For K. Michelle, Memphis is more than her hometown. It’s the foundation of her artistry, the source of her unmistakable soul and a major influence on the woman she has become.
“Memphis gave me an edge. Memphis allowed me to be tough,” the chart-topping singer told an audience gathered Friday, Nov. 6, at the National Museum of African American Music in downtown Nashville. “Memphis taught me about, you know, really believing in who you are, because a lot of people, most people from Memphis are proud to be from Memphis.”
That hometown pride was at the center of “An Afternoon with K. Michelle,” a special celebration recognizing the Memphis-born singer-songwriter’s musical evolution and the release of her long-awaited debut country album, “Jesus & Whiskey.”
The gathering, held inside the museum’s Roots Theater, brought together fans and music enthusiasts for a conversation about her career, musical influences and the experiences that shaped her journey from R&B to country music.
Another Memphis native, veteran music executive Gina Waters Miller, moderated the conversation.
On a stage decorated with country music motifs and backed by a screen projecting the album’s cover art, the two women reflected on their hometown and the musical traditions that helped shape their respective careers.
“So, let’s start in Memphis. We share that. We share Memphis,” Miller said.
The question prompted one of K. Michelle’s most revealing reflections.
“Memphis just taught me overall about soul. And Memphis has this soul on it. It has its own type of feel, its own type of thing,” K. Michelle said. “Being from Memphis is something I’m very proud of. And I feel like it is a big core of how I act, how I think, how I write and, you know, basically just who I am.”
Born Kimberly Michelle Pate, the successful recording artist’s musical foundation was established long before she became nationally recognized.
During the conversation, Miller asked K. Michelle to reflect on the Memphis performing arts institution where she developed her talents as a young singer, who described an educational experience that allowed her to dedicate significant time to developing her artistic abilities.
“I went to a performing arts high school in Memphis, Overton High School. And there, it was my Fame,” she said. “We would take our, you know, math and all that stuff, we would take that in the summertime so we could sing all day.”
She emphasized how important that early investment in artistic development was to her future.
“It was an amazing experience because all day long, I got to sing, sing, dance, and develop, you know, me as an artist,” she said.
She also expressed concern that many emerging performers today lack comparable opportunities. Attending Overton was an early affirmation for her that a career in entertainment was possible. She credited her parents for supporting that ambition and allowing her to pursue an education centered on her creative interests.
“I would not change that,” she said of the experience. “I think that really made me believe that I could.”
Although K. Michelle has achieved commercial success in R&B, her shift to country music is neither a recent bout of self-discovery nor a calculated attempt at reinvention. During Friday’s afternoon conversation, she made it clear that country music has been part of her life since childhood.
For longtime supporters familiar with her musical background, she said, the transition should come as no surprise.
“If you know me, you guys know exactly who I am, and country music for me has been something I’ve listened to and loved since I was a little girl,” she said. “The first tape I ever got in my whole life was the Judds.”
That early exposure would eventually become part of her formal vocal training.
K. Michelle credited Memphis vocal coach Bob Westbrook with introducing her to musical styles that stretched beyond the powerhouse R&B vocals she initially gravitated toward.
She recalled Westbrook, who also worked with pop stars Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, recognizing her vocal abilities but also wanting to challenge her. Rather than focusing exclusively on the music of artists such as Whitney Houston, whom she admired, Westbrook introduced her to country material and yodeling exercises.
She admitted that she was not particularly enthusiastic about the assignments at the time. But the training ultimately helped distinguish her as a vocalist.
When she auditioned for a scholarship at Florida A&M University, K. Michelle said she performed selections spanning multiple musical genres, including opera, gospel and popular standards. Her versatility and personality made an impression. According to the singer, university representatives told her they did not have a scholarship available for her particular combination of talents but would work to find one.
They eventually did. And the experience helped establish the technical foundation and musical range that would later define her recording career.
Released Oct. 16, “Jesus & Whiskey” is K. Michelle’s first full-length country project and seventh studio album. Produced by Kristian Bush of the country duo Sugarland, the nine-track album explores faith, heartbreak, redemption, relationships and personal growth.
