R. David Shew
Recently, this writer was introduced McKinleigh Anglin and set up an interview with her for a feature story. McKinleigh is a young singer-songwriter from Madison County with big ambitions.
So, I sat down with McKinleigh on the patio at Chenault Winery, introduced myself to her, and asked her a series of questions. The one thing that stood out to me was her confidence and courage to embrace her writing and singing career.
At 13, McKinleigh has the support of her mother and father to chase her dreams and told me that she has “always been singing and loves to dance.” She remembers her first open mic night at Barrel 53 in Lexington on January 7, 2025 at the age of 12.
McKinleigh sang in the third, fourth, and fifth grade choir at Glen Marshall Elementary and really enjoyed getting to know Abby Fowler who is her music teacher at Glen Marshall Elementary. Fowler, who happens to be her mother’s friend according to McKinleigh, let her borrow a keyboard one day, and she took it home, learned to play it and sing I Miss You, I Am Sorry by Gracie Abrams. Currently, the young singer-songwriter is finishing the seventh grade at B. Mike Caudill Middle School in Richmond.
Young McKinleigh plays the keyboards, piano, guitar, xylophone, and recorder which is a member of the duct flute family. She says that “both grandmothers sing Wagon Wheel to her” and changed the words to “rock me gimmie.” McKinleigh also was told “her father sang to her when she was in the womb.” In addition, McKinleigh has been taking voice lessons from an opera teacher in Louisville.
The young singer-songwriter says that she “just plans to share my music with the world, hopes everyone supports her, and wants to work with artists all around the country, both pop and country.” She also stated that she has never been shy or afraid to try things. If singing does not work out, her backup plan is “to go to UK or Ohio State and become a neurosurgeon.”
McKinleigh plays regularly with Nic Cassetta and Jake Vanover and can be seen this Saturday at “Rockin on the Ridge.” Branded Music Management is planning to release her first single, Cowboy Boots, this June or July. McKinleigh will be appearing at the new amphitheater at Chenault Vineyards in the future.
