Early Life

Kellie Dawn Pickler was born on June 28, 1986, in Albemarle, North Carolina to Clyde “Bo” Raymond Pickler, Jr. and Cynthia Morton. Her mother left when Kellie was two years old and she was raised by her grandparents. As a child, Pickler took dance lessons, competed in beauty pageants, and sang at her local church. When she was sixteen, she worked as a waitress at a Sonic Drive-In.

Career

After her elimination from American Idol, Pickler signed a record deal with 19 Recordings and BNA Records. She co-wrote all but four songs for her album Small Town Girl; among them was her debut single, “Red High Heels”. The song was released on September 13, 2006, and debuted at thirty-eight on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It reached a peak of fifteen in early 2007, becoming Pickler’s first top twenty hit single as well as her first to reach number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100.

On September 30, 2008, she released her self-titled album, Kellie Pickler. The album, produced by Chris Lindsey, peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. On its release, it sold almost 43,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200, making it the highest-charting solo album by a female country artist in over two years. The album’s lead-off single, “Best Days of Your Life”, became Pickler’s second top ten hit on the Hot Country Songs chart in 2008.

On January 24, 2012, Pickler released her third album, 100 Proof. The album debuted at number one on the Top Country Albums chart and at number seven on the Billboard 200, making it her highest-charting solo album to date. The first single from the album, “Tough,” peaked at number 19 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in 2011.

On November 11, 2013, Pickler released her fourth studio album, The Woman I Am. The album’s lead single, “Little Bit Gypsy”, was co-written by Kyle Jacobs, Tammi Lynn Kidd, and Fred Wilhelm. It debuted at No. 4 on the Top Country Albums chart and has sold 34,400 copies in the US as of February 2016.

In 2013, Pickler was a contestant on Season 16 of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with professional dancer Derek Hough. The duo made it to the finals and ultimately finished in the first place.

During her time on Dancing with the Stars, Pickler gained popularity for her Southern charm and sense of humor. She endeared herself to fans and became one of the most popular contestants on the show.

Pickler was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2016.