Carly Pearce might be a name you're hearing for the first time, but if you’re a fan of country music (or musicians who are immensely talented), then you’ll want to keep her on your radar. At the age of 26, Carly is on the path to becoming a breakout country star, and she shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
From a young age, Carly had her sights set on becoming a musician. In fact, she can’t recall ever considering any other possible career for herself.
“I’ve been told I started to sing before I was even talking,” Carly says. “My mom said the only thing that would stop me from crying as a baby was country music. I think it was my destiny!”
Given her early passion for music, it’s no surprise that Carly dedicated her early years to shaping her musical abilities. By the age of 11, she started touring with a local bluegrass group. Getting early experience with a live audience was critical in helping Carly grow as a musician. The shows not only helped to build her stage presence but enabled her to feed off of the energy of audience members.
“I love the energy of a live crowd. There’s nothing greater than looking out and seeing the audience take the emotional roller coaster ride along with you with every song,” she says.
At 16, Carly decided that music would be her top priority. She convinced her parents to let her continue her education through homeschooling and moved from her Kentucky hometown to Pigeon Forge, Tenn. to perform several times a week at Dollywood—a theme park partially owned by singer Dolly Parton.
“I genuinely have never known a moment of my life that my dream wasn’t to be a face of country music,” she says. “It’s always been the only thing I’ve known.”
A few years later, Carly moved to Nashville—which is widely known as the country music capital of the world (and for good reason). For decades, Nashville has been home to the genre’s biggest stars, and Carly hopes that she can contribute to the legacy. She’s already toured with country artists Kelsea Ballerini and Florida Georgia Line, and her music has attracted the attention of other stars, like Cam and Lucy Hale.
Carly’s hit song “Every Little Thing" was especially instrumental in helping to further her career. “I wrote ‘Every Little Thing’ as therapy, for a pretty horrible breakup I went through,” Carly explains. “I wanted to create a scene of actual snapshots from my story of living with his memory and realizing that our hearts ultimately decide when we're ready to let someone go.”
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade—right?
Aside from personal experiences, Carly draws inspiration from female powerhouse vocalists. “I love voices that have a lot of texture, tone and character in their voices,” she says. “Women like Trisha Yearwood, Alison Krauss, Faith Hill to name a few. I definitely think that sound of the early 2000s is what I want to bring back. Truly ‘modern country’ music.”
Although Carly has performed at countless venues throughout her career, there’s one stage that never gets old—Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry. “I just played for the 32nd time, and I swear to you I still get butterflies,” Carly reveals. “I don’t think there will ever come a day where that doesn’t happen, and I don’t think it’s supposed to leave. That stage is the ultimate staple that defines country music.”
When it comes to her plans for the future, Carly is determined to put in the effort necessary to reach an even larger audience through her music.
“I have so many goals. This year, I want to work super hard to make a splash on the scene with 'Every Little Thing' and also to make a killer debut record that people really love,” Carly says. “Long term, I'd love to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, be a part of a major tour, win an ACM or CMA for new artist or female vocalist. A girl’s gotta dream big, right?!”