Kellie Dawn Pickler (born June 28, 1986) is an American country music singer and songwriter who finished sixth on the fifth season of the Fox television series American Idol.
Despite being eliminated, Pickler signed a recording contract with the record company BNA Records, a country label owned by RCA Records and Sony BMG Music Entertainment in conjunction with Idol series creator Simon Fuller’s 19 Recordings Limited. Her debut single, “Red High Heels” was released on September 25, 2006 and the debut album followed on October 31 of the same year.
20th Century Fox and 19 Television are currently developing a thirty-minute situation comedy starring Pickler as a naïve small-town Southern woman who unravels the mystery that her biological father is the state’s governor. The working title for the pilot is KELLIE.
Background information
- Birth name Kellie Dawn Pickler
- Born June 28, 1986 (1986-06-28) (age 21)
- Origin Albemarle, North Carolina, U.S.
- Genre(s) Country, Country Rock
- Occupation(s) Singer
- Years active 2006 – present
- Label(s) BNA Records, 19 Recordings Ltd.
Pickler was born at the Stanly Memorial Hospital in Albemarle, North Carolina, to Cynthia Morton and Clyde “Bo” Pickler, Jr. Her mother was 18 years old when she gave birth to her, and relinquished custodial rights to Pickler when she was two years old.The major influences in her life are her grandfather, Clyde Pickler, Sr., who worked as an electrician and grandmother, Faye Pickler. She was raised in Palestine, a small town near Albemarle.[1] After her grandmother’s death, she continued to reside with her grandfather and her younger sibling Eric until she became a contestant on Idol. Kellie graduated in 2004 from North Stanly High School in New London, North Carolina. She used to be a cheerleader and dancer. At her graduation commencement, she sang “On the Side of Angels” by LeAnn Rimes.
She has worked as a waitress at a Sonic Drive In franchise, and in 2005, she made an appearance on WSOC-TV’s Gimme the Mike! Charlotte contest, where she received a rousing ovation for her performance of the country classic, “Stand By Your Man”. She finished in second place. She participated in the Miss America circuit, and won the “Miss Stanly County” pageant at age 17 and subsequently competed for Miss North Carolina 2004 in order to win a scholarship to Stanly Community College’s School of Cosmetology to reach her full potential. She dropped out and later tried paralegal studies.
The 19-year-old Pickler auditioned for American Idol in the fall of 2005 in Greensboro, North Carolina. She sang both Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” and Martina McBride’s “A Broken Wing”. The judges sent her to Hollywood. Pickler advanced through the semi-finalist rounds in February. On March 9, she reached the Top 12.
Pickler was among one of judge Simon Cowell’s favorites. He once predicted Pickler would be in the final three, and said he preferred her over the previous season’s winner, Carrie Underwood. Recognized for her “quirky” personality and Southern charm, Pickler gained attention on the show by saying (for example) that she had hardly ever performed before real audiences, and mispronounced words. She also amused many people with her false eyelash incident, saying that it felt as if there were “tarantulas on her eyes”. She was compared to Jessica Simpson in a March 27 story in US Weekly magazine entitled “Kellie: The Next Jessica Simpson”, due to her “sweet Southern style and ditzy demeanor”. Later in a J-14 article, she responded to the comparison by saying “Vocally, Jessica’s great, and she’s beautiful.”
Pickler returned in the finale to sing several songs with the other finalists; she was also featured in a pre-taped segment called “Puck ‘n Pickler”, in which she was introduced to some unusual food by chef Wolfgang Puck for the show’s comic relief. In the segment, viewers learned that Pickler does not fancy going near live sea animals.
After her elimination in American Idol Season 5 at sixth place, she went on to appear in numerous shows promoting American Idol. She also talked about her elimination and future plans. She performed “Walkin’ After Midnight” in some of her appearances. On May 6, 2006 Pickler returned to her hometown of Albemarle, North Carolina for a parade and a reunion with her father. She received a key to the city from the mayor of Albemarle. The mayor also proclaimed May 6, 2006 as “Kellie Pickler Day.” Pickler also received numerous awards from local and statewide government officials praising her accomplishments as a contestant on the American Idol television show. Her involvement with the top-rated Fox show (24-30 million viewers weekly) has brought economic growth to the area of Albemarle.
Pickler pursued her recording aspirations in Nashville, Tennessee shortly thereafter. On July 17, 2006 she signed a record deal with 19 Recordings/BNA Records. She later announced it herself on The View. She was part of the American Idol Pop Tarts tour ensemble, performing for three months in various cities. During that period, Pickler worked on her album in collaboration with top industry experts in different cities wherever the tour took her.
Her latest career development was the announcement of her sitcom under development by Fox Network and 19 Entertainment.
Pickler’s father, whom she describes as an alcoholic and drug addict, recently served a three-year, nine-month prison sentence at Florida State Prison for aggravated assault and battery stemming from a 2003 stabbing incident. He was released on May 6, 2006, a week after her elimination from Idol.
Pickler said she is not stupid, but admitted that she does not know a lot of things, being brought up in a small town, and that she’s still learning after leaving it. She considers herself a smart person.
On February 26, 2007, she met her personal ‘idol’ and strongest influence, the country music star Dolly Parton. The surprise was arranged by Sony BMG Nashville chairman Joe Galante.
Pickler was in a relationship with Nashville Predators player Jordin Tootoo. Pickler stated that they broke up due to him cheating on her.
