Our newest and column gives EDIT readers a personal look into some of Nashville’s most interesting inhabitants with snappy questions and some equally snappy answers. Our typical profiles dive deep into the lives of those featured, but the EDIT Files aims to shed light on the little glimmers of everyday life.
MEET KELLEIGH
Nashville native Kelleigh Bannen is in a league of her own as a musician, singer, podcaster, writer, and broadcaster with Apple Music (talk about a quintuple threat). Bannen is passionate about staying true to herself in the industry that makes it almost impossible to do so. The songwriter has carved out a new path in her career as the host of The Kelleigh Bannen Show and Today’s Country Radio on Apple Music. As the cornerstone of Apple Music Country and the first female to helm her own country radio show (total badass), she does it all, from running the board to curating the music, and more. Her classic and edgy style stretches from her effortlessly cool looks on Today’s Country to her persistent activism for underrepresented artists in country music. Whether it’s through her music, her shows, or even her TikTok (seriously, a must-see) Bannen exudes the light of the cool, older sister we all wanted growing up.
Instagram: @kelleighbannen
Candle I Love to Light: Kacey Musgraves “Slow Burn” or Patina’s “Dirty Money.”
Spring Crush: FARM RIO! Slightly tropical, playful patterns inspired by the people and places of Rio de Janeiro.
Hero Products: Babor Enzyme Cleanser, Tata Harper Restorative Eye Crème, Revision C+ Correcting Complex, Olaplex #4 & #5 Shampoo and Conditioner.
Hair Guru: Emily Lammers at Elizabeth Marshall
Cocktail: Old Fashioned or Aperol Spritz.
Scent: Tom Ford, “Fucking Fabulous.”
Dinner Dish: Anything out of local chef Amanda Frederickson’s cookbook “Simple Beautiful Food”
Exercise Regimen: I train with Joe Johnson at Marathon Fitness (“eat your damn food!”) and ride my peloton.
Greatest Fear: Not being impactful.
Currently Obsessed With: The Southern Curiosity Album by Fancy Hagood.
Most Proud Of: 17 years of Marriage.
My To Do List: Prep for an Alan Jackson interview, pick paint colors for a rental property, finalize the menu for a friend’s birthday.
Date Night: Most recently, Picasso at the Frist and dinner at the Optimist. Usually, walking the dogs in the neighborhood with a glass of wine.
My Nashville Spots: Rolf & Daughters, The Fox, Hero, Crue, Dozen Bakery, Williams Galleries
Most Ridiculous Thing I Have Ever Bought: Light Pink Feather Coat by Monique Lhuillier from UAL.
I Can’t Live Without: My Friends!
My Most Marked Characteristic: My laugh.
I Value: Warmth in people.
My Motto: Heart first.
My Secret Weapon: Empathy
Most Used App: Voice memos and the Tezza photo editing app.
Daily Uniform: GG sneakers, boyfriend jeans, band tee, high pony.
Necessary Extravagance: Great skincare products.
Jewelry I Never Take Off: Local designer Minnie Lane’s star ring.
On My Coffee Table: Bobby McAlpine’s “A Home Within Us,” a small vintage oil painting, and a pink marble candlestick.
Book I am Reading: “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig.
Pets: 3 Pugs! Cabell, Rex, and Rye.
Recent Amazon Purchase: Pepper Spray.
I Procrastinate: Phone calls.
Career High: Toss-up between: 1st National TV Performance on the Today Show OR interviewing The Chicks for a career retrospective for Apple Music.
Curing A Creative Block: Ride it out.
Currently Inspired By: “What Kind Of Woman” a book of poetry from Kate Baer.
Dream Collaboration: Eric Church.
Up Next: My friend Colson Horton and I are working on a project focused on historic preservation (more on this to come later). For now, we’re gathering folks interested in preservation on our new Instagram account: @thishouseishistory.
