When Britnee Kellogg attended a Johnny and June concert at the age of 6, she knew music was her passion and hit the ground running to live her dream. Britnee’s upcoming album, She’s Come A Long Way, not only pays tribute to Johnny and June inspiring her music career, but it also shows who she is as a person. I loved talking with Britnee about the songs she has released so far and what we can expect from the project set to release on June 28. She recently had the honor of performing for the Inspirational Country Music Awards at The Grand Ole Opry. After seeing a photo of Johnny & June backstage, she sat down to sing the song and it is her dream for this to be her debut Opry song one day.
The songs on this album are relatable, fun, and inspiring. Britnee believes in going after your dreams despite circumstances and hopes her music will inspire others to do the same. “The album is a mix (of different types of songs), a lot of it is my story. The album starts with “She’s Come A Long Way” and (ends with) “Thank You Johnny and June”, which is where my whole career started. It’s my journey as a mom and woman growing over the years, personally and professionally, along with a couple of funny light-hearted songs I love. It’s almost an autobiography of who I am as a person,” says Britnee.
She’s Come A Long Way
The title and opening track of the album, “She Comes A Long Way“, is about how resilient women are. The music video brings the song to life by showing women as they are from all walks of life, including Britnee’s mom and daughter. The video begins with a cancer survivor telling her story followed by many different women highlighting their careers and the obstacles they have overcome. “I wanted to highlight all walks of life that have been through it or come far in their career. The midwife (in the video) delivered my daughter, and I loved hearing her story about her journey of becoming sober. It was inspiring to learn more about her. I wanted women who were inspiring (to be in the music video), and maybe when others watch, it can relate to their lives as well,” says Brittnee. (Read more on how the song and video came to be in this People exclusive)
“She’s been down in the dust,
– Britnee Kellogg
Hit her knees but she got back up,
Got her feet on the ground but her head’s in the clouds to stay.
She’s been quiet too long,
But you can’t steal a songbird’s song,
She was drowning in noise,
Now she’s got something to say,
She’s come a long way,
She’s come a long long way.”
Hell In A Handbag
“Hell In A Handbag” is a fun song about all the random things in a girl’s bag and the judgment she receives from others about where they think her life is headed. The song is very much Britnee’s style and she is grateful to have recorded it after it was previously released by Alyssa Micaela. Britnee put her sound to the funny lyrics and loved how it turned out. “It’s such a funny, uplifting, laughable song, but also so accurate because at any time you can find the craziest stuff in my personal handbag,” says Britnee.
“I got an old parking ticket that I’m never gonna pay,
– Britnee Kellogg
And an empty liquor bottle from an airplane,
Got a lighter that I borrowed from a cowboy in Texas,
Still got the spare key to my ex’s Lexus,
A can of dry shampoo and a toothpaste tube,
For nights I don’t make it home,
Add the Advil to that and a couple red flags,
Yea, you could say I’m going to hell in a handbag.”
This Mess
As a mom, Britnee feels like she is living “This Mess” daily. “I wanted to write a song about sharing life with someone in the midst of all the chaos and it’s so crazy when you have kids it can be like ships passing in the night. Raising kids, and being a mom and wife is literally a mess at times,” says Britnee, “I feel like I am living on 2% battery at any given moment, but I wouldn’t change it. I love being a mom and sharing it with someone; this song encapsulates anyone who has kids. It can be a mess, but it’s my mess and I love it.”
“But who’da thought it’d be so sweet,
– Britnee Kellogg
Nowhere else I’d rather be,
Kissing in the kitchen with your arms around me,
In this mess, this mess.
Hail Mary right from the start,
Found our way feeling through the dark,
Baby, it’s a miracle we got this far,
But this mess, this mess is ours,
This mess is ours.”
Go After Your Dreams Girl
On her social media, Brittnee shares everything from living her music dreams to the crazy messes of everyday life. One day she is dealing with a broken refrigerator, and the next she is performing in Nashville at CMA Fest. Between the busy days with kids and the flights from Arizona to Nashville, she wouldn’t have it any other way and loves sharing her journey. Her favorite part of being an artist is meeting fans and hearing from them personally about how her music has impacted their life in some way.
“I really try to use my platform to inspire others who maybe aren’t pursuing their dreams because of their circumstances. When I was a single mom it was nearly impossible to go out to play and write music, and make the time to do all of that. But I had to do it because it was important to me and I think it’s important for moms and women, whatever their circumstances are to find the time if it’s really something you’re passionate about and a dream you have. You don’t want to be 90 years old wishing you had taken that one step. I really want to encourage others to work through the mess and the crazy to make it happen regardless of their circumstances.”
– Britnee Kellogg
Be sure to pre-save Britnee’s new album, She’s Come A Long Way, out June 28. Follow along with Brittnee on Instagram @britneekellogg for the latest on her fun and crazy life. To stay in the know of new music I love follow me @farmgirlwithcurls and subscribe.
Farm Girl With Curls 