Meet the Host: Terrell Grice of The TERRELL Show

By: Jewel Benton

The TERRELL Show’s recent Coco Jones concert has reignited the excitement of its early days, according to creator Terrell Grice. Now in its seventh season, the online series hit a major milestone with its first-ever concert, quickly going viral and reaching over a million views faster than any episode in the show’s history.

“It's been nuts,” Grice tells NYABJ Pulse. “Immediately, it reminded me of when we started The TERRELL Show, to be honest. So many artists and record labels have been saying, ‘Hey, is this a series? How do I get in? How much does it cost? What do you need?’ It really warmed my heart because, I must be honest, the music industry is extremely competitive and very territorial.”

Even Grice’s management and agents were shocked when he shared the idea, raising questions about who would handle various artistic aspects, including the musical arrangements. Ever the self-described risk-taker, Grice bet on himself, Jones—his "work wife" who entrusted him with her vision—and his "right-hand men," Philip Cornish and Joshua Florez, his music director and mixing engineer, respectively. While the South Carolina native had produced the 2021 musical event The TERRELL One Million Show, commemorating the channel reaching a million subscribers, the Jones concert was a new undertaking.

Grice recalls fans being genuinely surprised when the credits rolled. “We didn’t know you could actually do music. We knew you could talk about it—like, give dissertations on it—but seeing you pull it off artistically was a shock.”

His content spans a wide range, from game shows like IKYFL to the fan-favorite series T & Coco, where Grice and Jones embark on adventures that highlight their undeniable chemistry. Grice is well aware that fans are eagerly awaiting season three and says it’s coming.

For almost a decade, The TERRELL Show has been a destination for both rising stars and superstars like Cynthia Erivo, Kelly Clarkson, Keke Palmer, Muni Long, and recurring favorites Tori Kelly and Jones. In each episode, Grice gives the guest a word, challenging them to sing a song containing it—a simple concept that invites deep conversations and memorable vocal moments. The show has been widely praised for spotlighting talent, particularly vocalists, and for Grice’s uplifting, introspective interview style.

“I have seen artists do so much work, and it gets so little recognition,” Grice muses. “I don't think it matters if you're a big artist, a small artist, a new artist, or a legacy artist—every artist goes through feeling underappreciated or wanting to quit for whatever reason.”

Before realizing his dream of creating, producing, and hosting original shows, Grice worked at Chegg, an American education technology company that offers 24/7 study and homework assistance. While the Full Sail University alumnus performed well on the job, he knew in his heart that he belonged on a set. After all, he had earned his bachelor’s degree in filmmaking. During a visit to a college friend in Los Angeles, he interviewed for a position at Warner Bros., snagged the role, and promptly relocated to the West Coast with $300.

The two-day drive was eventful, with Grice experiencing an emotional breakdown before pulling himself back together.

“I like to consider myself a risk-taker, a spontaneous person, but I'm also a Virgo, and we have flashes of reality at least 20 times a day,” Grice shares. “I had one as I was driving, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, what are you doing? You just uprooted your entire life. You broke your lease, and you know what Destiny’s Child said about breaking that lease. Now you don't have any money. You're driving across the country by yourself.’ I had a complete breakdown, if I'm being honest, and I actually fell asleep at the wheel in Ozona, Texas. I completely blacked out from stress, worry, and sleep deprivation.”

Ultimately, Grice felt blessed that he had not harmed anyone or himself during that drive. He allowed himself a nap and reminded himself of who he was and what he set out to do. He drew on the athletic spirit developed from his tennis background. The journey was powered by determination and accompanied by the sounds of Kirk Franklin and CeCe Winans.

“This was long before The TERRELL Show. I was coming to LA to be a producer of some sort or just get my foot in the door. I was willing to pour coffee and make copies. So, it wasn't like I was trying to pursue a big dream on day one. I just wanted to give myself a shot,” Grice says.

In time, he landed casting production jobs at MasterChef Junior, Worst Cooks in America, The Biggest Loser, and Big Brother, among others. He even had a stint at Showtime at the Apollo, during which he says he still eats breakfast on the go like a New Yorker. Today, he cites his NAACP Image Award nominations for Social Media Personality of the Year as the proudest moments of his career thus far. The likes of Sherri Shepherd have called his show important.

Grice plans to produce more episodes of his now-in-demand concert series. When asked about other artists he would like to feature on the show, he named Jazmine Sullivan, Victoria Monet, and Chlöe.

“I think the unique thing about this concert was that it was a reminder of what music really is. It should make you feel something. It should make you want to watch it or listen to it over and over again. I saw so many comments saying, ‘I actually forgot that R&B could make me feel like this.’ That was the greatest compliment ever. Coco Jones—what a start! What an amazing artist she is. I could not have done half of it without her. She sold the product.”

