Katie Pruitt

Pruitt grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. She was raised in a Catholic family. She began singing as a child in musical theatre productions. Pruitt continued singing at open mic nights in Athens, Georgia while attending community college.[1]

She attended Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she received the first annual Nashville Songwriting Scholarship from the BMI Foundation.[2]

In 2017, Pruitt was awarded the Buddy Holly Prize from the Songwriters Hall of Fame[3] and signed with Round Hill Records.[4]

Her EP, OurVinyl Live Session EP was released in March 2018.[5] She was named by Rolling Stone as one of 10 new country artists you need to know[6] and by NPR as one of the 20 artists to watch, highlighting Pruitt as someone who "possesses a soaring, nuanced and expressive voice, and writes with devastating honesty".[7]

On September 13, 2019, Pruitt released "Expectations", the title track from her full-length debut. Additional singles from this project were subsequently released: "Loving Her" on October 21, 2019,[8] and "Out Of The Blue" on November 15, 2019.[9]

On February 21, 2020, Pruitt's debut album, Expectations, was released by Rounder Records.[10][11]

With roots in folk music, Pruitt attributes growing up in the south of the United States as a key influence on her songwriting, both stylistically and thematically.[12]

Her music often deals with complex coming-of-age issues such as mental health, navigating toxic relationships, and questioning religious faith.[13] She describes the tension between coming out as a lesbian and growing up in a conservative household while attending Catholic school as the catalyst for using her music as a platform to speak openly and honestly about issues faced by LGBTQ youth. She has said in interviews that she hopes her music makes young people struggling with their sexuality feel less alone.[14][1]

Pruitt cites Brandi Carlile as an inspiration for her music.[1]

• Official website