Kelleigh Bannen is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter and podcast host known for her rich storytelling and dynamic presence in country music. She first gained recognition with independent releases before signing with EMI Records Nashville, where she released singles like ‘Sorry on the Rocks' and ‘Famous.' Though mainstream radio success proved elusive, Bannen built a dedicated fanbase with her raw, heartfelt songwriting and powerful vocals. In 2019, she independently released her full-length album ‘Favorite Colors,' which showcased her artistic depth and recently she released the stunning ballad ‘Nothin' On' with Charles Kelley of Lady A fame. Throughout her music career, Bannen has balanced traditional country influences with contemporary production, earning respect for her authenticity and resilience in an ever-evolving industry.
Beyond her work as an artist, Bannen has carved out a successful career as the host of Apple Music’s Today’s Country radio show and podcast. In this role, she interviews some of the biggest names in country music, offering in-depth conversations about their creative processes, careers, and personal journeys. Her insightful approach and industry experience make her a trusted voice in the genre, bridging the gap between artists and fans. Whether through her own music or her work in media, Kelleigh Bannen continues to shape the country music landscape with passion and authenticity.
Kelleigh was in London last week to present a songwriters round at the Apple store in Covent Garden and we were thrilled to catch up with her beforehand.
Lovely to talk to you today Kelleigh, welcome to England! How's the jet lag?
Thank you, it's lovely to be here. Well, I slept through my alarm this morning and woke up to the sound of the make up artist at the door so that happened! (laughing)
You've been in the industry for a while now. How would you describe your musical evolution from the early releases like ‘Sorry on the Rocks' to where you are now with ‘Nothin' On?'
I think the most in common that my music now has with the early days is my love for a real pay-off with a hook. That's something that I am obsessed with. Everybody goes through different phases with their writing and you can become too fixated on certain aspects of it at times but it's so exciting when you are learning to write when you realise the power of a hook! So many songwriters, especially in Country music, are addicted to that aspect of writing.
Early days, for me, I didn't really know how to show up in the studio, and have a voice in the studio, right? Paul Worley, who actually produced ‘Sorry on the Rocks,' was so generous with his thoughts and time with me but I probably didn't feel like I knew how to show up back then. I play guitar ok, I grew up playing the violin, I play a little fiddle, so figuring out how to find my voice as someone influencing the music has been something that I've grown into I think. I think we also lean into a little bit more soul now than we did back then too.
Bringing you right up to date your most current song, ‘Nothin' On' features Charles Kelley who I think has one of the warmest and most evocative voices in Country music. How did you come to work with him on that?
I love the description of Charles' voice that you've just used – I don't think I've heard a better description of his voice than that. Charles and I have a friend in common in legendary songwriter Tom Douglas – Tom is my best friend's dad! (laughing) I spend a lot of time with their family and Charles was actually performing at an event with Charles and I was there with the family to cheer him on! Charles performed an amazing version of ‘Little Rock' which was Tom's first hit. It was sooo good, so incredible.
I used to see Charles around a lot as we were on the same label back in the early 2010's but I hadn't seen much of him recently. I was so moved by his voice that I texted him after to tell him and I told him about this song I had that needed a male voice. It needed somebody super-rangey because they had to, essentially, sing in my key and I'm really low for a female vocalist. It's tricky to find a great male pairing when you are a low alto like me.
I was so nervous after sending the text – all artists know that you have to turn it down if you don't love it. Nobody wants to be on a duet or a feature just because of a friendship or obligation, right? (laughing) You only want to say yes to collab if you really like it and Charles was so pumped – he loved the song and he sounds amazing on it, I can't say enough about it! (laughing)
Do you have a song that you've released over the years that you are most proud of? My favourites of yours would either be ‘Church Clothes' or ‘The Jones'.'
Oh wow! Honestly, ‘Church Clothes'…… we were just talking about re-visiting that song. I'm really proud of that song. I think because I didn't write it I have a hard time taking credit for it. The one that I'm most proud of as a writer might well be ‘Happy Birthday.' I love the lyrics to that song and I felt like I was really able to show up and lead on it. I'm kinda a chameleon in that I'm always reading a room, I'm hyper-vigilant when doing that but that also means that you are not always in the room and with the people that are there.