The TERRELL Show’s recent Coco Jones concert has reignited the excitement of its early days, according to creator Terrell Grice. Now in its seventh season, the online series hit a major milestone with its first-ever concert, quickly going viral and reaching over a million views faster than any episode in the show’s history.

“It's been nuts,” Grice tells NYABJ Pulse. “Immediately, it reminded me of when we started The TERRELL Show, to be honest. So many artists and record labels have been saying, ‘Hey, is this a series? How do I get in? How much does it cost? What do you need?’ It really warmed my heart because, I must be honest, the music industry is extremely competitive and very territorial.”

Even Grice’s management and agents were shocked when he shared the idea, raising questions about who would handle various artistic aspects, including the musical arrangements. Ever the self-described risk-taker, Grice bet on himself, Jones—his "work wife" who entrusted him with her vision—and his "right-hand men," Philip Cornish and Joshua Florez, his music director and mixing engineer, respectively. While the South Carolina native had produced the 2021 musical event The TERRELL One Million Show, commemorating the channel reaching a million subscribers, the Jones concert was a new undertaking.

Grice recalls fans being genuinely surprised when the credits rolled. “We didn’t know you could actually do music. We knew you could talk about it—like, give dissertations on it—but seeing you pull it off artistically was a shock.”

His content spans a wide range, from game shows like IKYFL to the fan-favorite series T & Coco, where Grice and Jones embark on adventures that highlight their undeniable chemistry. Grice is well aware that fans are eagerly awaiting season three and says it’s coming.

For almost a decade, The TERRELL Show has been a destination for both rising stars and superstars like Cynthia Erivo, Kelly Clarkson, Keke Palmer, Muni Long, and recurring favorites Tori Kelly and Jones. In each episode, Grice gives the guest a word, challenging them to sing a song containing it—a simple concept that invites deep conversations and memorable vocal moments. The show has been widely praised for spotlighting talent, particularly vocalists, and for Grice’s uplifting, introspective interview style.

“I have seen artists do so much work, and it gets so little recognition,” Grice muses. “I don't think it matters if you're a big artist, a small artist, a new artist, or a legacy artist—every artist goes through feeling underappreciated or wanting to quit for whatever reason.”

Before realizing his dream of creating, producing, and hosting original shows, Grice worked at Chegg, an American education technology company that offers 24/7 study and homework assistance. While the Full Sail University alumnus performed well on the job, he knew in his heart that he belonged on a set. After all, he had earned his bachelor’s degree in filmmaking. During a visit to a college friend in Los Angeles, he interviewed for a position at Warner Bros., snagged the role, and promptly relocated to the West Coast with $300.

The two-day drive was eventful, with Grice experiencing an emotional breakdown before pulling himself back together.

“I like to consider myself a risk-taker, a spontaneous person, but I'm also a Virgo, and we have flashes of reality at least 20 times a day,” Grice shares. “I had one as I was driving, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, what are you doing? You just uprooted your entire life. You broke your lease, and you know what Destiny’s Child said about breaking that lease. Now you don't have any money. You're driving across the country by yourself.’ I had a complete breakdown, if I'm being honest, and I actually fell asleep at the wheel in Ozona, Texas. I completely blacked out from stress, worry, and sleep deprivation.”

Ultimately, Grice felt blessed that he had not harmed anyone or himself during that drive. He allowed himself a nap and reminded himself of who he was and what he set out to do. He drew on the athletic spirit developed from his tennis background. The journey was powered by determination and accompanied by the sounds of Kirk Franklin and CeCe Winans.

“This was long before The TERRELL Show. I was coming to LA to be a producer of some sort or just get my foot in the door. I was willing to pour coffee and make copies. So, it wasn't like I was trying to pursue a big dream on day one. I just wanted to give myself a shot,” Grice says.

In time, he landed casting production jobs at MasterChef Junior, Worst Cooks in America, The Biggest Loser, and Big Brother, among others. He even had a stint at Showtime at the Apollo, during which he says he still eats breakfast on the go like a New Yorker. Today, he cites his NAACP Image Award nominations for Social Media Personality of the Year as the proudest moments of his career thus far. The likes of Sherri Shepherd have called his show important.

Grice plans to produce more episodes of his now-in-demand concert series. When asked about other artists he would like to feature on the show, he named Jazmine Sullivan, Victoria Monet, and Chlöe.

“I think the unique thing about this concert was that it was a reminder of what music really is. It should make you feel something. It should make you want to watch it or listen to it over and over again. I saw so many comments saying, ‘I actually forgot that R&B could make me feel like this.’ That was the greatest compliment ever. Coco Jones—what a start! What an amazing artist she is. I could not have done half of it without her. She sold the product.”