Kelly Willis might have been a Nashville superstar in another universe—but in this one, she’s forged a more independent and authentic path. The Oklahoma-born, Austin-based artist broke through in the early ’90s with a major-label debut (Well Travelled Love) and a feature on the Thelma & Louise soundtrack. After parting ways with MCA, she found her voice on her own terms. Her 1999 album What I Deserve became a defining moment, earning critical acclaim, a loyal fan base, and a place in the Austin Music Hall of Fame. She’s since released six more albums, praised for their raw honesty and her “enormous voice” (Robert Christgau). Now, Willis is entering a new chapter—writing her next album, planning a 25th-anniversary reissue of What I Deserve, and touring both solo and with her new trio alongside Brennen Leigh and Melissa Carper. “I’m in a creative phase,” she says. “It’s scary, but it feels good.
Texas’s Country Sweetheart. With rockabilly roots and a heartache-meets-honky-tonk voice, Kelly Willis has been labeled a country ingénue. As a new traditionalist singer/songwriter, her tunes effortlessly combine the storytelling and strings aspects of country music and the driving force of rock.
After the last two joint releases (Cheater’s Game in 2013 and Our Year in 2014) with husband Bruce Robison featuring duets with beautifully organic close harmonies, the reigning Austin all-Americana couple will take a creative break and pursue their own ventures this year. Kelly has a solo project currently in the works, which will tentatively be released in Spring of 2018.