Toledo Singer Chases Country Music Dreams

For one Toledo High School graduate, life changed in the blink of an eye.

Singer Kaitee Carney was on a family vacation in California, waiting for her hotel room to be cleaned. As she was sitting on the balcony, she began to sing, a simple act that would change her life as she knew it. 

“My parents were sitting on the adjacent balcony and some lady walked up and started talking to my mom,” Carney said. “My mom came over and said, ‘You need to go inside and change, put some makeup on and warm up because a producer is coming outside to listen to you right now.’” 

That moment of pure chance would spur a series of events that would place Carney on a stage as the opening act to big-time musicians Keith Anderson and Jessica Andrews. 

Before that deciding moment, Carney was meeting with an Army recruiter and wanted to join the military. Her success over the last year has changed her plans.

“It all happened so fast. It was completely out of the blue, not expected at all, whatsoever,” she said. “It’s nerve-wracking, but exciting.” 

Through the experience, Carney has acquired a booking agent and two producers. With the help of her producers, she recorded four original songs with more in the works. 

Carney, an Onalaska resident who recently graduated from Toledo High School, has been singing ever since she can remember.  

She became interested in the country side of music at the age of 10, and added to that talent at the age of 12 when she started playing guitar. 

Her mom, Melissa, said she knew her daughter was going to go somewhere at the age of 13. 

“That’s when I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, my kid can be a country star,’” she said, remembering the talent contest that made her come to that realization. “She wrote one of her own songs and played it on piano, played a cover and sang one. She beat people who make their living doing this.” 

Carney credits her success in part to her parents and the Toledo community.

“My parents, they have always been behind me 100 percent,” Carney said. “And Toledo as a community, they have always supported all of the shows and I sang at so many events here. It’s just always a good experience when I’m in town and around everybody here.”

For her next step, Carney has plans to set up meetings with record labels in April to see where her music can get her. She also has something in the works with James Otto, a country music artist, although she said nothing was set in stone and it was too soon to delve into specifics.

Throughout the whirlwind ride, one thing is for certain: Her passion for the music she creates continues to get stronger. Her goal is to get to a place where she can live a comfortable lifestyle doing what she enjoys to do. 

Her mother has supported her life decision and wants only the best for her daughter.

“I just want her to be happy,” Melissa said. “And she’s happiest when she’s writing music and playing it up there. Ever since she was a little kid, that’s all she ever wanted to do.” 

The possibilities are endless and Carney has seen an overwhelming outpour of support. She remains humble, and grateful for the opportunities presented to her, and she plans to take the opportunity by the horns to see how far she can go with it. 

“Thank you for the support, absolutely and please keep listening,” Carney said to all those who have backed her.