This week on pplpod, we chart the meteoric rise of Canadian singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith. Born in the UK and raised on Vancouver Island, Lauren has been singing since she could talk, landing early opportunities to perform with Keith Urban and appear on Steve Harvey’s show. We discuss her run on Season 18 of American Idol, where she reached the Top 20 while performing from her father’s home in Port Alberni.

We also break down the massive viral moment that changed her career in 2022, when her independent release "Fingers Crossed" exploded on TikTok. Garnering over 30 million views before its release, the song charted globally, leading to comparisons to Olivia Rodrigo. Finally, we look at her debut studio album Mirror, the emotional backstory behind her hit "Flowers," and her 2025 sophomore album, The A ...