Caylee Hammack

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Caylee Hammack
Birth nameCaylee Anna Hammack[1]
Born (1994-03-19) March 19, 1994 (age 30)
Ellaville, Georgia, US
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.; Southland Academy[2]
GenresCountry
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2018–present
LabelsCapitol Nashville
Websitewww.cayleehammack.com

Caylee Anna Hammack (born March 19, 1994[3]) is an American country music singer-songwriter. She is signed to Capitol Records Nashville and released her debut album If It Wasn't for You on August 14, 2020. She is signed to Red Light Management and is managed by Mary Hilliard Harrington.

Early life[edit]

Hammack started playing music at age 13.[4] While not getting much of a music education or vocal lessons at a young age, she self-taught by listening and singing songs on the country radio.[5] The first time she had to turn down potential tennis scholarships was at age 15, after a surgery to remove a tumor. She wrote her first song, "Addictive", about the pain pills she had to take after the surgery.[6]

While her brother played Southern rock and her sister Britney Spears songs, she discovered the country genre for herself and counts the Chicks and SHeDAISY as her early inspirations.[7]

She received a full music scholarship to Belmont University in Nashville at age 18, but declined because her boyfriend persuaded her to stay in Ellaville with him. After she broke up with her boyfriend and was noticed by Luke Bryan,[8] she moved to Nashville at the end of 2013 with about $1,000 of savings, a high school diploma, and her clothes in trash bags.[9] She ran out of money and slept in her car. With a fake ID, she entered the music venues and bars and, after asking a bass player at the Honky Tonk Central on Broadway, she started to sing cover versions there weekly.[7][9] Before signing a recording contract, she performed several original songs, including "Redhead".[10]

Career[edit]

After about two years of playing and writing songs, she was introduced to Universal Music Publishing Group by Robert Filhart, where she started as a staff writer.[11] During a writers' retreat, she found out that her house in Nashville had burned down due to an electrical fire that destroyed about 70% of her belongings. Tenille Townes was at the retreat with her and helped her during this time which was the start of their friendship.[5]

In 2018, she signed a recording contract with Capitol Nashville.[11]

Her debut song "Family Tree" was released on January 18, 2019, and was the most-added debut song by a female artist at country radio in the previous three years.[12] On May 29, 2019 she performed the song on the Today show in her national television debut.[13]

In 2019, she was the opening act for Lanco, Dierks Bentley, Trisha Yearwood, and Miranda Lambert.[14][15][16]

Hammack wrote "Small Town Hypocrite" while still being a staff writer, together with Jared Scott, about the breakup with her boyfriend who cheated on her, which eventually brought her to Nashville. Later she found out that he lived in a double-wide trailer, which made its way into the song's final verse.[17] The song was released on February 21, 2020 [18] and received praise from Billy Dukes of Taste of Country calling it "a product of courageous songwriting".[19] She sent a recording to Chris Stapleton, who agreed to sing vocals on the song for a re-release in 2021[20]

In February 2020, Hammack learned about her first ACM nomination for New Female Artist of the Year for the 2020 ACM Awards while waiting for a plane at the airport.[21]

Hammack was scheduled as the opening act for Reba McEntire and Luke Bryan in 2020 but the tour was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The opening acts for McEntire were postponed, which left Hammack and her band with no income. During this time they offered a landscaping service to make up for the lost income.[22] After the pandemic prevent her from opening for Reba McEntire and Luke Bryan in 2020, she got the chance to open for Luke in 2021 [23] and in 2022 for Brad Paisley for some of the US stops during his World Tour.[24]

Hammack hosted a Facebook event together with Ashley McBryde called CMT Next Women of Country Goes Live on April 7, 2020[25] and appeared on Country Outdoors LIVE special from Outdoor Channel on May 8.[26]

Her debut album If It Wasn't For You was released in August and contains 13 songs. She co-wrote 12 of them and wrote one by herself. The album features duets with Reba McEntire, Ashley McBryde, and Tenille Townes.[27]

On August 13 a new version of "On the Road Again" with Willie Nelson, Hammack, and nine other Academy of Country Music nominees was published as "On the Road Again (ACM Lifting Lives Edition)" with proceeds from downloads to benefit a COVID-19 fund from ACM.[28]

In February 2023 Caylee announced a second album when releasing the first single "All or Nothing" which she wrote together with Tofer Brown and Thomas Finchum and produced with Dann Huff.[29]

In March, she was part of C2C: Country to Country 2023 and had her debut performance in Europe.

