About Kelsey Rae

Nashville based Kelsey Rae writes and sings country music 1950s style.

From her album “Fortune Teller,” this Southwest Virginia native sings her originals like “Social Media,” her tribute to Dolly Parton with contemporary lyrics, plus country classics at Layla’s Honky Tonk on Nashville’s Broadway, and she’s also a regular at American Legion Post 82’s Honky Tonk Tuesday Nights, the place to be in Music City USA to hear traditional country music.

In Nashville she’s performed at The Bluebird, had a residency at The Nashville Palace and helped kick off Women in Country Music during 2019’s CMA Fest. She teamed up with Bristol’s Bigtone Records for release of its first 45rpm vinyl record – Kelsey Rae singing “Release Me” on A side, “We Buried Her Beneath the Willow” on B.

She performed in a Patsy Cline tribute event in Nashville the first year living there, and The Bluebird Café shortly before she moved to Music City  USA featuring her 2015 Richard Leigh Songwriting Festival contest winner, “This Old Town.” and other original songs she wrote and recorded on "Fortune Teller."

Her love of the mountains, Southwest Virginia, and the influences of the Carter family and Dr. Ralph Stanley stay dear and close and are heard in her original songs that showcase a distinct voice and lyrics that speak to those inspirations and love for the sounds of the music of Patsy Cline, Connie Smith, Anita Carter and Kitty Wells.

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Early in 2018 she opened for Lillie Mae at Barter Theatre's January Jams, a concert series selected as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast for January 2018. She’s performed at the Carter Fold in Hiltons, Va., at Home Craft Days in Big Stone Gap, Va., at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol and at the 2014 , 2018 and 2019 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion.

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Next up for Kelsey Rae

So excited to be performing on September 11 at the 20th anniversary of the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

September 10-12, 2021 in Bristol, VA/TN.

Honored to be one of the 100+ bands performing on 13 stages in the 3-day event.

Check it out:

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Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

20th Anniversary Rescheduled 

September 10 -12. 2021

Bristol, VA/TN

Due to the COVID-19 virus, shows have been on hold, but stay tuned for news and keep watching my page for my upcoming plans,.

...Kelsey Rae

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 Radio Bristol's Farm and Fun Time is now being aired on Blue Ridge PBS

 at 7 PM Saturdays

on UNC TV 9 p.m. Saturdays

on East Tennessee PBS 3:30 p.m. Sundays.

Check the station schedules.

Kelsey Rae and Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys appeared on Farm and Fun Time July 11, 2019

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Kelsey Rae introduced at 30.01