Taylor never took singing lessons; her grandmother acted as her vocal coach.[5] After gaining experience singing at weddings and shopping malls,[9] she auditioned for the popular singing competition, American Idol during that show's fifth season and reached the Top 44 before eventually being eliminated.[10]
Before auditioning for The Real World and eventually being cast in its 20th anniversary season, Taylor was an exotic dancer for two years at Double Visions in Horsham Township, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.[11] While living in Philadelphia, Taylor maintained a volatile relationship with an ex-boyfriend, and at one point, a violent argument resulted in Taylor's arrest and eventual guilty plea to a reduced charge of harassment.[4][11] The aftermath of the episode can be seen on her season of The Real World.[4][11] In the third episode of that season, she reveals that she had battled an addiction to crystal meth and cocaine as recently as two months prior to being cast on the show.[12][13]
During the show, Brianna develops a mutual attraction for fellow roommate Joey Kovar, but is later disturbed by how he behaves while intoxicated. She also returns to Philadelphia with roommate Will Gilbert to resolve her legal troubles during that season, and is picked up to record several songs of her own, as well as perform live with Alex Band, formerly of the band The Calling. In the show, she is also offered a song by Matthew Bair of the powerpop band Bandcamp.[14]
Taylor's debut self-titled EP, Brianna Taylor, was co-produced by Tomas Costanza, of the band Diffuser, and Matthew Bair, who is now a guitarist with Eve 6. The first single, "Summertime," was released in 2008.[5] As of July 22, 2008, Brianna's self-titled EP was the 16th most-purchased album on iTunes and sold over 60,000 copies.[15][16]
Taylor returned to MTV in order to participate in the eighteenth season of the show's long-running The Real World/Road Rules Challenge, which premiered on September 30, 2009. She was in the challenger's team and was eliminated in the third episode.
On October 13, 2009, Taylor released her first full-length debut album, Fireworks at the Fairground via Chamberlain Records, featuring her new single Criminal.[17]
^Lauer-Williams, Kathy (2006-02-16). "Bucks 'Idol' hopeful fails to make finalist cut: Warwick Township native says she will continue to pursue her singing career". The Morning Call. p. A16.
^Lauer-Williams, Kathy (2006-02-14). "Could Bucks County have another 'American Idol' finalist this season?". The Morning Call. p. E5.
^"Bucks woman vies for top 24 'Idol' spot". The Morning Call. 2006-02-15. p. E5.
