For some of us, it can take a lifetime to heed the wise words of Dolly Parton: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” For singer and songwriter Jess Kellie Adams, that awakening came early in her life and career, just in the nick of time.

“I get it now, Dolly!” she says with a laugh. The former self-professed underdog has never been more aware of her purpose and is now making her own way on her own time with tenacity and a whole lotta heart.

“My whole life I’ve questioned who I am. It took seven years in Nashville for me to truly come into my own. My formula is different. My experiences are the foundation of who I am as a person and an artist.”

“What makes me different is what makes my journey magical,” she says with a confident smile.

And those unique stories come to life in Adams’ collection of new songs. 

“Everything I write and release as an artist is a story from my life or a situation weighing heavy on my heart,” the Belmont Music Business graduate reveals.

“When someone listens to my music, I want them to feel inspired, strong, loved, and welcomed into the JKA family. I want them to have a smile of relief because they know we share similar stories and so do so many others in the audience as well.”

With influences ranging from The Chicks, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Earl Thomas Conley and Merle Haggard, honest storytelling lies at the heart of everything Adams does. The Ohio-native grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry with her grandpa and devouring every song that played on her local country station. Just as these iconic artists and their songs have influenced her life and make a tremendous impact on her own music, Adams strives to do the same for her fans.

“I remember after one of my shows, a woman came up to me and said she wished her nephew would’ve waited one more week to hear my song. It floored me. We both knew what that meant and hugged with tears. I was 15 at the time and knew from that moment on, my purpose is to help others through my songs. I feel every emotion and energy that comes my way so I can be the voice for the voiceless, for those who feel silenced,” she said.

Adams’ songs have taken her to many venues, fairs and festivals across the United States and just recently onto CMT.com. The music video for her recent single, “Saving Grace” was just picked up by CMT.com and is premiering on September 10th. She has shared the stage with artists such as the late Joe Diffie, Darryl Worley, Kip Moore, Jason Michael Carroll, Josh Thompson, the Swon Brothers, John Michael Montgomery, Billy Ray Cyrus, Daryl Singletary, and Julianne Hough. In 2021 she played Country Concert in Ft. Loramie, OH and was on the bill with Luke Combs, Jon Pardi, Ashley McBryde, Neal McCoy, Lainey Wilson, and Niko Moon… and she’s just getting started.

“I truly feel that I’m on a mission to build a community of people who are wanting to spread love and light to as many people as possible,” she said.

 I want my fans to listen to my music and think about the value of family and how memories made with their loved ones are what matter most. I want them to think about their outlook on life and hopefully provide a sign for them to chase that dream they’ve been too scared to go after, call that person they had a falling out with years ago, or get in touch with themselves.

 “I may be the one doing the singing, but I want them to know that they have a voice. And it deserves to be heard.”

 Adams will continue spreading love, light and joy through her music this summer and fall with tour dates throughout the Southeast and Midwest. Keep up with her schedule and all the good news at www.jesskellieadams.com as well as @JessKellieAdams on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify.