Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Justin Hunter
Standing beneath the bright lights and towering buildings of New York City, Addi Mae Myers felt the crowd’s energy before she even hit her first mark. She felt the chill in the air, heard the hum of excitement, and quickly soaked it all in. There she was, a girl from Sumiton, Alabama, standing on the iconic Macy’s star, ready to perform in the 2024 Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“I still can’t believe I was there,” Addi Mae said. “Getting to cheer in that parade, knowing so many people were watching, it was surreal.”
That performance is just one of many highlights in a cheer career that started when she was in sixth grade. Inspired by her older sister, Ashlyn, Addi Mae knew early on that she wanted to follow in her footsteps and pursue cheer as a way to lead and lift others up.
“As a cheerleader, you’re constantly supporting other teams, but it’s also about being a leader in general,” she says. “I love encouraging people. Everyone deserves to feel seen and motivated.”
That mindset carried over to volleyball, where she played as a back-row passer. She loved the intensity of the game, but she valued the relationships with her teammates most, especially during high-stakes moments like the 2023 Final Four.
Still, cheer remains her passion. As a six-year Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) All-American and a two-time recipient of the UCA Pin It Forward Award, she takes pride in performing and embodying what a cheerleader should be: a source of energy, enthusiasm, and support.
Her leadership extends beyond sports; with a 3.9 GPA, she balances school, cheer, and volleyball while being involved in Key Club, Beta Club, Student Government Association, and the Walker County Junior Ambassadors.
That sense of structure and discipline will serve her well as she moves on to the University of North Alabama to pursue a degree in elementary education. Though she won’t be cheering at the next level, she knows the lessons she’s learned—encouraging others, staying dedicated, pushing through challenges—will stay with her.
“If I could tell younger athletes anything, it would be to enjoy the moment,” she says. “It’s easy to get caught up in the negatives, but these are some of the best times of your life. Be the best teammate you can be.”
For Addi Mae, that’s what it all comes down to: not just the performances, the wins, or even the unforgettable moments on national stages, but the people she has impacted along the way.
“Everybody needs an encourager,” she says. “And I love being that person.” WL