Influences[edit]

Hammack cites Kacey Musgraves, David Bowie, Tom Waits as her influences in her adult life.[9]

Personal life[edit]

In November 2020, Hammack purchased a home in Nashville that needed to be renovated.[30]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Title Details Peak chart
positions
US Country[31]
If It Wasn't for You
  • Release date: August 14, 2020[27]
  • Label: Capitol Records Nashville
  • Format: CD, digital download
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles[edit]

Year Single Peak chart
positions 		Album
US Country[32] US Country Airplay[33]
2019 "Family Tree" 40 32 If It Wasn't for You
2020 "Just Friends" — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other charted songs and promotional singles[edit]

Year Single Peak chart
positions 		Album
US Country[32]
2019 "Fooled Around and Fell in Love"
(Miranda Lambert featuring Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack, and Elle King) 		47 —
2023 "All or Nothing" — TBA
"History of Repeating" —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos[edit]

Video Year Director
"Family Tree" 2019 Dano Cerny
"Preciatcha"
"Small Town Hypocrite" 2020
"Redhead" Justin Clough
"Forged in the Fire"

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award show Category Nominated work Result References
2020 Academy of Country Awards New Female Artist of the Year Caylee Hammack Nominated [21]
Musical Event of the Year "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" (with Miranda Lambert) Won [21]
AIMP Nashville Awards Publisher's Pick "Small Town Hypocrite" Nominated [34]
Country Music Association Awards Musical Event of the Year "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" (with Miranda Lambert) Nominated [35]
2021 Academy of Country Awards New Female Artist of the Year Caylee Hammack Nominated [36]
2023 CMT Music Awards Video of the Year "Bonfire at Tina's" (with Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark and Pillbox Patti) Longlisted [37]
  • Hammack was named a "new country artist you need to know" by Rolling Stone in 2018.[38]
  • Hammack was featured as an emerging country artist by Billboard in 2019.[6]
  • Hammack was recognized by CMT Listen Up on its 2020 list, which was extended into 2021 in August.[39]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Congratulations to Caylee Anna Hammack, The ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Awardee for 2016!". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. September 30, 2016 – via Facebook.
  2. ^ Alston, Beth (December 28, 2016). "Local artist making her mark in Nashville, as well as industry". Americus Times-Recorder.
  3. ^ @Cayleehammack (March 19, 2021). "I can't explain the sheer excitement I am tingling with while we drive to our show at the @CocaColaRoxy tonight with @JonPardi & @949TheBull ATL HERE WE COME! I've been waiting to celebrate my birthday tonight in my home state" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Liptak, Carena (February 28, 2020). "Who Is Caylee Hammack? 5 Things You Need to Know". The Boot.
  5. ^ a b "10 Questions with ... Caylee Hammack". All Access.
  6. ^ a b Reuter, Annie (March 25, 2019). "Emerging Country Artist Spotlight: Caylee Hammack". Billboard.
  7. ^ a b Houghton, Cillea (November 26, 2019). "Who Is Caylee Hammack? An Unwavering Artist Forged in Fire". Taste of Country.
  8. ^ Reuter, Annie (July 25, 2019). "Caylee Hammack, Cindy Mabe & More Featured as Speakers at 2019 CMA EDU Executive Summit". Billboard.
  9. ^ a b c "Country Singer-Songwriter Caylee Hammack on Her Love of David Bowie, Finding Strength as an Artist". Rolling Stone. August 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Dukes, Billy (January 4, 2020). "Caylee Hammack's Best Songs Are All Originals". Taste of Country.
  11. ^ a b Reuter, Annie (March 27, 2020). "How Caylee Hammack Went From Sleeping In Her Car To Landing a Record Deal". Billboard.
