By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
It is a privilege to welcome singer-songwriter Kelsie Watts to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.
Born into a musical family, the Lubbock, Texas native developed her powerful vocals and artistry as a child. Her two musically talented parents encouraged Kelsie to pursue her craft after hearing her sing for the first time at two years old. Growing up performing in church and as the lead in her school plays, Kelsie went on to study opera, vocal performance, and commercial music at Belmont University. In Nashville, Kelsie began to hone her craft by songwriting and creating her own music that would soon launch her career.
Kelsie began writing and releasing music independently, which caught the eye of industry professionals and her peers. In 2020, the emerging artist was asked to be the featured vocalist on AJ McLean’s single, “Hurts to Love You, ” released under McLean’s ATCK venture.
Following the single release, Kelsie auditioned for NBC’s The Voice: Season 19. She wowed the judges and viewers with her version of Kelly Clarkson’s “I Dare You,” securing her a place on Team Kelly. The performance didn’t take long to go viral across social media, and it has since gained millions of views.
On the heels of her run as a member of Team Kelly, Kelsie focused on her career as an independent pop artist. Her single “Live Out Loud” was recorded by multi-platinum and GRAMMY Nominated producer NicoTheOwl. The track was the theme song for the Tokyo Sky Tree Global Campaign, Tree of Hope W1sh Ribbon Project. Legendary photographer and director Leslie Kee directed the official video for “Live Out Loud. The video streamed on loop 24/7 from Tokyo’s Tokyo Sky Tree and was featured during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
In 2021, Kelsie Watts unveiled the powerful “Look What You Missed,” an upbeat female empowerment track co-written with Casey Cook. Shortly after, she released “I Can’t Say Goodbye,” an anthemic ballad for anyone who has gone through a painful loss. Kelsie penned the song about the grief of losing her brother suddenly due to issues with his mental health in the hopes of helping others who have gone through similar anguish.
No stranger to going viral, Kelsie has now accumulated over 100 million views across social platforms, including TikTok and Instagram, with her cover videos of iconic pop music, which she films from her home in Nashville. Her videos have caught the eye of ABC’s Nightline, which recently featured her in an episode highlighting her videos and musical talent.
On this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Kelsie Watts spoke about her journey on The Voice and the stories behind some of her top songs, including “After Midnight,” “I Can’t Say Goodbye,” and a live version of “I Dare You.”
For more information about Kelsie Watts, visit her website.
You can connect with Kelsie Watts on social media. Visit her Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok & YouTube channels.
