Shelby Kay Music

Shelby Kay is a small-town South Dakota girl raised with a true country grit and rock side. Shelby has many mentors in life, some of which are her grandparents Betty & Larry (past musicians) , Music Teacher (cousin) Kathy, Oryx Guitarist & Vocals (brother) Tristan. Her family has always encouraged her to write and play music, specifically – her parents and sister Lindsay. All have given her support in the younger years which helped her find opportunities throughout life, then started at 11 years old playing with her family at county fairs, community events, featured in bands, opening, and wherever there was an opportunity to play & sing. She was never limited on what songs or genres she could do, so she did it all. She was a lifelong “band nerd,” learning as many instruments as she could get her hands on—piano, drums, ukulele, woodwinds, and, of course, guitar. You could find her in middle school featuring in her brother’s band, Oryx, which sparked her love for ’80s rock.

Shelby has various musical influences: Johnny Cash, Journey, Shania Twain, John Denver, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Lainey Wilson, Fleetwood Mac, The Cranberries, Green Day, The (Dixie) Chicks

But for years, music was simply something she loved.

Then came Nashville.

In 2023, Shelby left South Dakota with only her guitar, a few clothes, her favorite boots, and a cheap cowgirl hat. She was heading to Nashville to chase two things she had always been passionate about: music and horses.

It started with a Craigslist ad for a ranch-hand job in the Nashville suburbs. Shelby called the number expecting nothing more than a job opportunity. Instead, one phone call led to an unexpected new chapter. The woman on the other end was a Western actress whose husband worked in the music industry, and she invited Shelby to come work at their ranch.

For the first part of her time in Tennessee, Shelby wrote songs and worked with horses through equine therapy, helping veterans and first responders. Somewhere along the way, she realized she had found something that felt like a calling.

Then everything changed.

There was more to meet the eye in the industry. She was faced with the hardest decision of her life: stay and continue chasing the life she had built without her family, or walk away from it all without her music. When circumstances forced her to leave the ranch, she wasn’t ready to give up yet and found herself starting over in the city next door.

For the following months, Shelby worked at a bar in Clarksville, Tennessee, going by her old nickname “Bert.” While serving drinks, she would sing karaoke for patrons whenever they called out a request. She was still finding her way on her own and working toward the day she could afford to finally step onto a real stage in Nashville.

Her countless hours and time spent practicing were paying off, and she was meeting artists Bobby Keel and Gibson Talent Manager Buddy. She was even asked to sign “Bert” on a hat during her shift for a patron that favorited her voice. and following that, was asked to play acoustically for the bar she worked at, but she didn’t have sound equipment or a microphone. Just her voice and an old guitar, which she got when she was in middle school. While trying to figure out how to make it possible, an unexpected car accident brought her journey to an abrupt end. Although she could have stayed to try over again, she came to realize maybe it wasn’t meant to be. More than anything, Shelby missed her family, so she returned home to South Dakota and started over.

But she didn’t come home as the same person who had left. Nashville had taught her that chasing a dream can come with a price—but losing people, her music, and herself wasn’t one she was willing to pay.

That’s when she made a promise to herself to: never stop making music, never take family for granted, and never let anyone take it away again.

After all this and coming back home, she thought she was ready to get back into music. Shortly after her arrival, she happened to met her families favorite local musician, Todd, who turned her wishes into reality. A man with a heart of gold and many years of experience, lead her to acoustic gigging.

In 2024, she finally stepped onto the stage as a solo acoustic performer at surrounding drive bars, restaurants, festivals, markets, and more. What started as something she always loved became what she was building her life around.

Today, Shelby still balances her full-time daily profession with late-night writing, week-day shows, and weekend gigs. She brings her own unique blend of country, rock, pop, alternative – songs from just about every era and genre – to stages throughout South Dakota and beyond. Her shows are built around the crowd—taking requests, reading the room, and finding the right song for the moment. She has a passion for making everyone feel special, so don’t be surprised if she’s dedicating a song to you by the end of the night or gives hugs. She’s known for not only putting her own spin on familiar songs, but also bringing emotion, personality, and a little unpredictability to every performance.

She still writes music and plans to share her original songs with the world when the time is right. For now, she’s focused on doing what she promised herself she would do: making music her life, not a dream.

If you’ve ever heard her say, “My name’s Shelby, like the Mustang, but I’m not fast,” you’ve heard her signature introduction—and one she’s unlikely to retire anytime soon.