  12. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (April 15, 2019). "Caylee Hammack Earns Highest Female Country Radio Debut In Three Years". Musicrow.
  13. ^ Freeman, Jon (May 29, 2019). "See Caylee Hammack's Swaggering 'Family Tree' on 'Today'". Rolling Stone.
  14. ^ Thompson, Gayle (November 15, 2019). "Miranda Lambert Praised by Tour Opener, Caylee Hammack: 'She's a Saint' (Exclusive)". PopCulture.com.
  15. ^ Dukes, Billy (November 27, 2019). "Trisha Yearwood Praises Caylee Hammack Ahead of Every Girl Tour". Taste of Country.
  16. ^ "Caylee Hammack Joins Dierks Bentley On Tour". Rolling Stone. November 6, 2019.
  17. ^ Beviglia, Jim (April 20, 2020). "Caylee Hammack Explains the Writing Behind "Small Town Hypocrite"". American Songwriter.
  18. ^ Roberts, Megan (February 21, 2020). "Caylee Hammack Releases New Single, 'Small Town Hypocrite'". Belles and Gals.
  19. ^ Dukes, Billy (May 3, 2020). "Caylee Hammack's 'Small Town Hypocrite' Is Courageous Songwriting". Taste of Country. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  20. ^ Liptak, Carena (April 29, 2021). "Caylee Hammack Taps Chris Stapleton for a Turbo-Charged 'Small Town Hypocrite' [Listen]". Taste of Country.
  21. ^ a b c "Caylee Hammack "cried in an airport bathroom" when she found out about her first-ever ACM nomination". KTLO-FM. February 27, 2020.
  22. ^ M. Hall, Kristin (April 1, 2020). "Caylee Hammack's band went from concerts to mowing lawns". Associated Press News.
  23. ^ Black, Lauren Jo (April 23, 2021). "Luke Bryan Announces Proud To Be Right Here Tour with Direct Support From Dylan Scott". Country Now. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  24. ^ Hudak, Joseph (March 29, 2022). "Brad Paisley Announces 2022 World Tour Dates". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  25. ^ "Ashley McBryde joins "CMT Next Women of Country Goes Live" today". Universal Music Group Nashville. April 7, 2020.
  26. ^ Hollabaugh, Lorie (May 6, 2020). "The Outdoor Channel, UMG Nashville Team To Present 'Country Outdoors LIVE'". Music Row.
  27. ^ a b Nicholson, Jessica (June 24, 2020). "Caylee Hammack Details Upcoming Debut Album 'If It Wasn't For You'". Music Row.
  28. ^ Grein, Paul (August 10, 2020). "Willie Nelson Teams With ACM New Artist Nominees for 'On the Road Again' Remake to Aid COVID-19 Fund". Billboard.
  29. ^ Iahn, Buddy (February 3, 2023). "Caylee Hammack drops fierce 'All or Nothing'". The Music Universe. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  30. ^ Despres, Tricia (May 7, 2021). "Caylee Hammack Finds a Refuge — and a Flood of Inspiration — Within the Walls of Her New Nashville Home". People.
  31. ^ "Top Country Albums results for Caylee Hammack". Billboard.
  32. ^ a b "Hot Country Songs results for Caylee Hammack". Billboard.
  33. ^ "Country Airplay results for Caylee Hammack". Billboard.
  34. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (July 30, 2020). "Ashley McBryde, HARDY, Hailey Whitters Among AIMP Nashville Awards Winners". Musicrow.
  35. ^ Garvey, Marianne (September 1, 2020). "CMA Awards 2020: See the full list of nominees". CNN.
  36. ^ Huff, Lauren (February 26, 2021). "Maren Morris and Chris Stapleton lead 56th Academy of Country Music Awards nominations". Entertainment Weekly.
  37. ^ Greg Evans (March 8, 2023). "CMT Music Awards 2023 Nominations: Lainey Wilson Leads Roster – Complete List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  38. ^ McKenna, Brittney; Gage, Jeff; Moss, Marissa R.; Menconi, David; Crawford, Robert; Parton, Chris; Beaugez, Jim (July 25, 2018). "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: July 2018". Rolling Stone.
  39. ^ Iahn, Buddy (August 13, 2020). "CMT extends 2020 Listen Up program into 2021". The Music Universe.
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