Britnee Kellogg, an up-and-coming artist, has been making waves. With a compelling backstory and a recently released album, she’s quickly gaining attention and recognition for her talent and determination. Let’s delve into her journey, challenges, and latest accomplishments.
The Musical Beginnings of Brittnee Kellog
The road Britnee Kellogg has taken in her musical journey is somewhat unconventional, but how she started is similar to that of singer/songwriters. Kellogg was inspired! The singer/songwriter said, “I was born and raised in Vancouver, Washington, which is close to Portland, Oregon. When I was six years old, my grandparents took me to my first concert, a Johnny and June Carter Cash show. It was a life-changing moment for me. When we left, I looked at my grandma and said, that’s what I want to do forever. I knew I wanted to be a country singer. From that moment, I began to pursue that passion by taking singing lessons.
As with any journey, Kellogg faced some roadblocks along the way. But she has persevered. Kellogg said, “I did whatever I could to get on stage to perform doing local fairs and talent shows. But it wasn’t until after my divorce from my first husband that I began to pursue this music career with a firm passion. My music career was not super supported in my previous relationship at the level I needed. Then I did American Idol, and here we are today.”
Britnee Kellog and the Choice to Live Outside of Nashville
Britnee Kellogg is undoubtedly not the only artist who chooses to live somewhere other than Nashville, but it’s also not the norm. By not living in Nashville, a singer/songwriter certainly faces a different set of challenges. However, Kellogg’s reasoning is sound. Britnee said, “I lived in Washington state until a year ago, but I get asked why I don’t live in Nashville often. The reason is I have two sons from my first marriage. They are 14 and 16, so unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to pick up and move with children when the other parent lives in Washington. We only live in Arizona because my husband’s job relocated him. We were approved to move. Because he would have lost his job if we had not chosen to relocate with the job.”
Working with the Nashville Music Community
Kellogg has worked hard to be a part of the Nashville music community despite not living here, and she continues to find a way to make the best of her situation. The singer/songwriter said, “So I’ve been commuting and doing the long-distance Nashville thing, not by choice, for a long time. Honestly, it is challenging. But there are times when it is amazing, too. I am one of hundreds or thousands of artists in Nashville, but in Arizona, I am one of one. While we can write songs over Zoom, you cannot be immersed in the community in Nashville if you are not there. So, to not be there can be challenging. But I try to go to Nashville as much as possible to write in person and play writer’s rounds. It’s important to me to be a part of that music community. I don’t ever want people to feel like I’m coming to I’m coming to take what Nashville has to offer and not appreciate that others have given up their hometowns to move there. But, making it is so relative for me, especially being a mom and having a family. It’s about doing what I love with the people I love.”
Britnee Kellogg Releases “She’s Come a Long Way”
June 2024 was a busy month for Britnee Kellogg. She crushed her set on the Good Molecules Reverb Stage at CMA Fest, and a few weeks later, she released an album. I enjoyed each song as I listened to the “She’s Come a Long Way” from top to bottom. My favorite songs on the album are “This Mess,” “Hell in a Handbag,” “Love Thy Neighbor,” and the title track of the album, “She’s Come a Long Way.”
The track list is clever when you have “Retail Therapy” followed by “Hell in Handbag.” The singer/songwriter said, “Those songs, along with Love Thy Neighbor, show my fun personality and spunky, sassy side. Miranda Lambert inspires me, so you will hear that influence in those songs.
Putting an album together is interesting, especially if it’s a concept album. The order in which the tracks appear can often tell a story. I wanted to find out how the album came together. Kellogg said, “We finished the album about a year and a half ago. So, it feels weird that fans are hearing these songs for the first time. I wrote some of these songs several years ago and some more recently. To me, it doesn’t feel like the album was just released.“
Kellogg continued, “During COVID, I was doing writing sessions over Zoom. I was able to compile a big group of songs that had to be whittled down. It was challenging because you feel like you know which songs stand out, but when you meet with producers, they may not share your opinion about some of your songs. All my songs are my babies, but you are trying to determine which songs will make their mark. You love a song, but your producer explains why it’s not great. So, there are difficult conversations, but putting an album together is a fun experience.”
The Struggles of an Independent Artist
Another challenge of releasing music as an independent artist, aside from finding the money to record the music, is promoting the album. The struggle to promote it can weigh on artists even with social media. It can also be disheartening to see others being signing with record labels, and it sometimes leads you to doubt yourself. Kellogg said, “Social media has changed things so drastically, but it can be difficult to see others blow up, especially those who were content making TikTok videos. I have been doing this since I was six, and have never gone viral. I had one meeting with Sony, but it was only a “nice to meet you” type of meeting. Otherwise, I have never been contacted by a label. So, as an artist, it makes you wonder if you are doing something wrong. Is there something I need to do differently? What are the artists who are signing record deals doing? Because I feel like there is such a big market for songs like “This Mess,” “Hey Mama,” and “Here and Gone.”
I wholeheartedly agree with Kellogg that there is a market for songs that resemble everyday life. In general, so much great music is missing on the radio, let alone country radio. Britnee continued, “There is a market for songs that discuss the things those of us in the 30-plus crowd are in the thick of now. Marriage is hard, kids are obnoxious, and life can be messy. In my opinion, songs on country radio do not touch that market. But I keep on keeping on.
For Those New to Britnee Kellogg
If you are new to Britnee Kellogg and her music, I encourage you to listen to her latest album. But, in Britnee’s words, this is what you can expect and why she writes the songs she does. Kellogg said, “I try to write music relatable to people’s personal lives and stories, but I think that’s a goal for all artists. But I honestly try to do it in a way that people will say she wrote that song for me. For example, a wife puts her ring in the bathroom drawer while fighting with her husband; hopefully, someone feels that. In my music, I want the older people that have been married or divorced, have kids or don’t have kids, but are even just in the thick of life that gets hard to feel they aren’t alone.”
Kellogg’s music speaks to a demographic that feels unseen in the music they hear. Britnee said, “The reason I started with “Back of My Mind,” in 2021 was because I didn’t feel seen in the music I heard. There was a time when I went through a break-up, and I listened to Contemporary Christian music because I felt country music was all about young love, trucks, and bars. I needed something to fill me up and make me feel seen. So, I wanted to write more music that people relate to in their personal lives. An artist like Jelly Roll is bringing out more of the hard conversations in his music, which is fantastic. I think it’s beautiful that we’re shining a light on a different side of country music.
As a music fan, I crave authenticity in music more and more. So, that is what I seek out. Britnee Kellogg’s music is authentic. Kellogg said, “I didn’t write two of the songs on the album, which is crazy because I’ve always been stubborn about that. But it was an experience for me when I heard “Hell in a Handbag” and “Love Thy Neighbor.” They are two of my favorite songs, but they felt personal, like I have written them.
My Thoughts on Britnee Kellogg
Britnee Kellogg’s career took a significant leap in 2024 after the release of several singles. Her captivating performance at CMA Fest further solidified her as an artist to watch. It will be exciting to see how she continues to make her mark in the music industry in the coming years.
