After Tragedy, Kellie Pickler Returning to Stage to Tribute Patsy Cline
Kellie Pickler is making her return to the stage as part of a Patsy Cline tribute. Scheduled for April 22nd at the Ryman Auditorium, Pickler will be performing as part of the all-star Walkin’ After Midnight: The Music of Patsy Cline. She will be joined on stage by Tanya Tucker, Pam Tillis, Wynonna, Ashley McBryde, Crystal Gayle, Dailey & Vincent, Beverly D’Angelo, Mickey Guyton, Pat Benetar, and more in the tribute.
Ever since Kellie Pickler’s husband Kyle Jacobs committed suicide on February 17th, 2023, she has remained out of the public eye, and purposely so. “One of the most beautiful lessons my husband taught me was in a moment of a crisis, if you don’t know what to do, ‘do nothing, just be still,'” Pickler said in August of 2023. “I have chosen to heed his advice.”
The couple was married for over 12 years, and were regular songwriting partners and music collaborators. They also appeared together in the CMT reality series I Love Kellie Pickler. Kyle Jacobs was a professional songwriter and producer, writing the #1 song “More Than a Memory” for Garth Brooks, along with songs for Clay Walker, Scotty McCreery, and others. Jacobs was also close friends with Lee Brice. He died due to a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Jacobs was 49 years old.
Kellie Pickler cites Patsy Cline as a primary influence on her music, and has performed “Crazy” and “Walking After Midnight” throughout her career. Her performance of “Walking After Midnight” on American Idol in 2005 is what rocketed her into the Top 10 of the show. She ultimately ended up at #6, and launched her country career afterward.
The critical apex of Kellie Picker’s output was her 2012 album 100 Proof, which turned out to be her third and final record for Sony. 100 Proof was a precursor for important things to come in country music in the proceeding years. It included songs co-written by Chris Stapleton and Brent Cobb before they were well-known. Stapleton also sang harmonies and Paul Franklin played steel guitar. The album was also incredibly well-written, very personal to Pickler, and went on to win Saving Country Music’s 2012 Album of the Year.
But after parting ways with Sony, Pickler focused just as much on being famous as being famous in music. She competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2013, and won the competition outright. That year she also released her first album through Black River Entertainment, The Woman I Am. In 2015, she starred in her own reality show on CMT called I Love Kellie Pickler that ran for 15 episodes. Then she starred in the Pickler & Ben morning show with Ben Aaron that started in 2017 and ran through 2019.
Many country fans have been waiting for Kellie Pickler’s return, both after the death of her husband, and to country music in general. Stepping back into the spotlight to tribute Patsy Cline seems apropos, and hopefully leads to more public appearances.
March 28, 2024 @ 1:25 pm
This is good news. Hopefully Kellie Pickler will also get back to recording new music for a new album. Her voice is too good to keep away from musical activities. Cheers & Twangs!
March 28, 2024 @ 5:40 pm
Kellie has the goods to become a mainstream country star with music that has substance. I’d love to see that scenario play out.
March 28, 2024 @ 7:32 pm
She tried that and radio ignored it. A crying shame. “Stop Cheating on Me” should have been a classic in the genre.
March 29, 2024 @ 9:57 am
By harking back to an earlier time in country music on 100 Proof she was, as Trig suggested, ahead of her time. Well, now’s the time that she was ahead of, so that the audience which failed to recognize “Stop Cheating on Me” (and pretty much every other song on that album) for the instant classic that it was might do better this time around.
March 28, 2024 @ 9:08 pm
Dear Kellie,
I’m a Suicide Survival my Little Brother hung himself from a Tree April 4th of 2023. There are two books that have helped me (1) It’s Okay that your not Ok.By Megan Devine it’s like another Bible. (2)AFTERMATH Picking up the Pieces After a Suicide. By Gary Roe. I suffer from Clinical Depression,Depression and Anxiety disorders. I have PTSD. find your inner support team. For me it’s my husband,my oldest Sister and my cousin, my Youngest Step Daughter who is Amazing Lady, I have my niece’s who are the best. And Speaking from experience please don’t let people tell you to get over it. It’s your time to Grief. Take as much time as you need during this.
