.” The country-folk artist first caught Willie Nelson’s attention at age 20 and later collaborated with him on the 2013 duet “Will You Remember Mine.” Her debut studio album, Lucky To Be, marks a new chapter for the rising Hawaiian talent.
Lily Meola Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Lily Leilani Meola |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | August 2, 1995 |
| Age | 30 years old (as of June 2026) |
| Place of birth | Maui, Hawaii, United States |
| Current residence | Maui, Hawaii / California |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White (mixed European descent) |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Religion | Christian |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 123 lbs (56 kg) |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Eye colour | Green |
| Marital status | Single |
| Spouse | N/A |
| Children | None |
| Mother | Nancy Meola (deceased) |
| Sibling | Matt Meola (professional surfer) |
| Alma mater | University of Hawaii at Manoa |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter, guitarist |
| Genre | Country, folk, Americana |
| Record label | Nettwerk Music Group |
| Net worth | Estimated $1.5 million |
| @lilymeola |
Who is Lily Meola?
Lily Meola is a Hawaiian-born singer and songwriter who blends country, folk, and Americana sounds with island warmth.
She rose to national fame after Heidi Klum hit the Golden Buzzer during her 2022 audition on America’s Got Talent, where she performed an original ballad written for her late mother.
The young artist had been part of the country music scene long before her television breakout. She duetted with Willie Nelson on his 2013 record To All The Girls… and grew up close to the Nelson family on Maui. She currently records for Nettwerk Music Group and released her first full-length album, Lucky To Be, on July 17, 2026.
How old is Lily Meola? Age and birthday
Lily Meola is 30 years old as of June 2026. She was born on August 2, 1995, on the island of Maui, Hawaii, which makes her a Leo by zodiac sign. She will celebrate her 31st birthday in August 2026.
Where did Lily Meola grow up? Early life and family
Lily was raised on Maui in a creative, ocean-loving family. Her late mother, Nancy Meola, worked as the longtime assistant to legendary talent manager Shep Gordon and supported Lily’s music dreams from the start. Nancy passed away in June 2020 after a battle with cancer, and her memory inspired the song “Daydream” that later defined Lily’s AGT run.
Her older brother is Matt Meola, one of the most respected aerial surfers in the world. The siblings have appeared together in surf documentaries and music projects, including the short film Holy Meola! released by The Inertia.
Lily also grew up alongside Lukas Nelson, Willie Nelson’s son, who has remained one of her closest creative collaborators.
What is Lily Meola’s educational background?
Lily attended schools on Maui before pursuing higher education in Honolulu. She graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music.
Her studies covered music theory, opera, theatre, and vocal pedagogy, which sharpened the smooth, range-friendly voice fans hear today.
Lily Meola’s height, weight, and body measurements
Lily Meola stands at around 5 feet 7 inches (approximately 170 cm) and weighs roughly 123 lbs (about 56 kg). She has a slim frame, fair complexion, blonde hair, and striking green eyes that many fans describe as one of her signature features. Her shoe size is reported to be approximately US 8.
She often wears flowing, beachy outfits in keeping with her Maui roots, and her stage style leans toward boho, vintage country, and barefoot island looks.
Lily Meola’s career
Lily picked up her first guitar as a child and booked her first paid show at age 10. By 11, she was singing for tourists and locals at small cafes and bars across Maui, including the storied Charley’s Restaurant & Saloon in Paia. Those years built the confidence that later carried her onto bigger stages.
Early breakthrough with Willie Nelson
Country legend Willie Nelson caught one of Lily’s early performances on Maui and invited her into his musical orbit. She recorded the duet “Will You Remember Mine” with him for his 2013 album To All The Girls…, released through Sony’s Legacy Recordings when she was still a teenager. She has since joined Willie at his annual Luck Reunion in Texas and his 4th of July Picnic.
America’s Got Talent and the Golden Buzzer moment
In 2022, Lily auditioned for Season 17 of America’s Got Talent. She performed her original song “Daydream,” dedicated to her mother, and judge Heidi Klum slammed the Golden Buzzer mid-performance. The clip went viral on YouTube and racked up tens of millions of views.
She advanced through the live shows and finished third in her semifinal week, behind AI act Metaphysic and comedian Mike E. Winfield. A Gold Derby poll later reported that 48 percent of voters felt she had been “robbed” of a spot in the finale.
