We were lucky to catch up with Kaylee Keller recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kaylee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
My mom tells me when I was about five or six years old, I came up to her and told her that “God told me that I am going to sing and act when I grow up”, and then I just ran off to play with my toys, like any normal day. My entire life I have had a passion to sing and act and I truly believe this is part of the purpose God has created me for.
Around the same age, my mom introduced me to Shirley Temple movies and Shirley became a huge inspiration to me. Because of her, I started taking dance, voice, and theatre classes. My favorite aspect of her was the joy that she brought to every movie she was in, and just like her, I wanted to do the same with my performances.
Kaylee, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am an independent award winning Nashville recording artist, actress, singer-songwriter, worship director, guitar teacher, inspirational public speaker, and a digital marketing specialist.
I got started in the entertainment business when I was fifteen years old. I attended a showcase called AMTC (Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ). At this showcase I was able to perform and sing in front of top industry professionals, which opened up a lot of opportunities for me. I was awarded a “Top 6 Actress Award”, received several acting and film college scholarships, as well as record label interest. By sixteen years old, I had graduated high school two years early, signed an artist development deal, released my first original song on the radio, started opening shows for major artists, filming, and taking my songs and messages to schools and churches across the US!
I have since released two albums and some singles (Diamond Ep and Rubies Ep), and I am working on my next one!
My music has received many awards, television and radio features. I have opened for artists such as; Josh Wilson, Jerrod Neimann, Craig Campbell, Joe Diffie, Sam Riggs, and others. Alongside live performances and interviews with media outlets FOX News Channel, CCM Magazine, WSM radio, Christian Television Network-Bridges, FOX Extra, iHeart Radio, CelebSecrets, FOX411, ABC, WMEG TV, TCN Bridges, and Simply Grace Magazine, to name a few.
I am currently starring in a new family friendly mini tv series titled “Love and Secrets”, produced by Marty Jean-Louis with 24 Flix and Cameron Arnett with Camy Arnett Production Studios. I am also a lead in an upcoming short film and a few other projects set to release soon. When I am not on stage or on set, you can find me leading worship at church, teaching guitar lessons, and helping companies with their digital marketing needs.
My number one goal with music, acting, speaking, etc.. is to empower young women and men to embrace their true identity in Christ, to know their value and worth, live out their purpose, and to reflect the Kingdom of Heaven in all they do.
My music can be found all on music platforms, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Youtube, etc..
For information about bookings for festivals, events, or school assembly’s, visit www.kayleekeller.com
Have you ever had to pivot?
A major pivot in my life took place during covid. The music industry was hit hard, just like many other industry’s. The whole world pretty much shut down during that time, and I had to find other ways to generate income then my current normal.
I made a huge cross country move and ended up working in the non-profit field. I worked alone at my job during the day and spent my evenings and weekends getting two Digital Marketing certifications. I worked full time in non-profit for the whole two years and hardly played music publicly that entire time.
That was a pivotal time for me. I found the adjustment to be really hard. I had been doing music full time for several years that changing paths felt like I was betraying or giving up on my dream (though it was something I couldn’t control). The Lord really used this time to refocus my life, my values, and to refine me in many areas. Instead of resenting this pivot, I chose to accept it.
I gave myself permission to let go and let God! I realized that I wasn’t “giving up” on my passions, I was being given an opportunity to develop new skillsets, mindsets, and do things I may never have done otherwise. Looking back those two years were life changing and so fruitful.
The lesson of this story is… let go and let God! There is SO much pressure in entertainment to “make it” as an artist or actor and this field is extremely competitive and aggressive because of it. But the definition of “making it” means a hundred different things to a hundred different people. Who you are and the character you develop far outweighs what you do as a career.
As great as it is to dream, make goals, and work hard to pursue your God given passions, the journey of who you become, how you treat people, and the relationship you have with God and others along the way is the most important. That is what I think “making it” really is, not just someones talent and abilities to book consistent jobs, but the character they have and the impact they are making for the Kingdom of God in their daily life.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans for a hope and a future.”
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
This is more of a lie that I had to address and remove from my life… but I have had to unlearn the lie that I wasn’t good enough. There are so many gifted musicians and artists in the world and I am constantly inspired by the many talented individuals that I come across. However the more talent I have seen, the more I have questioned my own gifts. I have come to realize that there is room for everyone. It’s so easy to compare and compete, especially in this industry where there is only one actor that gets the part or one artist that gets the main gig. It’s easy to let those “no’s” make you feel rejected and do damage on your self esteem.
I have learned that God has made each and every one of us unique. We each have a calling, a purpose, talents, and gifts that He has specifically given each of us. However, we can’t do what we’re called to do alone. God wants us to have community and people to do it alongside. Some of my favorite performances have been because of the band mates and cast members I got to do it with. I don’t want to do this career alone and I don’t want to miss out on the amazing moments God has because of the lies of the enemy. So I have learned and continue to believe this truth. That we each are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kayleekeller.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayleekellermusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kayleekellermusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylee-k-21ba76a7?trk=public_profile_samename-profile
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaynoelkeller
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KayleeKeller
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Gyu1ec5SE05nVp0c8azwq?si=RvWRSJ_CSVSIHbUYhXCaoQ&nd=1
- Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kaylee-keller/903918981 Music is available on all music platforms.