Laufey Reveals the One Thing She’s Still Terrified of Doing Onstage

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Laufey has revealed she remains terrified of looking an audience member directly in the eye during performances. Speaking to The Hit Network’s Hot Hits with Nic & Loren, Laufey traced the anxiety to her classical training on the cello, where a teacher once advised her not to make eye contact with anyone while playing as it's "creepy."

This advice stuck with her, leaving her constantly worried about scaring fans. However, Laufey does make an exception for young fans during her closing song "Letter to My 13 Year Old Self." She deliberately looks for young girls in the audience and catches their eye, but sometimes their tears make her cry too, adding another reason she can't look too closely.

Despite the fear, Laufey finds arena shows more intimate than smaller theaters, as she feels closer to fans and gets to do a barricade walk. The artist also revealed an unexpected marker of her crossover fame — being recognized for her Fortnite character, even at a restaurant when a waitress asked if she was the one from Fortnite.

Laufey's year has been landmark, with her third studio album A Matter of Time debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, becoming her first top 10 entry on the chart. The album also topped several Billboard charts and won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 2026 Grammy Awards, marking her second consecutive win in the category.