Recent music releases
Following AGT, Lily signed with Nettwerk Music Group and released a string of singles including “Got Your Way,” “Hope in the Ashes,” “Without You,” “Never Kissed a Cowboy,” “Tumbleweeds and Chewing Gum,” and “Daisies.” Her tribute EP Postcards to Heaven, written for her mother, drew warm reviews from Rolling Stone. Her debut studio album Lucky To Be arrived on July 17, 2026.
She has toured U.S. theatres and amphitheaters in 2026, with stops at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, plus a return to Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic in Austin.
What is Lily Meola’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Lily Meola’s net worth is estimated at around $1.5 million, based on figures circulated by celebrity finance trackers and music-industry estimates. Independent reports place her annual income in the range of $200,000 to $400,000, drawn mainly from touring, streaming royalties, songwriting credits, and merchandise sales.
Her income sources include:
- Album and single sales through Nettwerk Music Group
- Streaming royalties from Spotify, where she pulls more than 1 million monthly listeners
- Live touring revenue from headline shows and festival appearances
- Brand partnerships, including past work with JuneShine
- Songwriting royalties and feature credits with artists like Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson, and Jamey Johnson
While she is not yet in the same earnings tier as veteran country stars, her AGT exposure pushed her catalog into mainstream streaming playlists and lifted her tour ticket sales considerably.
Is Lily Meola married? Boyfriend and dating history
Lily Meola is not married as of 2026. She has never been publicly engaged, and she has no children. She tends to keep her personal life private and rarely posts photos of romantic partners on social media.
Past lyrics on tracks like “Without You” and her viral reel about a former boyfriend hint at a recent breakup, but she has not named the person involved. Years earlier, tabloid speculation joked about a closeness with Willie Nelson because of their duet work, though that link was purely professional and mentor-based.
She has spoken often about her childhood friendship with Lukas Nelson, son of Willie Nelson, but the two have remained close friends and writing partners rather than a couple.
Lily Meola’s social media presence
As of June 2026, Lily Meola has about 264,000 followers on Instagram (@lilymeola) and more than 256,000 followers on Facebook.
She uses her platforms mainly for tour updates, candid behind-the-scenes clips, songwriting moments, and tributes to her late mother. Her most-shared posts include the original AGT “Daydream” performance and the announcement of her debut album Lucky To Be.
On Spotify, she draws more than 1 million monthly listeners, placing her among the more-streamed emerging country acts of her generation.
Fast facts about Lily Meola
- Her middle name, Leilani, means “heavenly flowers” in Hawaiian.
- She played her first paid gig at age 10 at a Maui cafe.
- Her mother, Nancy, was the personal assistant to celebrity manager Shep Gordon.
- She earned her music degree at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2016.
- Her brother Matt Meola is a world-ranked aerial surfer.
- She duetted with Willie Nelson at age 20 on his album To All The Girls…
- Heidi Klum’s Golden Buzzer audition on AGT Season 17 made her a household name.
- She finished third in her AGT semifinal but was the audience favorite in a Gold Derby poll.
- She adopted a rescue deer named Doenut, often featured on her Instagram.
- Her debut album Lucky To Be was released on July 17, 2026, under Nettwerk Music Group.
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Wrapping up
Lily Meola has grown from a barefoot Maui cafe singer into one of country-folk music’s most heartfelt new voices.
Her AGT moment, her work with Willie and Lukas Nelson, and the 2026 release of Lucky To Be point to a long career ahead.
Single, family-focused, and rooted in her Hawaiian home, the 30-year-old artist continues to turn personal loss into songs that resonate with fans worldwide.
References
- Famous Birthdays. “Lily Meola – Age, Bio, Family”.
- America’s Got Talent Wiki (Fandom). “Lily Meola”.
- Lily Meola Music. “About Lily Meola – Official Website”.
- Rolling Stone. “Lily Meola’s ‘Daydream’: How Singer Turned Grief into New EP”.
- Free Surf Magazine. “Lily Meola: Maui Singer-Songwriter & Surf Sister of Matt Meola”.
- Nettwerk Music Group. “Singer-Songwriter Lily Meola Releases ‘Postcards to Heaven’”.
- Gold Derby. “America’s Got Talent viewers: Lily Meola was ‘robbed’ [POLL]”.
- JuneShine. “Flower Power: Lily Meola’s Daydream”.
- Spotify. “Lily Meola – Artist Profile”..
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