Meet Isabella (Bella) McCormick of Nashville, TN

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabella (Bella) McCormick

Isabella (Bella), we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Nashville with the exception of moving around between Malibu, CA and various parts of Mexico during my childhood. My life was and is constantly filled with music. I grew up with a guitar playing cowboy for a dad and a true creative for a mom.

I’ve been singing since I could talk and make noise, and wrote my first song when I was 8. It was supposed to be called “Angel” but my second grade self wrote it down as “angle”…oops.. But later on I picked up my love for songwriting again in high school. Through heartbreak, girl drama, and life changes, I learned how to truly tell stories.

My biggest inspiration has of course always been my dad. He moved to nashville to start a band and landed among country music’s best. However, someone else who has shaped me into the little musician I am today is Paul Worley. When I was 14, he was organizing a show at The Ryman Auditorium and asked myself and my sister to open the show. Opening for artists such as Charles Kelly, The Steeldrivers, and Rodney Crowell was a dream come true for 14 year old me, and the hunger only grew. In addition to Paul, I also have Biff Watson to thank. Between my dad, Biff and Pauls belief in me, I stay motivated to chase this dream.

Growing up my parents had a restaurant outside of Nashville where I would wait tables and play a set when the band took a break, or if we didn’t have a band for the night. It was then that I realized I actually wanted to do this forever.

Now, I am a senior at Ole Miss, and still writing like crazy. I keep singing and playing my guitar while keeping up with classes and your average college kid life, but my heart is always in Nashville. This recent summer, 2024, I have had the honor to intern for Kelly King and Amanda Roach at King Pen Music. I have been able to learn about the business from the publishing, A&R, and artist development side. I really feel like my life is unreal sometimes and I have to be living in a dream. Working on music row has been a dream come true, and I really couldn’t thank Kelly enough for all she has taught me.

I hope to continue growing my songwriting and performance skills and maybe be the one on a big stage one day. But with all of this in mind, I think it’s really important to note that the music is what I love. I write songs to express my self, my experiences, my joy, my pain, and more. I would never have this life without the songs and the music. After I graduate in May 2025, I plan to come back home to Nashville, and pursue music city.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think a smooth road is something nobody has seen. Even with my dad as my inspiration and my mom as my strength and role model, we have not always had the easiest time. In January of 2023 we learned about my dads cancer diagnosis which has changed all of our lives. I admire my sister, Lola, for her grace and beauty through everything. I admire my mom for her strength and dedication to my dad and our family. Most of all, I admire my dad for the way his passion for life has never dwindled. Out life is one of many that is impacted by this and so I wrote a song about how I have dealt with it. The song I wrote is called “Don’t Take My Old Man”, and it’s pretty much an exact prayer I said one night on my knees, talking to God. If God can take the good, he gives the hardest to the great.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently a senior at Ole Miss, but I would proudly call myself a songwriter/musician/artist. I write about everything, and all things that come my way. I feel bad for any ex-boyfriends because I think they know which songs are about them, but I mean at least they left me with something LOL.

I grew up on classic country. Waylon, Guy Clark, Towns, Willie Nelson, Kieth Whitley, and more were the soundtrack of my life. To top it off, my moms music taste was a little different..she always had on Jay Z, NWA, Eminem, Missy Elliot, Alicia Keys, and more on in the car. I think this is what made me to be the writer I am to be honest. I love the raw vulnerability of one genre, and the intensity of honesty in the other.

I think if I would be known for anything in relationship to my songs, it would be my ability to tell a story. I love a song that sets a scene and allows a listener to place themselves in a whole other world. Songs can be an escape for people and I hope I bring an element of imagination.

What sets me apart from others could be anything to be fair. Everyone is different and every artist has different strengths. But, I think something different of mine is my wordiness and truthfulness. I don’t sing songs that I haven’t lived, and I don’t write lyrics I haven’t felt.

Any big plans?
After my graduation in May, I plan to come back home to Nashville, and hopefully approach music row from a new set of lenses. I want to continue writing, playing, singing, and creating art. A world without art is a world I wouldn’t want to see, so I just want to keep producing things to add to the art that lives on.

Who knows, maybe a release could be on the horizon.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellalmccormick/
• TikTok: @bellaleemusic & @cormtheswagmonster
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/isabellaleemusic/