Born Morgan Grunerud, in Boise, Idaho, James is the daughter of Allen Grunerud and Shellie Harwood. Growing up, James's family moved from Pocatello, ID, to Logan, UT, to Knoxville, TN, and finally to Modesto, CA, where James attended Johansen High School. Upon graduation, James was accepted to The Juilliard School, in New York City, where she received her BM in Voice.