Annie Kennedy has been driven to succeed as a country artist since the day she was 10 years old and pulled out the phone book to find herself a manager. Fast forward to 2013, and Annie is in Nashville, earning her stripes as both a writer and performer. Her first independent release “Highway Songs” showcases Annie's ability to infuse a traditional country sound into modern songs, through both her beautifully sung melodies and lyrics that tell stories of love and life. 


Annie made the move to Music City a few weeks after graduating from Millikin University. She took lessons learned from her time there, from growing up just outside Chicago, and from travels across the US and across the world to China, and began crafting the songs that would become her debut album, released in 2011.

Annie’s songs “hit a crucial nerve,” says Patrick Conlin of the Illinois Entertainer, setting her apart from the multitude of singer-songwriters coming out of Nashville. Other artists are starting to take notice of Annie’s genre- defying writing abilities as well, earning her a cut with pop-rock artist Grant Reiff in 2012, and with it the opportunity to work with Garth Brooks’ long time guitar player Johnny Garcia.

Kennedy is currently writing in preparation for her next album, a full- length project to be recorded in 2013.

Hometown: Woodridge, IL (a suburb of Chicago)

College: Millikin University '09, BM in Commercial Music

First Concert: George Strait Country Music Festival, age 9 or 10

Guilty Pleasure: Reality shows, especially the Bachelor!

Favorite food: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Influences: LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks, Stevie Wonder, Ella FItzgerald, the Beach Boys, the DIxie Chicks, Patty Griffin, and the song "La Bamba"

Any relation to the famous Kennedy family? Just the soon-to-be-famous Chicago Kennedys (check out my brother, saxophone player Mike Kennedy, Jr!)

Coolest place you've ever sung a concert: On the great wall of China (on tour with the Millikin University Choir in 2008)

Hidden talent: I can hang a spoon on my nose.