March 30, 2024 @ 3:25 am
LOVE YOU KELLIE!!!! I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU SINCE AMERICAN IDOL. SOOOO SORRY ABOUT YOUR HUSBAND’S DEATH. MY SON KILLED HIMSELF, SHOT HIMSELF. IN 2019. I’LL NEVER GET OVER THE TRAGEDY, HOWEVER, TIME HELPS, SOMEWHAT. I LOVE YOUR VOICE. I SAW YOU IN REDDING CA A FEW YEARS AGO. I LOVE YOUR HALLMARK MOVIES!!! PLEASE MAKE MORE!!!! GOD BLESS YOU MIGHTILY!!!!!
BE GOOD TO YOURSELF!!! I PRAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED LIFE!!!!! IN JESUS NAME AMEN!!!!!
March 29, 2024 @ 1:29 am
I remember her when she was just a kid on American Idol. I haven’t really followed her career but she came across as a real sweetheart on the show. Wishing her nothing but the best.
March 29, 2024 @ 5:40 am
I miss Kellie Pickler. Her music is so underrated among mainstream country, and she has always seemed to be such a genuine person. It was sad to see her have to go through such tragedy and scrutiny. Would love to see her resurrect her country music career.
March 30, 2024 @ 5:03 am
…kelly pickler was not really “underrated among mainstream country”. her albums received commercial and critical acclaim, she was a media darling and had hits in the charts. however, she always had quite a few other things going on, thanks to her talent and her endearing personality. if anything, it was somewhat bad luck, that bro-country reigned, when she came up with rock solid traditonally leaning material. miss her too and would love to see her coming out of the dark and back.
March 30, 2024 @ 5:32 am
I realize Kellie sold her fair share of albums, and had some success on the radio. Probably one of the more successful American Idol contestants. What I mean by underrated is that Kellie is often overlooked for how good her music actually is due to her being a mainstream artist, and due to her subsequent success as a reality show character. It would be nice to see her come back and re-establish herself in country music.
April 1, 2024 @ 8:08 am
Her 1st album was Ok and the record label did good with singles as I enjoyed all the singles. Her 2nd album was awful and to this day I hate “The Best Days of Your Life” . Her last two is where she stepped up her game. She lost her record deal going with what she wanted to do musically and even though the album wasn’t successful commercially compared to the 1st two I’m surprised she was cut. They might have parted ways mutually I’m not sure. But she had two gold albums previously so surprised to see her cut. But bro country was in full effect so i don’t know how she would have fit in unless she pandered hard.
April 1, 2024 @ 8:46 am
I like all of her albums, though they all had songs clearly aimed at radio. But I agree, she hit her stride with 100 Proof.
March 29, 2024 @ 7:31 am
Kellie, I supported you on American Idol and watched I Love Kellie, your tours to our servicemen and much more. You have a God given talent and I hope you continue singing. My thoughts and prayers as you continue to move forward . Wishing you the very best!!!!
March 29, 2024 @ 7:42 am
Good to have her back
March 29, 2024 @ 12:16 pm
So glad she’s coming back!I really liked both shows shedid the one with her husband and the one with Ben.She is so comical love her sense of humor!
March 29, 2024 @ 9:07 pm
Will this tribute be televised? I’m sure there are many fans who would love to see this and can’t be there. Maybe CMT or streamed live or shown on a later date?
March 30, 2024 @ 6:08 am
Kellie always so talented great voice I know she do well love her always great lady so beautiful 😍 met her in person can’t forget glad she will be back love always ❤️ kp
March 30, 2024 @ 10:13 am
,❤️