We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful McKenna Bailey . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with McKenna below.

McKenna , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has to be my latest EP, “Home”. This EP became everything to me from moments of love, heartbreak, family and more but the song I’m most proud of from this is called, “My Last Name”. I recently just got married this October and it’s about eventually changing my last name, the relationship I have with my dad, and basically how my day will be with out him. My parents got divorced when I was around the age of five, and I finally was able to write a song about how my dad wouldn’t be walking me down the aisle at the end of the day. This is one of those vulnerable songs I wrote in my bedroom one night with out stopping. It came out of me like water and I’m definitely proud of it.

Retrieving all the positive feedback from that song was amazing but the best part of it was hearing people say they could relate to it. That’s what you always want to hear as a songwriter that someone can relate to exactly what you were feeling and trying to portray at that moment. it’s the most rewarding thing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a singer songwriter originally from Chicago but have been in Nashville for about nine years now. I’ve loved music from the moment I can remember. I grew up listening to country music with my mom on summer nights, or Brittney Spears in the long car rides home. I used to perform what we would call backyard concerts for my family and ever since then I knew that I always wanted to perform. I loved being seen and known and most importantly I loved being heard.

Growing up, I did a lot of musical theatre. It definitely became my second home away from home where I could shine. There was a moment in high school I did not make the musical and I was devastated. The one thing I had felt good at was ripped from me. But, little did I know that would lead me to start writing songs. My brothers friends would come over every weekend to teach me very simple chords just so I could play Taylor Swift. The first night they came over, I wrote my first song in my bedroom. Of course, my families feedback was amazing but posting it on social media is what got my attention. People reminded me that I was talented and good at something.

After high school, I attended Belmont University. Like I said, I’m originally from Chicago but ever since that first song I knew I wanted to move to Nashville to pursue my dreams. I graduated in 2018 with a bachelors degree in Songwriting. Knowing Belmont and the staff believed in me more than anything was what got my through some really hard times. Being a part of the program completely changed my life. There were times that proved to me it wasn’t going to be easy, like when a song wasn’t up to par but in those moments I just wanted to fight back harder and prove to everyone that I could do it. My Senior Year, I wrote a song with some other girls called, “Clean Break” that became a huge favorite in the program. It was then I knew I just had to keep working harder, practice more and let the words come to me.

A lot of opportunities arose from this. It got me into an intensive with Liz Rose, who has written for artists like Taylor Swift, Little Big Town, and Carrie Underwood. From there, I met and learned from many and was able to then play a couple of rounds at the Listening Room which has been on my bucket-list as a songwriter since I can remember.

I’m a very vulnerable writer, and I think that’s really important right now. People want to hear things they can relate to, cry to, and rejoice to. I feel I can do that in a way that really grabs people’s attentions. My goal is to hopefully have people connect to my music in a way they feel not so alone anymore.

I think I’m most proud of the woman I am when I go on stage. It’s that feeling where nothing could take me away from that moment. I become the woman I strive to be: confident, determined, and inspiring. The woman off stage let’s a lot of things get to her, but the moment I walk on I am 100% the best version of myself. There’s just something about being in the spotlight that really makes me feel like I am home. I think that’s pretty special.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I just got married this October and after getting engaged, wedding planning became my everything. I kind of had to put songwriting and singing on hold for a bit, of course for something that was so important and amazing in my life. I knew I would come back to it eventually. Especially knowing I’d have the post wedding blues after the wedding that would urge me to write again. Just yesterday, actually, I finally picked up my guitar again and began writing a song about my wedding day, It was the most refreshing and comforting feeling knowing I could go right back to where I was before.

There’s nothing wrong with needing to put things on pause sometimes. That doesn’t mean that you’re never coming back to it. I had to remind myself that. I fell in love with wedding planning but I knew my guitar would always be there for me when I returned.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Just like any other, I have struggled immensely. I think my parents getting divorced at such a young age sparked something in me that caused a lot of doubt, even to this day. I’ve struggled with weight, being bullied, and mental health for a very long time. All of these with which I struggle today as well.

I don’t think life is meant to be easy but it’s definitely supposed to make you stronger and it has for me. I have allowed myself to heal from a lot of hurt, and have gotten the help I have needed to continue to live everyday being the best version of myself. With that being said, I know that writing some of the best songs has come from me getting the help I needed and allowing myself to feel everything I needed to feel. I think it’s important to know that it’s okay to ask for help at the end of the day. Sometimes, we can’t go through struggles alone.

Trust me, there are days where I don’t want to get out of bed but asking for help and seeing that little bit of light at the end of the tunnel is so important. You are never alone.

Contact Info:

• Website: itsmckennabailey.com
• Instagram: @itskennabailey
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsmckennabailey
• Other: tik tok: @mckennabailey13

Image Credits
Jack Media Samantha Lennon NSAI