MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH vocalist CHAD GRAY has spent the past 30 years at the forefront of the metal and hard rock world where he has become known for is inimitable growl alongside his melodic, clean singing voice across his genre-defining metal bands.
He shows off his tender side — somewhat — with his hauntingly beautiful take on Christina Aguilera’s 2002 classic, Linda Perry-penned ode to self love — “BEAUTIFUL.” While the cover starts out achingly beautiful and slow, it escalates into a raging rock anthem. The vocal dynamics the singer is known for are on full display here. He offers his unique, thoroughly Chad Gray-ified take on the pop power ballad.
“The song ‘Beautiful’ is a song about self-acceptance, finding your inner beauty, and overcoming insecurity,” Gray offers. “I have struggled my entire life with all of those things so when I heard it years ago, it spoke to me, I felt what [songwriter] Linda Perry was trying to say with the lyrics. As I have found sobriety and worked on myself, I have found even more of a connection with this song. My songwriting has has always been driven by my experiences and feelings, from dark to light from helpless to hopeful.”
He finishes, “Although I didn’t write ‘Beautiful,’ I am passionate about its meaning so I wanted to put my own spin on it. I know no one had me covering a pop song in 2026 on their bingo card, but here we are. I changed the bridge, got the scream, big drums, and big guitars in there. Maybe some of the metal family can hear it and find their own self-love because we are beautiful no matter what they say.”
Perry herself offered her endorsement of Gray’s version, stating, “Chad Gray’s heavy version of ‘Beautiful’ is a must-listen. It made me smile. His passionate and fearless vocals get a thumbs up from this listener.”
