Kay Hanley

Kay Hanley transitioned from lead singer of the alternative rock band Letters to Cleo to an Emmy Award-winning songwriter and advocate for songwriters’ rights. After co-founding the alternative rock band Letters to Cleo in 1990, Kay Hanley went on to become an Emmy Award-winning songwriter for animated television and a prominent advocate for songwriters’ rights. As lead singer of Letters to Cleo, Hanley released three albums between 1990 and 2000, including their debut ‘Aurora Gory Alice’ (1993) and charting hits such as ‘Awake’ and ‘Here and Now.’ The band’s significant recognition led to an appearance in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You, where Hanley and the band performed two songs. In the late 1990s, Hanley expanded her career into television and film as a singer and songwriter, penning songs for WB’s animated series Generation O!

Most recently, Hanley co-created and serves as an executive producer for Kindergarten: The Musical, which debuted on Disney Junior in 2024. This project further solidifies her role as an influential figure in children’s entertainment, combining her expertise in songwriting with new ventures in production.