If you’ve been looking at the Billboard charts, you might notice a significant development. New Zealand country singer Kaylee Bell is having a moment in the US right now, with her 2019 track Keith currently at #12 on the Country Digital Song Sales and Bell herself at #41 on the Emerging Artists chart.
Her impact in the last week – when Keith debuted on the Billboard charts – has been massive, with the song currently sitting between Lainey Wilson’s Watermelon Moonshine (#11) and Zach Bryan’s Something In The Orange (#13).
Earlier this month, Bell reminisced about performing Keith in front of Keith Urban on The Voice Australia, captioning a video on TikTok, “Still pinch myself that I got to share this moment with you.”
Bell has shared her exciting jumps through the Billboard chart on her Instagram, and this morning, she got in touch with Countrytown to chat about the impact of it all.
“To make the Billboard charts in the US is behind my wildest dreams, and to do this as an independent and self-managed artist with no label, etc, just means that this song is genuinely connecting with people, which is the best part,” Bell told Countrytown. “I think it resonates as the audition on The Voice Australia, where I had the chance to sing my song Keith to Keith Urban, is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of chance that I feel lucky I got to take, as terrifying as it was!
“All I’ve ever wanted to do was make music that connects with people and play live, and this is reassurance that I am on the right path.”
On Tuesday, Bell shared a teaser to a new song she’s written, Good Things – you can check out that video below.
Bell’s Billboard success is yet another moment of success in the US for the singer. In September, Bell and Casey Barnes were nominated for the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist award at the CMA International Awards. Winners will be announced later this year.
“Honoured to be nominated for the CMA Country Music Association ‘Global Country Artist’ International Award alongside Casey Barnes and Tebey, who are shifting the dial for CM globally,” Bell said in a statement.
“So proud to be a part of the growth of Country Music happening in NZ and Australia; thanks to you guys for supporting a genre I care so much about!”