Songs including “Jack Daniel’s,” “Yodel,” “Blame Tennessee” and the title track showcase an artist combining the storytelling traditions of country music with the emotional intensity that helped build her R&B career.
K. Michelle first gained national recognition with her 2013 debut R&B album, “Rebellious Soul,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. Projects including “Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart?” “More Issues Than Vogue,” “Kimberly: The People I Used to Know,” “All Monsters Are Human,” and “I’m The Problem” soon followed.
Her career also includes appearances as a cast member on reality television series “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” “K. Michelle: My Life” and “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
After achieving success in another genre, the singer has spoken about the challenges of being recognized as a country artist for years. Her latest project represents an opportunity to embrace a musical identity she has maintained throughout her life while challenging assumptions about where Black artists belong in the country music industry.
Although the afternoon event at the museum centered on K. Michelle’s musical accomplishments, the presence of Waters Miller, who has spent nearly three decades in the entertainment industry, brought another layer of Memphis history and influence to the celebration.
An accomplished executive, entrepreneur, musician and educator, she is the principal of Waters Edge Entertainment, a consulting firm that works with artists and entertainment professionals on career development, business strategy and long-term growth. Before establishing her firm, Miller spent about 20 years with MNRK Music Group, formerly Entertainment One, working across genres including gospel, R&B, country, classical and Americana.
Waters Miller’s professional background also includes leadership roles at the Music Business Association, the Recording Academy and Nashville Music Equality. In 2024, she was recognized during the museum’s annual honors celebration.
Throughout Friday’s discussion, Miller drew connections between K. Michelle’s childhood experiences and the determination required to pursue a career that does not always fit neatly within industry expectations.
The conversation moved between humorous memories of growing up in Memphis, formal vocal training, the challenges of songwriting and the personal sacrifices associated with bringing a creative vision to life.
For two women whose careers have taken them to Nashville’s entertainment community, their exchange on stage also illustrated Memphis’ far-reaching influence on the music business. K. Michelle offered insights about her songwriting process and the emotional attachments artists develop to their work.
She spoke about accumulating unreleased recordings over the years and sometimes struggling to part with songs that feel particularly personal. As a songwriter, she explained, an artist must eventually be willing to share those creations rather than holding on to them.
She also reflected on advice she received from music icon Prince about the importance of allowing music to reach audiences instead of keeping recordings tucked away.
As the conversation neared conclusion, Miller reflected on the years of determination required for K. Michelle to bring her country album into the world.
“Dreaming costs nothing. But bringing a dream to life asks something of us,” Miller told the audience.
She described the project as a dream K. Michelle had carried, protected and fought to realize despite the obstacles she encountered.
“This is a story of artistic agency, perseverance and finally being able to make the music you’ve always wanted to make,” Miller said.
Her remarks emphasized that the album represented more than a new chapter in the singer’s discography. It was the realization of an ambition that had remained with K. Michelle since childhood.
Miller also offered a personal message of encouragement.
“This moment, you’ve envisioned for so long, and I just want you to know that I am incredibly proud of you,” she said.
The museum’s celebration also featured the unveiling of the dress worn by K. Michelle on the cover of “Jesus & Whiskey,” creating a physical connection between the album and the institution’s mission of documenting African American musical achievement.
For an artist who has spent much of her career defending her right to explore different musical traditions, the recognition carried symbolic weight.
Country music has long been shaped by African American musicians and the musical traditions of the South, even as Black artists have historically faced barriers to visibility and acceptance within the industry.
K. Michelle’s journey adds another, more promising, chapter to that history.
And for Memphis, Friday’s celebration offered another reminder of the city’s enduring influence on American music. From blues and soul to gospel, R&B and country, Memphis has produced artists and industry leaders whose contributions extend far beyond the city’s borders.
On a Nashville stage, that legacy was represented by two women whose professional journeys followed different paths but shared the same foundation, identity and inspiration rooted in Memphis.
And a dream, years in the making, finally brought to life.