Albums:
Statistics
- Small Town Girl
- Released: October 31, 2006
- Peak Chart Positions:
- The Billboard 200: #9
- U.S. Top Country Albums: #1
- CAN Top Country Albums: #12
- U.S. Sales: 643,000 copies sold
- Worldwide Sales: 725,000+ copies sold
- RIAA Certification: Gold
- Record Label:
- BNA Records
- 19 Records
- Sony BMG Nashville
Television career:
for a return engagement. Pickler was involved in a very successful fundraiser for children’s hospital in North Carolina. Pickler was featured for the first time in She performed for the first time at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville - she will go back on December 7, 2006People Magazine and US Weekly magazine in which she shared more about her tumultuous childhood brought about by troubled parents. She participated in major music events like the ASCAP and CMA. She reprised her role as red carpet correspondent for CMT on the 2006 Country Music Awards, and co-presented an award for fellow American Idol alumna, Carrie Underwood. Her publicity continues on the airwaves performing live on various radio stations (98.7 WMZQ, 99.5 the wolf, 99.5 Live Country, 97.3 Eagle, 96.3 KSCS,) and participating in interviews. She’s also featured in prominent websites like Country Music Television website, USA TODAY online, and others.
She performed for the first time at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, she came back there on December 7, 2006.
Pickler performed live on December 16, 2006 at the culmination of the charity event that was sponsored by CMT One Country and COX Communications to refurbished the NFL YET Boys & Girls Club of New Orleans which was damaged due to the Hurricane Katrina.
Pickler is featured on Country Weekly’s March 26, 2007 issue for its “Spring Fashion Spectacular.” It includes up to eight fashion styles including four full page prints and a centerfold.
Aside from being one of the opening acts for Brad Paisley’s “Bonfires and Amplifiers” tour this summer which will end late August, Pickler is booked in various country music festivals, TV appearances, and other live events for 2007. Just recently she took part in the Wing Ding Country Music Festival, performed for the third time at the Grand Ole Opry, hosted the ‘07 CMT Music Awards - Video Of The Year Special’, was featured on the ACM & GAC special on the run up to the 42nd Academy of Country Music Awards, and has just finished taping a segment for the CBS Early Show to be aired May 14.
On June 12, 2007, Pickler sang the Star-Spangled Banner on the 7th inning of Chicago Cubs vs Seattle Mariners game at the Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. she also sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” where she inadvertently forgot some of the lyrics. Pickler was with announcers Pat Hughes and Ron Santo for a short Q&A as the game continues.
Pickler appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on June 7, 2006 as a guest correspondent on the red carpet at the 2006 “MTV Movie Awards”. There she encountered Sandra Bullock who suggested that Pickler do comedy, which she proceeded to do with her version of The Matrix for Keanu Reeves. Pickler also had encounters with Will Ferrell, Zach Braff, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and was interviewed by Steve Carell. She reprised this role on December 14, 2006 in her segment titled “A Very Pickler Christmas” where she was tasked to find the perfect Christmas gift for Jay Leno. Along the way she met New York city folk including celebrities like Al Roker, Lionel Richie and Taylor Hicks. She tasted her first rambutan fruit, checked out live crabs in Chinatown, asked local folks for suggestions on what to give Jay, rode the NY Subway for the first time, and even tried to speak Mandarin and Italian including the famous New York greet “How ya doin’?” In the end she decided to give Jay a box of pizza.
Pickler co-hosted the 2006 CMA Red Carpet for CMT together with Lance Smith and Katie Cook on November 6, 2006.
Pickler will be starring in her own half-hour sitcom being developed by 20th Century Fox and 19 Entertainment, Watson Pond’s Brad Johnson, and 19’s Simon Fuller and Malcolm Young. Pickler will play a naive small-town Southern woman (a character loosely based on herself) who discovers that her biological father is the state’s governor. Chris Peterson and Byran Moore (That ’70s Show) will write and create the project.
Pickler took the role as host once again and this time by herself for Country Music Television’s “Video Of The Year Special” featured the nominees for the “2007 CMT Music Awards” where she was also nominated for “Breakthrough Video Of The Year” for her debut single “Red High Heels.”
Awards and nominations:
Year Presenter Award Result
- 2007 Country Music Television Awards Breakthrough Video of The Year:
- “Red High Heels” Nominated
- Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Female Vocalist Of The Year Nominated
- Country Music Association Awards Horizon Award Nominated
- New Music Weekly Awards New Country Artist of the Year Nominated
Pickler actively supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she helps raise funds and gives kids special visits. She also participates in charitable events to help raise funds for various organizations. She performed live to help raise funds for the “N.C. Children’s PROMISE” to benefit the Children’s Hospital in Nov. 12, 2006, performed live to help refurbish the Hurricane Katrina damaged NFL Youth Education Towns Boys & Girls Club of New Orleans on December 16, 2006,visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on January 12, 2007, and recently visited Pennington Elementary School in February 1, 2007 where she read to the kids Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree and later answered questions. “When you’re able to give back to your communities and organizations like St. Jude, it’s a great thing,” Pickler said. “It’s been a great experience, and I encourage anyone and everyone to help.” Pickler was part of a Country and Western artist studded online auction for charity by Mario Magro: Kiss for a Cause Foundation Celebrity Auction held June 15-25, 2007 in support of orphaned and abandoned children. The event auctioned off celebrity lip prints and signature pressed on the inside of Mario Magro Crystal Le Coop handbags at the 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.