Ruston Kelly Biography

Ruston Kelly was born on July 31, 1988, in South Carolina, USA. He spent his childhood in several cities as his family relocated quite often due to his father’s profession.

He took part in figure skating competitions as a youngster. As part of his skating career, he moved to Michigan at the age of 14. It was in Michigan that he started writing songs; his passion for writing and music grew further when he moved to Belgium along with his family. He returned to the United States at the age of 17 and started living with his sister in Nashville, where he continued pursuing music and songwriting.

Ruston Kelly started his career as a songwriter. In 2013, he signed a deal with ‘BMG Nashville,’ which landed him an opportunity to write a song for the popular American country singer-songwriter Tim McGraw. His song ‘Nashville Without You’ was released in Tim McGraw’s album ‘Two Lanes of Freedom.’ Kelly then started playing guitar in a band called ‘Elmwood’ before focusing on his songwriting career by collaborating with singers like Hayes Carll and Josh Abbott. In 2016, he released his debut extended play (EP), ‘Halloween,’ by collaborating with the famous entertainment company ‘Razor & Tie,’ which released the EP under its record label ‘Washington Square Records.’ The EP featured 10 songs, including popular tracks, such as ‘Hurricane In My Head,’ ‘How To Preserve The Life Of Death,’ ‘Black Magic,’ ‘Halloween (Downstairs),’ and ‘1814B 6th Ave N.’ Some of the songs from the extended play went viral on streaming services, earning Kelly the much-needed fame.

He collaborated with another record label ‘New Rounder’ and came up with his debut full-length album ‘Dying Star,’ which was recorded at Texas’ famous recording studio ‘Sonic Ranch.’ The album, produced by Jarrad K, was released on September 7, 2018. It featured 14 songs, including hit tracks, such as ‘Son Of A Highway Daughter,’ ‘Brightly Burst Into The Air,’ ‘Trying To Let Her,’ ‘Big Brown Bus,’ ‘Cover My Tracks,’ and ‘Dying Star.’

In 2018, Kelly collaborated on another album titled ‘Forever Words,’ which was recorded by various artists, such as Brad Paisley, Carlene Carter, Chris Cornell, Dailey, Elvis Costello, Jamey Johnson, Ro James, Robert Glasper, and Rosanne Cash among others. The lyrics were written by famous American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Johnny Cash. While the album featured 16 songs, Ruston Kelly recorded a single track ‘To June This Morning.’ Released on April 6, 2018, ‘Forever Words’ peaked at various positions on several charts around the world. In the US, it peaked at number 66 and number nine on ‘US Billboard 200’ and ‘US Billboard Country Albums’ respectively.

Apart from ‘New Rounder’ and ‘Razor & Tie,’ Kelly has also collaborated with other popular music labels, such as ‘Legacy Recordings’ and ‘Concord Records.’

Ruston Kelly met Kacey Musgraves at the ‘Bluebird Café’ in Nashville. In 2016, Kelly and Musgraves collaborated for a song. Eventually, they started dating and fell in love. They got engaged on December 24, 2016, and their wedding took place on October 14, 2017, in Tennessee. In one of her interviews, Musgraves stated that her song ‘Butterflies’ from the album ‘Golden Hour’ is about her relationship with Kelly. Ruston Kelly’s frequent public appearances alongside Kacey Musgraves have increased his popularity in social media. He is active on platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter.

Ruston Kelly is not only a talented musician but also an accomplished visual artist, known for creating captivating artwork to accompany his music.

In addition to his music career, Ruston Kelly is passionate about advocacy work, particularly in the areas of mental health awareness and addiction recovery.

Ruston Kelly's songwriting is often praised for its raw honesty and emotional depth, drawing listeners in with its vulnerability and authenticity.

As a live performer, Ruston Kelly is known for his engaging stage presence and the way he connects with his audience on a personal level during his shows.

Ruston Kelly has a unique sense of style and fashion, often incorporating vintage pieces and eclectic accessories into his wardrobe, reflecting his artistic sensibilities.