Lori McKenna

Lori McKenna is an American folk, Americana, and country music singer-songwriter known for her contributions to contemporary songwriting across multiple genres. McKenna began her career performing at open-mic nights in Massachusetts and released her first album before making her debut at the Newport Folk Festival. By the time her songwriting career gained national attention, McKenna had already released four independent albums, establishing her presence in the folk and Americana music scenes.

A turning point in McKenna's career occurred when Mary Gauthier introduced her album "Bittertown" to Nashville artists. Faith Hill, after hearing the album, included McKenna's songs on her own record "Fireflies" and invited McKenna to tour and perform on national television. This exposure led to collaborations with prominent country artists such as Sara Evans, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. McKenna has written several songs that have appeared on the Billboard Hot Country list, including Hunter Hayes' "I Want Crazy," Faith Hill's "Stealing Kisses," Tim McGraw's "Humble and Kind," and Little Big Town's "Your Side of the Bed," "Sober," and "Girl Crush."

McKenna's songwriting has been recognized with multiple awards. She became the first woman to win the Academy of Country Music Songwriter of the Year Award and the first woman to win the Country Music Association Song of the Year Award in consecutive years. McKenna has received multiple Grammy Awards for Best Country Song, including for "Girl Crush," performed by Little Big Town; "Humble and Kind," performed by Tim McGraw; and "Crowded Table," performed by the Highwomen. She also co-wrote "Always Remember Us This Way" with Lady Gaga, Natalie Hemby, and Hillary Lindsey for the film "A Star Is Born," which received a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year.

In addition to her work as a songwriter for other artists, McKenna has maintained a solo career, collaborating with producer Dave Cobb on albums such as "The Bird & the Rifle," "The Tree," and "The Balladeer." Her 12th solo album, "1988," explores themes of aging and resilience. McKenna's songwriting and solo work have been recognized by outlets such as Associated Press and The Tennessean for her influence in modern country and folk music.

Throughout her career, McKenna has chosen to reside in Boston while commuting to Nashville for songwriting collaborations. Her work has earned her multiple Boston Music Awards, Grammy Awards, Country Music Association Awards, and Academy of Country Music Awards. McKenna's career reflects a significant impact on the music industry as a songwriter and performer in folk, Americana, and country music.