Country music has a long way to go in welcoming female artists. Of the Top 20 songs on the Mediabase chart, only one – Lainey Wilson – is in the Top 20, with her “Somewhere Over Laredo” single. That is followed by Megan Moroney, who has a Top 30 single with “You Had To Be There,” her duet with Kenny Chesney. Only a few other female artists, namely Moroney, Meghan Patrick and Miranda Lambert (for her Chris Stapleton duet) manage to have songs anywhere on the charts.
The lack of favoritism towards female artists is enough to deter almost any woman from pursuing a career in country music. Just not Alexandra Kay.
“I really don’t let that bother me at all, and I don’t let it slow me down,” Kay tells Billboard. “Because my experience is going to be what God intends for me, and I know for sure that I’m not going to have my foot off the gas.”
Not only is Kay unbothered by the male dominance at radio – still – but she is already predicting her current single will land at the top of the charts.
“I truly believe my song ‘Straight For The Heart’ will be my first No. 1 at country radio,” Kay maintains.. “And I have no problem saying that, and I say it on stage all the time.”
How Alexandra Kay Found Success
Kay might be talented, but she’s also smart. Kay began posting videos of her singing ’90s country covers in 2020, using the popularity from those songs to introduce one of her own. The back-to-back songs gave Kay “a lift in the algorithm,” she recalls.
“That’s how I ended up getting millions and millions of streams of my original music,” Kay adds.
Alexandra Kay’s “Straight For The Heart” Single
Even before “Straight For The Heart” was released, Kay predicted the song would ultimately land at the top of the charts. The song, from her forthcoming Second Wind album, was written by Jimmy Robbins, Karley Scott Collins and Sasha Sloan.
Alexandra Kay’s New Album, Second Wind
Second Wind, Kay’s sophomore album and her first record onBBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, will be out on October 24.
“I’m so ready to share these songs with the people who have been with me every step of the way,” Kay says of Second Wind. “Over the past two years, I’ve done a lot of growing — and over the last year, I’ve had the chance to write about the version of myself that’s emerged from that growth. This album reflects a new side of me, and I can’t wait for my fans to experience it live — especially the happier songs that I’m hoping they’ll be screaming right back at me from the crowd.”
Kay wrote all but two of the 14 songs on Second Wind. The only other song she didn’t write, “Old Me,” was penned by Shane McAnally, Sasha Sloan and Henry Agincourt Allen.
See a track list for Second Wind below. Kay will also embark on her headlining Second Wind: The Tour this fall. Pre-order the project, and find “Straight For The Heart” and all of Kay’s music and upcoming shows at AlexandraKayOfficial.com.
Second Wind Track List:
1. Better Off (Alexandra Kay, Dan Pellarin, Jet Harvey)
2. Nobody (Alexandra Kay, Emily Falvey, Pete Good)
3. Straight For The Heart (Jimmy Robbins, Karley Scott Collins, Sasha Sloan)
4. Right Now (Alexandra Kay, Jon Nite, Andrew DeRoberts)
5. Tomorrow Problems (Alexandra Kay, Jon Nite, Andrew DeRoberts)
6. Big Boy Boots (Alexandra Kay, Ava Suppelsa, Kevin Gruft, Maggie Champman)
7. Hell Right (Alexandra Kay, Andrew Capra, Ava Suppelsa, Lauren McLamb, Rocko Beall)
8. Measure Of A Man (Alexandra Kay, Allison Veltz-Cruz, Andrew DeRoberts)
9. Old Me (Shane McAnally, Sasha Sloan, Henry Agincourt Allen)
10. Cupid’s A Cowgirl (Alexandra Kay, Kevin Gruft, Cheyenna Rose Arnspiger)
11. The Last (Alexandra Kay, Jon Green, Andrew DeRoberts)
12. What He Does (Alexandra Kay, Andrew DeRoberts, Allison Veltz-Cruz)
13. Feminine Energy (Alexandra Kay, Lauren McLamb, Andrew Capra, Rocko Beall, Matt Wynn)
14. Second Wind (Alexandra Kay, Rocko Beall, Cheyenna Rose Arnspiger, Kevin Gruft)
Photo Credit: CMA / Ray McClure