Bianca Ryan

Ryan performing during the Nextfest Tour in July 2007

One week after her victory, Ryan announced on her website that she had flown to New York to meet with representatives from a record label and some of the recording industry's top songwriters.[24] The Northeast Times reported the same day that Ryan met with Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster and was being managed by Peter Rudge.[25]

Ryan signed a five-album record deal with Sycomusic as part of Columbia Records on September 18, 2006.[24] She was the first U.S. artist to sign with SYCOmusic; during the press conference, Simon Cowell called Ryan "potentially one of the best singers I have ever heard in my life."[26] The following month, Ryan was in Los Angeles to record her first CD. The self-titled debut was released on November 14, 2006, featuring cover versions of "The Rose" and "I Believe I Can Fly", and original songs like "I Wish That" and "Pray for a Better Day". Eight days later, the album debuted at No. 57[27] on the Billboard album charts, showcasing "her gargantuan chops and sweet charm". Matt Collar of AllMusic added that the arrangements were "grandiose" for someone of Ryan's age, but they were "more than matched by her truly impressive vocal talent."[28] Los Angeles Daily News reviewer Sandra Barrera wrote that Ryan handled the songs "like the old pro that her big, powerful voice makes you think she is".[29]

One month later, the EP Christmas Everyday! was released as a promotional giveaway. She then joined several artists in a televised 2006 Christmas performance for President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the National Building Museum to benefit the Children's National Medical Center.[30]

Ryan's first concert tour took her across the United States as the special guest artist for Nextfest in 2007.[31] That August, she released the single "That's Not Me".[32]

In 2008, Ryan left SYCOmusic/Columbia Records; she released her second holiday-themed EP, True Meaning of Christmas, on November 3, 2009, on the indie Music Forever label.[33] This second collection, co-written with Anthony Marinelli and Siedah Garrett, included updated versions of "The Christmas Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"; the title track featured a duet with gospel pop singer Brent Jones.[34]

Ryan performs at the 2015 Hollystock Music and Arts Festival in Mount Holly, New Jersey

In 2010, Bianca Ryan wrote and recorded a song inspired by Twilight: New Moon called "In My Head".[35] The single was released digitally on August 21 through the indie label Tuned in Music and Media,[36] followed by performances at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[37]

Ryan was asked in October 2012 about the differences between her debut album and her future projects. She said she didn't get to choose what songs went on her first CD, and while the experience she gained by working with people like David Foster and Kara DioGuardi was amazing, "I didn't feel like it was really me. ... You can relate to songs that you write."[38]

Ryan spent much of her teen years out of the spotlight. She explained in 2014 that she had put her career on hold to go back to school even though, as it turned out, she hated high school—besides "a couple of stalkers", she was mostly ignored by other students and didn't make any friends until after school was over.[39] Nevertheless, she "wanted to live a life, and have purpose and things to write about" due to her passion for writing music.[40] Ryan described her musical style as a blend of neo soul, R&B and pop.[41]

Ryan announced in February that she was working with industry veterans like Quincy Jones on a new EP featuring her own work, which she called more "mainstream" than anything she had written before.[42] She started her own record label, Bianca Ryan Records LLC, to promote her artistic freedom as well as make a profit. "I could literally sell 1% of what I would sell with a record company and finally make money off my music to where I can fund other projects".[9]

She also went back to work on her YouTube channel in 2014.[42] Her cover of "All of Me" was uploaded in March.[43]

In 2015, Ryan created a music video for "Alice", an original song she had written years earlier. The video was funded in part by a Kickstarter project and was self-released in May 2015. It features dancer Chloe Lukasiak, who called the video her favorite project since leaving Dance Moms.[44] The single was released via Ryan's own label through iTunes, Google Play and ReverbNation.[45] Her cover of "God Bless the Child" was released on iTunes in July.[46]

Ryan was a featured performer at the Hollystock Music and Arts Festival in Mount Holly, New Jersey, in August 2015.[47] Performances in November included the Macy's Christmas Window unveiling and the 6ABC/Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Parade, both in Philadelphia.[48]

Her plans were put on hold in October 2016 due to health problems that required several surgeries.[49] Her first performance following her recovery was at the Nashville Christmas Parade on December 3.[50] Ryan's single "One Day" was released in May 2017.[51] Two follow-up singles, "What I Gotta Do" and "Man Down", were released in June;[52][53] "Man Down" was called "the ultimate breakup anthem" by TigerBeat.[54] Also in June, Ryan was the subject of an artist profile produced by Major League Baseball.[55]

Ryan intended to release two EPs in 2017,[56] but her plans were delayed.[57] Instead, she chose to release singles, including "Don't Wanna Come Down" in October,[58] and "Remember" in May 2018, featuring an official video using old family footage.[59]

