K. Michelle ‘Grateful’ To Sign First Country Music Record Deal
“I deserve to do what I’m great at,” she says.
Singer-songwriter and television personality K. Michelle has officially signed her first country music record deal with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.
Michelle took to Instagram to announce the inking milestone writing, “I deserve to do what I’m great at. It’s bigger than me. I represent the weird kids, the misunderstood, the have nots, the overlooked, women and men from all different walks of life. I am the underdog. Thank you @bbrmusicgroup @bmg for partnering with me and understanding my vision. Out of every label I knew IMMEDIATELY where I was going.”
This news is a clear indicator of the incredible success Michelle has achieved with her groundbreaking career as a renowned singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. Throughout the past decade, she has gained a worldwide fanbase by releasing R&B and Soul tunes and now, she is ready to return to her roots and lean into her country music sound.
“When we first met K. Michelle, she radiated her passion for country music. It’s the fabric of who she is because the lyrics represent truth. She’s built an incredible fanbase with her unique vocals anchored with storytelling at its heart and that is what transcends genres,” says Katie Kerkhover, VP, A&R at BMG.
Her impressive resume also goes beyond the country music industry to include work as an entrepreneur, author, executive, actress, television personality and restaurateur. Aside from her music, fans may recognize her appearance as a regular cast member on the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.
She released her first studio album, Rebellious Soul, in 2013. The project debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums charts. Since then, she’s released five Billboard charting records and collaborated with iconic artists such as Missy Elliot.
Last year, the songstress surprised her audience of over 10 million followers by announcing that her sixth album, I’m The Problem, would be her final R&B record, as she begins to embark on her dream of releasing a country project.
“I have been ready. I am grateful for this moment,” Michelle shared in a statement alongside the announcement of her new deal. “Rebels and Real Outlawz, it’s time! I am excited and want to thank my BMG Team. I am happy to finally sing the music I grew up on. I am a country girl at heart and can’t wait to share my country music with you.”
In 2023, K. Michelle joined Jelly Roll on the CMA Awards stage to pay tribute to The Judds. During an interview ahead of the show, she shared her excitement over the opportunity to honor the duo she loved so much.
“I’ve been doing R&B a long time and I would always sing Judds songs at my shows,” she revealed during an interview with the Country Music Association. “That was the first tape I ever got my whole career.”
K. Michelle credited The Judds for ushering her “into country music” and explained how the collaboration came together.
“They set it up. They wanted it to be something unique, something different. So they were like, ‘We want you to do ‘Love Can Build A Bridge.’ And then they said, ‘We want you to do it with Jelly Roll.’ I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s my neighbor.”
K. Michelle recently performed at CMA Fest and is actively working on music for her highly anticipated debut country album and its accompanying tour.
Lauren Coin is a junior at Michigan State University studying Journalism with minors in Broadcast and Public Relations. She has previously published articles for The State News, MSU’s student newspaper.
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