Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Sulkey.
Hi Chelsea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been singing for as long as I could talk and performing for as long as I could walk. From writing songs and “plays” at five years old to entering every talent competition my dad could find in the newspaper, performing was always where I felt most at home. Growing up with three highly competitive athlete brothers only fueled that drive. I lost plenty of competitions, but eventually, I won—and that win opened the door to a developmental deal at 15.
For years, I spent my weekends writing and recording in the studio before eventually forming my own band. We played anywhere that would have us, wrote our own music, and entered a national competition that we ultimately won. After opening for artists like Rascal Flatts and Dan + Shay, I moved to Nashville on my own in 2019, convinced I knew what I was doing. I quickly learned how much I didn’t know about the music industry.
I networked relentlessly and spent nearly six years bartending at a well-known songwriter bar, where I met incredible people, learned from some of the best, and began seriously developing my artistry. My debut single eventually charted on the Country iTunes chart, and for a moment, I felt like everything I had worked for was finally happening.
Then came a season that changed everything. I struggled deeply, fell into a depression, and eventually moved back home for nearly a year. I felt like I had lost everything I had sacrificed and worked so hard to build.
Now, at 32, I’m choosing to start again—with a new vision and a deeper sense of purpose. I’m writing songs that are truly mine, embracing vulnerability, and allowing myself to be more authentic than I’ve ever been. For the first time, I’m not afraid to put all of myself into the music.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been far from smooth but I think that’s what makes the journey so beautiful. There are so many roadblocks but enduring those proves just how much you love it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a vocalist. I sang opera from a young age eventually transitioning into country music. My Instagram bio says “4’10” spitfire” which I think explains me to a “T”. I used to be so self conscious of my height but I think that’s what helps me stand out, being so small but having such a powerful voice. People normally don’t expect it. I think proving people wrong is something I’ve always liked to do. I’m most proud of winning a national artist competition through Taste of Country before ever moving to Nashville and beating the odds that were stacked up against me, being from such a small town with no manager, or backing and organically really building a fan base and people who believed in me since day one.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
It’s hard to predict where the music industry will go. Right now it seems like the most popular thing to do is record singing videos from home, post online, and hope it goes viral. I think having social media as an option for people like me who don’t have investors or labels backing them up as a free space to share their creativity is great. However, I do miss when touring was the main way to gain exposure and build a fan base. I’m hoping that comes back!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @chelsea.sulkey
