Music Monday Artist Feature: Kylie Frey

Kylie Frey is unapologetically pure country, and her music is as authentic as her dusty Louisiana rodeo roots. This third-generation rodeo rider was raised in a family of cattlemen and bronc riders. So it’s only natural that this feisty brunette has the swagger to stand toe to toe with country stars, award-winning troubadours, and legends. Frey herself was a state goat-tying champ and a rodeo queen as a teen. That rodeo circuit isn’t only where she learned that it takes a lot of hard work, passion, and sweat equity to be a winner; she also learned a lot about self-confidence, how to trust her gut, and how to sing in front of a hard-to-please crowd.

After years of singing the National Anthem at every rodeo she could, Frey’s powerful voice caught the attention of Nashville industry veterans including the management team behind the King of country himself, George Strait. Fast forward three years and Frey now has six chart-topping #1 hits on the Texas Regional Radio Report under her belt. The 26-year old is carving out her own lane in country music while remaining true to her roots. With just one listen to her debut EP Rodeo Queen, it’s clear that Frey takes the lessons and culture of her Rodeo days wherever she goes. Growing up, Frey spent her weekends driving with her family to different rodeo events across the country. Immersed in the country lifestyle, she began to idolize the legendary females that paved the way for her musically, including Reba. Shania Twain, Linda Ronstadt, Wynonna Judd, and The Dixie Chicks, among others. In 2018, Frey’s dream of working with icon Shania Twain came full circle when she appeared as a contestant on USA’s Real Country, where she was handpicked by Twain herself. It was then that she discovered that following in her heroes’ footsteps meant blazing her own trail.

“It hit me like a ton of bricks,” Frey says. “I was like…you know what? As much as I love Shania Twain, there’s already one of her. Nobody else on earth is Kylie Frey, and I want to be her.”

Frey’s dug her heels in, started writing as much as she could, by herself and with seasoned co-writers. More and more, she began to trust her gut, lean inward into her experiences and emotions, and find her natural, country as it comes to writing style. Kylie quickly learned she had a lot to say and a unique way in which she wanted to say it. Her unwavering drive to pursue her own path has already begun to pay off. Last year, Frey broke the record for being the fastest-rising female to reach #1 on the T3R chart (for the second time) with her smash hit “Horses In Heaven (featuring Randy Houser),” reaching the top of the charts in just nine weeks. Recently, Frey lent her vocals to two tracks featured on fellow rodeo aficionado and country music Chart-topper Cody Johnson’s new album, Human – she appears on both “Made A Home” and the title track “Human.” She also proudly wears the title as the first official brand ambassador for Revolver Brewing, making her the only independent female artist signed with a Molson Coors brand. To round out her bang-out year, Frey began a partnership with Ft. Worth based apparel line, Rock & Roll Denim.

Kylie Frey is kicking off 2022 with new music and a special tribute to the ladies – next Friday (2/4) she will digitally release a country spin of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” alongside Texas native Bri Bagwell.