From the moment I heard “Blue Jean Country Queen,” I knew Kimberly Kelly’s new album I’ll Tell You What’s Gonna Happen was going to be fantastic. I sat down with her in Nashville to discuss it, along with her background and what’s coming up next for her.
The Beginning
The Texas native realized she could sing while in high school. When she broached the subject with her mother, the only way she could demonstrate her talent was to ask her to turn around so she couldn’t be seen.
Her mom encouraged her to attend McLennan Community College in Waco because of their music program. The experience taught her a lot about music theory, performing, and she also met a lot of the guys that she later formed a band with. Nowadays, she harnesses the nervous energy to her benefit. “It’s like a switch that turns on and I’m not as nervous anymore.”
After playing all over Texas, her sister landed a record deal and invited her up to Nashville to sing harmony.
“Blue Jean Country Queen”
As previously mentioned, “Blue Jean Country Queen” was the first song of Kelly’s I heard and it immediately drew me in. She shared how her husband Brett Tyler and she got a writing session with Steve Wariner. “He is a hero of mine,” she said, excitedly.
Tyler suggested they write something with the signature “Steve tempo.” Kelly continued, “I threw out the ‘Blue Jean Country Queen’ title and they loved it. We went with it.”
They built the song with confident women in mind, like Dottie West, Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire. The lyrics are fun, with a strong tempo, reminiscent of 90s country.
I’ll Tell You What’s Gonna Happen Album
Kelly wanted to ensure authenticity with her album. Having many songs to choose from, she selected the ones that aligned with her background and values. Sonically, she loved the honky tonk feel and remarked, “We made sure that lyrically, those songs represented me as a person.”
The twelve tunes that made it on the album exude confidence from someone who’s not afraid to be themselves. Overall, it’s a great message with a mix of songs that will have you dancing, emotional, and everything in between.
Coming up for Kimberly Kelly
“Summers Like That” will impact radio in the fall as the next single. Be sure to request it! For more information on Kimberly Kelly, visit https://www.kimberlykellymusic.com/.