Caylee Hammack

Caylee Hammack, born on March 18, 1994, in Ellaville, Georgia, began playing music at age 13. Largely self-taught, she developed her vocal skills by listening to country radio. A surgical procedure at 15 led to her writing her first song, “Addictive,” after turning down tennis scholarships. Inspired by artists like The Chicks and SHeDAISY, Hammack received a full music scholarship to Belmont University at 18 but initially declined to stay in her hometown. Following a relationship ending, she moved to Nashville in late 2013 with minimal savings, even sleeping in her car at one point. She secured a weekly gig singing cover versions at Honky Tonk Central on Broadway, asking a bass player for an opportunity.

After two years of performing and songwriting, Hammack was introduced to Universal Music Publishing Group, where she started as a staff writer. A significant event during this period was when her Nashville home burned down due to an electrical fire, an experience she shared during a writers’ retreat with Tenille Townes. In 2018, Hammack signed a recording contract with Capitol Nashville. Her debut song, “Family Tree,” released on January 18, 2019, was the most-added debut song by a female artist at country radio in three years. She made her national television debut performing the song on the “Today” show on May 29, 2019. Throughout 2019, she served as an opening act for Lanco, Dierks Bentley, Trisha Yearwood, and Miranda Lambert.

Hammack continued to build her career, releasing “Small Town Hypocrite” on February 21, 2020. This song, co-written with Jared Scott, detailed a past relationship and received positive reviews, with Billy Dukes of Taste of Country noting its “courageous songwriting.” Chris Stapleton later contributed vocals to a re-release of the song in 2021. In February 2020, Hammack received her first ACM nomination for New Female Artist of the Year for the 2020 ACM Awards. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her plans to open for Reba McEntire and Luke Bryan in 2020, leading her and her band to offer landscaping services temporarily. She later opened for Luke Bryan in 2021 and Brad Paisley in 2022. Her debut album, “If It Wasn’t for You,” was released in August 2020, featuring collaborations with Reba McEntire, Ashley McBryde, and Tenille Townes. A new version of “On the Road Again” with Willie Nelson and other ACM nominees, with proceeds benefiting a COVID-19 fund, was released in August 2020. Hammack performed her debut European show at the C2C: Country to Country 2020 in Berlin on March 6, 2020. Her second studio album, “Bed of Roses,” is scheduled for release on March 7, 2025, alongside a co-authored book of the same title with Carolyn Brown.