Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Kelly.
Hi Kimberly, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I didn’t tell anyone in my family I could sing until the end of high school, really. I thought I could and joked about it with friends, but I wasn’t sure. After I told my mom, my family encouraged me in anyway they could. My mom told me about the Music Program at McLennan Community College, where I really got started. I completed the commercial music performance program and started playing out with the country band. After I graduated, I started playing shows all over Texas— bars, fairs, and festivals with some guys in my band that I had gone through the music program with. My sister ended up going through the program also and ended up starting a band herself also. She had started out writing poetry, but that eventually lead to songs and singing also. She ended up getting a record deal, and that’s what lead me to Nashville. I took a gig singing harmony with her. With her as her backup (harmony) singer, I got to go out on the road while she opened for Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson and Rascal Flatts on tour.
While in Nashville, I concentrated on writing songs but eventually missed performing, which had always been my dream and first love. I launched a campaign to make one last record (so I thought) just to give it one more shot at being an artist in Nashville. The president of Thirty Tigers came across the project, who then pitched me to ShowDog. I’ll be recording another album this year, slated for release in early 2022. So that’s where I’m at now!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some struggles have included money to pay for recordings, promotion, paying players in the band, making enough money even to break even and pay yourself, etc.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I actually have a master’s degree in speech pathology that I got from Texas Women’s University in Denton. I come from a line of hard-working women and have just always felt strongly about wanting to know I could always take care of myself. Working on a degree and working full-time while pursuing a music career was something I didn’t always talk about because people usually say if you want to make it in music, you can’t have a plan B.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Figure out what your purpose is, and define your brand. If you know that early on, it’ll help you know what to say yes and no to, and you won’t make long-term career decisions based on temporary feelings.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kimberlykellymusic.com
- Instagram: @kimberlykellymusic
- Facebook: KimberlyKellyMusic
- Twitter: @KimberlyKelly
- Youtube: Kimberly Kelly
Image Credits
Jason Myers Photography
