Few artists are as tenacious as Alexandra Kay. The singer-songwriter just shared snippets of her journey in a video posted on social media, revealing some of the incredible things she has gotten to experience, including performing at the Grand Ole Opry, her current slot opening Jelly Roll on his Beautifully Broken Tour, opening for Morgan Wallen in London and more, all because she refused to take no for an answer.
“Five years ago I lost my second record deal and almost quit,” Kay writes. “Had I given up I would have missed all of this.”
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Part of Kay’s long line of recent accomplishments is recently opening for Jelly Roll at the legendary Madison Square Garden arena in New York City.
“The fact that I get to do it as an independent female country artist, before ever having a song on country radio, I can’t fully wrap my head around that, yet. I’m just so excited,” Kay said ahead of her performance. “I can’t believe that I made it here. It’s a dream venue. It’s iconic. It’s where everybody works their butts off their whole life to try to play there.”
Indeed, Kay has enjoyed the same success as artists signed to a major record label, and more than some, all because she kept pursuing her dreams, regardless of whatever opposition she faced. She also worked hard — really, really hard — on her own mental health, especially after her divorce from her former husband, Indiana Touchette.
“I went from being with someone that I was with for 11 years to not having that person in my life, to not having certain friends in my life anymore, to not having a whole ‘nother family in my life anymore, and moving out of my house, moving to a new city,” Kay told SPIN earlier this year. “I live in Nashville, Tennessee now, and I was living in southern Illinois at the time. So much has changed in my life. I’ve always struggled with anxiety. I’ve always struggled with panic attacks.”
Kay likely wouldn’t have had the success she now has, if she hadn’t spent so much time focusing on her own mental health and well-being.
“I’ve very much done my due diligence to heal myself properly this year,” Kay shared. “Before, I would just be like, ‘Oh okay, it’s fine that I have a panic attack a day.’ But this year is the time when I really sat down and I was just — for myself, for my fans, for my family, to make sure that I can continue to stay here, that I can continue to be here, and be the best artist and best friend, and the best daughter and the best girlfriend, the best that I can possibly be for all of the people around me. I need to continue to go to therapy. I need to face all of this head-on.”
Kay documents her split from Touchette in her debut All I’ve Ever Known album, released last year.
“All I’ve Ever Known is honesty. It’s a peek behind the curtain to an old kitchen window in a town of 4,000 people where I lived the past 10 years of my life. It is who I was, who I’ve become and everything in between,” Kay said when the record was released. “This album is the most raw, vulnerable, and wide open I have ever been when creating music, which can be terrifying and healing at the same time.
Kay also has a duet with Jelly Roll, “Leave the Light On,” as part of the Twisters film, out now. Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken Tour wraps up at the end of this month. Find all of her music and upcoming shows at AlexandraKayOfficial.com.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry / Chris Hollo