Live appearances in 2018 included co-headlining the Houpalooza Music Festival on June 16 in Houston, Texas, part of the Women's Empowerment Movement Tour. Nick Cannon was a co-host; performers included Flo Rida, and Paul Anthony of Full Force.[59] Ryan joined season six winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. for his Christmas Tour of Champions in December, making several stops in Murphy's native West Virginia.[60]

The Reintroduction, Pt. 1 was released on January 6, 2019;[61] Ryan's single "They Wanna Be Us Now" went on sale one day later.[62] The accompanying video, shot the previous August in Los Angeles,[63] was uploaded on May 1, 2019; it features America's Got Talent alumnus Merrick Hanna as Bully No. 1 and Zoephia Decker-Knealing as young Bianca.[64]

In November 2020, Ryan released the Christmas EP What the World Needs Now Is Love with six songs, including the title track and an updated version of "Why Couldn't it Be Christmas Every Day?"[65] Dance Moms' Lilliana Ketchman returned for a series of music videos created for the holiday season.[66]

In October 2018, Bianca Ryan announced that she would compete in the new spinoff series America's Got Talent: The Champions,[67] taped in advance in Pasadena, California, for broadcast in January 2019,[68] and featuring 50 total winners and finalists from across the Got Talent franchise including Britain, Ukraine and Australia.[69] Ryan was the first act to perform on the premiere episode, singing "Say Something" to a standing ovation.[lower-alpha 4] Afterward, the judges praised Ryan for overcoming both her setbacks and her nerves; Simon Cowell credited her for the success of the franchise and said he was "thrilled" to see her return.[71] Two acts out of ten made it to the finals: Susan Boyle won judge Mel B's Golden Buzzer, while Ryan finished second in the fan voting to Preacher Lawson.[72]

Ryan was a guest performer during the first live results show of AGT's 14th Season, along with contortionist Sofie Dossi, violinist Brian King Joseph and card magician & season 13 winner Shin Lim. Ryan released her single "Plastic Lovers" the same day.[73]

Ryan sang in the 2017 Broadway production "Home For the Holidays", which ran from November 17 through December 30 at the August Wilson Theatre. Vocal performers included American Idol season 12 winner Candice Glover, The Voice season six winner Josh Kaufman, and Peter and Evynne Hollens. Kaitlyn Bristowe served as host;[74] actor/singer Danny Aiello shared holiday memories.[75]

Reviews were mostly negative; HuffPost writer Michael Giltz called the show a train wreck, and said Ryan's voice was shaky and she appeared uncomfortable on stage.[76] Joe Dziemianowicz of the New York Daily News made the same observation.[75][lower-alpha 5] Ryan's performance invited mixed comparisons to Mariah Carey: Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter called her a "desperate" wannabe;[78] Heather Violanti of Theatre Is Easy offered a similar opinion, though she called Ryan "confident and capable";[79] and ZEALnyc critic Megan Wrappe said Ryan does Carey proud with "a voice that fluctuates amazingly between breathy and a soulful powerhouse".[80] Scott Harrah of StageZine noted Ryan's occasional pitch problems and overdone hand gestures, but praised her "impressive vocals".[81]

Ryan at the 2014 premiere of We Are Kings, her first co-starring role in a feature film

Ryan made several early attempts at an acting career, trying out unsuccessfully for such projects as Camp Rock and Hannah Montana.[82] She made her debut in a walk-off appearance in the 2005 film 12 and Holding; her character is shown at a school function singing the final line of "Oh! Susanna", thanking the audience, and leaving the stage.[83] She returned to acting five years later, playing the lead role in the music video for "About to Fall" by The Wrecking.[84]

In 2012, Ryan joined the cast of We Are Kings, an independent, crowdsourced feature film. She portrayed one of two homeless musicians who join up with a runaway rapper to help an elder bluesman raise the money he needs to save his comatose wife and their repossessed blues club.[85] Ryan and her co-stars wrote their own original songs for We Are Kings.[86] Her first single from the film, "Broken Down House", was released in November 2014.[87]

Upon the film's release, LA Weekly called Ryan, Long and Pryce "so bursting with talent that it's impossible to pick a favorite"[88] while the Los Angeles Times looked past the "discordant" acting to praise the "palpable, soulful authenticity" of the music.[89] Ryan admitted in 2014 that she could benefit from an acting coach;[90] in 2017 she said she had matured and would like to try acting again.[56]

Ryan has long been interested in makeup and starting a line of beauty products. In December 2018, she launched her lipstick line Ciao Bianca with 23 shades, including some named after her songs.[91]