‘Happy Birthday' was a day where I was relaxed and able to be myself during the writing and building of the song and I think that feeds into why I'm so proud of writing it.
You've been an advocate for women in Country music for a while now too. How do you think the industry has changed for women in the last ten years?
I wish that this wasn't going to be my answer….. I think we've talked a lot about women in Country music and yet we are still in a pretty dismal position when it comes to radio and the charts. I wish I had an answer to how we could improve female representation…. I do think continuing to talk about it is meaningful and I think celebrating the wins is also meaningful.
The real work is for women to find other places. We have essentially taught people how to listen to the radio and what to expect on the radio for the last 30 years and we know that people are attracted to what they are familiar with. So, with so few female voices on the radio, you have to overcome that as your first hurdle but I don't think that trying to change traditional Country radio is the move – I don't even know if it's possible – but I do know that the work we continue every single day at Apple Music feels meaningful and we feature a lot of female artists. We're also not afraid to play 3-4 women consecutively, back to back. Our own personal tastes and the curation that we do ensures that there is more parity at Apple than you'll find on many other platforms.
Let's dig into your work with Apple a little bit. You've interviewed some of the biggest names in the genre over the past few years. Who has been your most surprising guest and why?
I go into most interviews assuming, first, that it's going to go terribly (laughing) and that secondly, something will go horribly off the rails! I'm pleasantly surprised when an interview goes well, regardless of who it is I'm talking to! (laughing) One of the most surprising ones was Koe Wetzel. I didn't know him very well before we spoke and I thought he was a wildman but he was such much fun – he kinda reminded me of my little brother and he was so warm and friendly. Not at all like the media perception that I had had of him beforehand.
The Chappell Roan one that is out tomorrow (which means it's out now) was also surprising to me too because I just didn't know what to expect from her. She's this huge global artist but I didn't know whether she would dial it in, or how she would present with me but she was super-thoughtful, warm, open and funny as hell!
I've modelled my own questioning style on two people over the years. One being yourself and the other being Bobby Bones: you both structure your interviews in very clever ways and are warm and open. Do you have any tips or strategies you use to make people feel at ease with you that encourages them to open up and be present and meaningful?
I wish there was more strategy to it and I would love to compere notes about how you do this too! I try to approach every interview knowing what it is I am responsible for and whilst I might want something out of the person I'm talking to, I can't push them there. I can't do their work for them and letting go of the control of that has freed me up a lot.
I really, really aim to be well prepared for each interview I do so that if I feel I have done my work I hope the person with me feels the respect for what I've done and that will encourage them to share real stories and feelings with me. That goes a long way towards making people feel comfortable and showing them that you have invested in them as guests. You've done the same with me today – you've mentioned songs from my catalogue that surprised me and showed me that you have spend time with my music, which is so honouring, right?
I also try and leave my anxieties and my emotions at the door because they can trip you up and get in the way of actually listening to what the person sitting next to you is saying sometimes. I was just in an interview with Lainey Wilson and I'd had a busy morning and was running late and I could feel like my foot was vibrating and I needed to take a moment to ground myself and feel present with her myself. You need to get out of your own way a lot of the times.
On a side note, I would love to know how you are analysing Bobby Bones' interviews too because I do the same thing! (laughing)
He's the master of walking people towards the awkward question. In my own work I call it the ‘elephant in the room' question – something that is real and meaningful beyond the single, album or tour that the artist is promoting. The real nugget that you yourself or the fans would love to know about the artist that isn't rude, salacious or invasive, right?
That's fascinating! Did you ask me your ‘elephant in the room' question?
I think we are right in it now! That's so meta! It was all abut how you make people feel comfortable enough to give you something real and something of themselves – an insiders tip!
I can see why you would ask that after all I don't have any wild history or exes to talk about! (laughing)
You can watch Chappell Roan being interviewed by Kelleigh at the link below and catch up with Kelleigh on Today's Country Radio right here
