Kellie Pickler, recognized for her country music journey, gained fame on the fifth season of American Idol, finishing in sixth place. In 2006, she inked a deal with 19 Recordings and BNA Records, launching her career as a recording artist.
However, more recently, Kellie has stepped away from singing. The official reason for her departure hasn’t been addressed by either Kellie or her network. The change coincided with the tragic passing of her husband, songwriter, and producer Kyle Jacobs, with reports indicating his death as a result of suicide.
On February 17, Kyle Jacobs, the 49-year-old songwriter and producer, husband to Kellie Pickler, was discovered dead in what appeared to be a suicide attempt at their Nashville residence. Police reported finding him in his bedroom-cum-office on the second floor, with a gunshot wound that seemed to be self-inflicted.
Why Did Kellie Pickler Stop Singing?
While Kellie Pickler hasn’t entirely halted her singing career, she is actively engaging in other meaningful pursuits. Finding solace and joy, she spends quality time in her backyard, nurturing her soul.
Kellie hasn’t explicitly addressed the reasons behind the apparent stagnation in her music career over the past decade. After releasing her album “The Woman I Am” and the song “If It Wasn’t for a Woman,” she has expanded her interests into television, film, live theater, and various creative ventures.
Who is Kellie Pickler?
Kellie Dawn Pickler, born on June 28, 1986, is an American country music singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. She rose to prominence as a contestant on the fifth season of American Idol, securing the sixth position. In 2006, she inked a recording deal with 19 Recordings and BNA Records.
Her debut album, “Small Town Girl,” hit the shelves later that year, boasting sales exceeding 900,000 copies. Recognized by the RIAA with a gold certification, the album spawned three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: “Red High Heels” at No. 15, “I Wonder” at No. 14, and “Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind” at No. 16.
Kellie Pickler followed her debut with a self-titled second album in 2008, featuring four singles: ‘Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful’ at No. 21, ‘Best Days of Your Life’ at No. 9 (co-written with Taylor Swift), ‘Don’t You Know How Much I Loved You’ at No. 14, and ‘Makin Me Fall in Love Again’ at No. 30.
In 2012, Kellie Pickler ranked 14th among American Idol alumni. After parting ways with her previous record label in October 2012, she signed with Black River Entertainment. Winning the sixteenth season of Dancing with the Stars with her partner Derek Hough on May 21, 2013, marked a significant achievement.
Further accolades followed in 2016 when she was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. From 2017 to 2019, Kellie Pickler co-hosted the nationally syndicated daytime TV talk show “Pickler & Ben” alongside comedian Ben Aaron.
Kellie Pickler Biography
Kellie Pickler, born on June 28, 1986, entered the world at Stanley Memorial Hospital in Albemarle, North Carolina. Her parents were Cynthia Morton and Clyde “Bo” Raymond Pickler Jr. Kellie experienced early challenges as her mother left when she was two years old, returned briefly, and then relinquished custody.
The court later placed Kellie in the care of her grandparents at the age of 12, and they raised her to adulthood due to her father’s absence.
Her grandfather, Clyde Raymond Pickler, Sr., a former electrician, and her grandmother, Faye Pickler, became significant influences in her life. Kellie Pickler graduated from North Stanley High School in New London, North Carolina, in 2004, where she participated as a cheerleader. Following high school, she celebrated her graduation by singing “On the Side of Angels” by Leanne Rimes.
At the age of nineteen, Kellie Pickler auditioned for American Idol in the fall of 2005 in Greensboro, North Carolina. During her audition, she showcased her talent by singing both Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You Been Gone” and Martina McBride’s “Broken Wings.” Advancing through the semi-finals in February, she secured a spot in the Top 12 on March 9th.
Judge Simon Cowell favored Kellie Pickler and even predicted she would finish in the top three. He expressed a preference for her over the previous season’s winner, Carrie Underwood. Kellie gained attention on the show for her “quirky” personality and Southern charm.
Notably, she mentioned her limited experience performing in front of audiences and occasionally mispronounced words. Before her rise to fame as an American Idol contestant, she admitted to being relatively ignorant of popular culture.
Following her time on American Idol, Kellie Pickler ventured into TV commercials, featuring her singing the song “Walkin’ After Midnight” in some of them. On May 6, 2006, she returned to her hometown, Albemarle, North Carolina, where she was honored with a parade and a reunion with her father.
The Mayor of Albemarle awarded her the keys to the city and declared it “Kellie Pickler Day.” She also received various awards from local and state officials for her notable performance on American Idol.
Kellie’s musical journey continued with the release of her first single, “Red High Heels,” on September 13, 2006, accompanied by its official music video on October 20, 2006.
The single earned a nomination for the CMT Video Awards’ “Breakthrough Video of the Year.” Her debut album, “Small Town Girl,” hit the shelves on October 31, 2006, claiming the top spot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and securing the ninth position on the Billboard 200.
With over 79,000 copies sold in its first week, Kellie Pickler achieved the highest-selling first-week sales for a new artist in 2006. The album featured five songs co-written by Kellie herself, collaborating with songwriters Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, and Karyn Rochelle.
Kellie Pickler Husband
Kellie Pickler was married to Kyle Christopher Jacobs, an American country music songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, and pianist. He served as a staff writer for Curb Music from 2003 until his tragic passing in February 2023.
Kyle Jacobs, known for his musical talents, co-wrote Garth Brooks’ single “More Than a Memory,” marking the first song to debut at number one on Billboard’s Country Singles chart.
His impressive career extended to collaborating on Kimberley Locke’s Top 10 hit “8th World Wonder,” and his compositions were recorded by various artists, including Trace Adkins, Jo Dee Messina, Craig Morgan, Tim McGraw, Kellie Pickler, Clay Walker, Kelly Clarkson, Scotty McCreery, and others.
Kyle Jacobs also engaged in collaborations with notable figures such as Darius Rucker, Rachel Thibodeau, and Wynonna. He and Kellie Pickler starred together in the CMT reality series “I Love Kellie Pickler.”
Kellie Pickler and Kyle Jacobs exchanged vows on January 1, 2011. His untimely death occurred on February 17, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee, as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 49 years old.
How Many Kids Does Kellie Pickler Have?
As of the current available information, Kellie Pickler does not have any children, and there were no reports of her being pregnant before the passing of her husband, Kyle Jacobs.
Where is Kellie Pickler Now?
Kellie Pickler’s current whereabouts and activities are not explicitly known. She recently stepped down from her role as an on-air host on The Highway on SiriusXM. Updates on her professional and personal endeavors may be found through official announcements or her public appearances.
Kellie Pickler as a Radio Host
Kellie Pickler commenced hosting SiriusXM’s The Highway midday show (12-4 pm) in February of 2022 through satellite (ch. 56) and on the SXM App.
Unfortunately, a few weeks after the tragic passing of her husband, Kyle Jacobs, it was announced that Kellie Pickler would be stepping down from her role as the daytime on-air personality for SiriusXM’s The Highway.
Kellie Pickler a USO Ambassador
In recognition of its 80th anniversary, the United Service Organizations (USO) appointed Kellie Pickler and producer, actor, and activist Wilmer Valderrama as USO Global Ambassadors.
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