Britnee Kellogg's ascent in the country music world is a testament to her passion, perseverance, and undeniable talent. Influenced from an early age by the soulful tunes of Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash, she developed a deep love for music that has driven her to become a prominent figure in the genre.
Kellogg has shared the stage with some of country music's biggest names, such as Blake Shelton, Eric Paslay, and Keith Urban. Her performances on American Idol further showcased her captivating voice, solidifying her status as an emerging star with a global fanbase.
In recent years, Kellogg has focused on enhancing her online presence, tapping into a vast and largely untouched audience. Her efforts have paid off, with several of her songs going viral. ‘Back of My Mind' has amassed over 19 million TikTok impressions and debuted at #4 on the iTunes charts, while ‘Hey Mama' has garnered over 18 million TikTok impressions and debuted at #3 on the iTunes charts. These tracks have also achieved impressive streaming numbers, with “Back of My Mind” reaching over 10 million combined streams and “Hey Mama” hitting nine million.
Kellogg's rich, edgy vocal style and unwavering commitment to authenticity have helped her carve out a distinct niche in the country music landscape. Her songs resonate deeply with listeners, offering inspiration and upliftment with every note. This ex-Idol, ex Pageant queen survivor of an abusive marriage has opened her life up to the public on new album, ‘She's Come a Long Way' and the music is all the better for it.
The album showcases Kellogg's artistic evolution and celebrates her journey through music and motherhood. The music video for the album's title track, ‘She’s Come a Long Way,' premiered exclusively on People.com, delivering a powerful message of resilience and empowerment. The video features inspiring women from Kellogg’s home state of Oregon, including her daughter Harlow, who have all significantly influenced her life and career. The opening track on the album, it sets the tone for the rest of the songs to come, which is a compelling narrative of strength, female empowerment, and personal growth.
The album continues after the title track with ‘Love Thy Neighbour,' a funky, toe-tapping song that combines humour and a powerful message. With sharp lyrics and a big chorus, this track explores the challenge of maintaining a positive demeanour in the face of a troublesome neighbour. It's a lighthearted yet impactful song that lays the groundwork for the rest of the album to come, promising an engaging mix of fun and meaningful themes.
The ballad ‘Whoever You Are' showcases Kellogg’s rich, warm vocals, delivering a heartfelt message of self-acceptance and inner strength. The song’s mature production and empowering lyrics, “You never have to hide the underneath, every piece of you is beautiful,” resonate deeply, making it a standout track. This theme continues in ‘This Mess,' where Kellogg embraces the chaos of family life. With its gentle, chugging guitars and strong vocals, this song celebrates the resilience needed to navigate marriage and motherhood, evoking a style reminiscent of artists like Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill.
‘Retail Therapy' and ‘Here and Gone' further highlight Kellogg’s ability to blend humour with messages of female empowerment. “Retail Therapy” turns the aftermath of a cheating spouse into a cheeky, self-empowering anthem, complete with honky-tonk pianos and funky guitars. In contrast, ‘Here and Gone' is a more introspective ballad, addressing the pain of a failing relationship with bluesy guitar licks and a message of self-worth, encouraging women not to settle for less than they deserve.
Elsewhere, ‘Hell in a Handbag' and ‘I Matter,' reinforce themes of self-respect and the power of women. ‘Hell in a Handbag' is a humorous yet relatable southern anthem about being able to tell a lot about a woman by what's in her handbag, while ‘I Matter' pays tribute to the influence of grandmothers. “There ain't a day that goes by now that I ain't trying to make my grandma proud,” Kellogg sings on this bluesy, melodic ballad that allows her to really showcase the richness of her vocals. Both songs highlight Kellogg’s ability to connect with her audience through personal and relatable lyrics. ‘If I Said That,' meanwhile, stands out as a hopeful anthem about persevering through marital struggles, echoing the emotional depth and resilience found throughout the album. It's another big anthem that builds to a huge, Carrie Underwood style chorus that might be one of the best on the album.
The album closes with ‘Hey Mama,' a soulful tribute to the strength of mothers and ‘Back of My Mind,' a Carly Pearce style Pop / Country look at the failings of men and the strength of women. ‘Hey Mama' offers encouragement and solidarity to mothers everywhere, wrapping up the album with an impactful message of empowerment. “Hey mama, you got this,' Kellogg sings, “pull yourself together, it won't be like this forever.” It's a slick, soulful, bluesy ballad with a strong message dripping in Carly Pearce meets Faith Hill meets Carrie Underwood vibes.
Overall, ‘She's Come a Long Way' is a richly textured album that celebrates resilience, empowerment, and the enduring power of female strength. It's a rewarding listen with a lot of high points, big notes, strong choruses and relatable messages – there's a healthy amount of cheeky southern humour on this album too, which lifts the mood and gets your toes tapping. Britnee Kellogg has produced an album with real light and shade thats a really fun and rewarding listen. She's come a long way, indeed.
Tracklisting: 1. She's Come a Long Way 2. Love Thy Neighbour 3. Whoever You Are 4. This Mess 5. Retail Therapy 6. Here and Gone 7. Hell in a Handbag 8. I Matter 9. If I Said That 10. Thank You Johnny and June 11. Back of My Mind 12. Hey Mama Record Label: OneRPM Release Date: 28th June Buy ‘She's Come a Long Way' right here
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