Introducing Kelsie Watts - A Social Media Sensation on the Road to Stardom

Kelsie Watts is an innovator when it comes to music. From classical to pop, and R&B to rock, there isn’t a genre of music that Kelsie can’t tackle. Leveraging the powerful social media platform TikTok, Kelsie has amassed over 1 million followers by sharing covers of iconic hits alongside her original music. Whether broadcasted on social media, NBC’s The Voice, or a local stage in her home city of Nashville, there’s no doubt that the up and coming star’s voice has captivated listeners across the nation, transforming them into instant fans. 

Born into a musical family, the Lubbock native was encouraged to pursue her craft as early as two years old, leading her to develop powerful vocals and unique artistry as a child. Kelsie honed her skills by performing in church and school plays, later going on to study opera, vocal performance, and commercial music at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. In Nashville, Kelsie began taking her career to the next level by songwriting, producing, and releasing her own music.

Kelsie’s talent caught the eye of industry professionals in no time, leading her to be selected as the featured vocalist on AJ McLean’s (Backstreet Boys) single, “Hurts to Love You”. Following the single’s release, Kelsie took a leap of faith and auditioned for Season 19 of NBC’s The Voice, wowing judges and viewers alike with a rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “I Dare You” and securing a spot on “Team Kelly”.

On the heels of her run as a member of “Team Kelly”, Kelsie focused on her career as an independent pop artist. She recorded the single “Live Out Loud” with Multi-Platinum and GRAMMY Nominated producer NicoTheOwl, which served as the theme song for the Tokyo Sky Tree Global Campaign, Tree of Hope W1sh Ribbon Project. The official video for the track streamed on loop 24/7 from the Tokyo Sky Tree, and was featured during the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, exposing Kelsie to a massive global audience.

Kelsie has since unveiled the powerful single “Look What You Missed”, an upbeat empowerment track co-written with Casey Cook, and “I Can’t Say Goodbye”, an anthemic ballad written in honor of her late brother and deeply touching for anyone who has gone through a painful loss. She has also released an EP titled “The Joy of Christmas” which contains 4 personally special Christmas hits, and recently shared her latest single “After Midnight”, a summer pop ballad that fans have been loving. 

All the while, Kelsie’s fanbase has consistently grown on social media, specifically TikTok. “TikTok was one of the main platforms that launched my visibility through the roof! Half of the battle as an artist is simply being seen. The app allowed my voice to be placed in front of millions of people within a very short amount of time…the impact TikTok has had on my journey as an artist is massive and I'm forever grateful for every single person that follows me.” Kelsie told BELLA. 

Social media has provided a unique tool for rising artists like Kelsie, allowing them to connect with fans in an intimate way that offers a glimpse into both their daily lives and professional journeys. Kelsie has mastered the art of engaging with her audience through social media, frequently sharing videos of herself singing requested songs while performing everyday tasks like cooking, which has fostered a sense of relatability among her community. It’s no surprise that Kelsie has garnered over 100 million views and counting. 

With no intention of slowing down, Kelsie plans to release new music and hit the road to perform for fans around the world in the upcoming months. With undeniable vocals and an innate ability for storytelling, the TikTok phenomenon is on track to having a major breakthrough and taking the music industry by storm. 

“Growing as an artist in the current industry is both exciting and painful. We have the blessing of massive social media platforms and streaming. However, we also have to learn how to wear a ton of different hats….we are now a combination of our own marketing team, visual director, producer, photographer, videographer, distributor, graphic designer, etc. There's more to juggle, but we have access to literally everything. I'd say there are both positives and negatives, but regardless of if we like it or not, we must adapt so that we can share our art with the world,” Kelsie said. 

To follow along on Kelsie’s exciting journey, follow her on Instagram at @kelsiewattsmusic, or TikTok at @kelsiewatts.