From tiny Sumrall to the world stage: Kayleigh Clark’s faith filled journey through music

When I sat down with singer songwriter Kayleigh Clark, it didn’t take long to understand what sets her apart. Her voice carries a Southern warmth that instantly makes you feel at home and her story, grounded in faith, resilience, and small town grit, is one deserving to be heard.

Clark grew up in Sumrall, Mississippi, where her earliest memories are tied to the church pews and the sound of gospel music filling the air. “I started singing in church when I was about three,” she told me with a laugh. “My mom says I’d wake up humming, whistling, or tapping on something to make a beat. I just always had a song in my heart.”

That song has followed her through every stage of her life. From performing at local festivals to earning national attention on American Idol and The Voice, Clark’s journey has been shaped by her upbringing. Her  parents always encouraged her to chase her calling. “They never forced me to sing,” she said. “But if I wanted to get on stage, they were like, ‘Go for it.’ That kind of support built my confidence.”

It’s a confidence tested and refined over the years. At just age 17, Clark competed on American Idol, where she made it to Hollywood Week before catching COVID and having to perform virtually. “It was hard because I didn’t get the full experience, but it prepared me for what came next.”

That “next” was a turn on The Voice, where she appeared older, wiser, and more grounded in who she is as an artist. “By the time I got to The Voice, I knew more about the TV side of things, how it all worked. But the biggest difference was that I felt like I belonged on that stage,” she said. “It reminded me that I have a purpose and that my gift comes from God. I wouldn’t be doing this if He hadn’t placed it in my heart.”

Faith isn’t just part of Clark’s story, it’s the foundation of it. Her songs are steeped in honesty, often exploring the kind of personal truths from which many artists shy away. Take her deeply emotional single  “Growing Up,” which opens a window into her father’s battle with alcoholism and the healing that followed. “I wanted that song to tell my testimony and help people. I didn’t want it to be a song that tore anyone down, especially my dad. I wanted it to show how far we’ve both come.”

When her father heard the song for the first time, his reaction confirmed  she had accomplished what she set out to do. “He was proud,” she said softly. “And after it aired, people started messaging me. Some I knew, others I didn’t. Sharing their own stories of addiction and healing. That’s when I knew I’d done what I was supposed to do.”

For Clark, that sense of purpose drives everything. Her music often carries messages of strength, self-belief and grace, drawn directly from her Christian faith. “My faith is who I am,” she said. “I know I couldn’t do any of this without God guiding me.”

Still, navigating the country music industry as a young woman from a small Southern town hasn’t been without challenges. Clark hopes her presence and her story helps open doors for others who don’t fit the traditional mold. “My dream is to play the Grand Ole Opry and be as big as Dolly Parton one day,” she said with a smile. “But more than that, I want people, especially girls from small towns, to know that they can do it too. Be authentically yourself. That’s what will take you the farthest.”

Her song “Discounted” speaks directly to that theme. “When I first started singing, people didn’t believe in me,” she admitted. “Kids talked about me; adults made up rumors. I heard it all. That I was wasting my time, that I’d never make it. But I wanted to write something that said, ‘You know what, let them talk. You can still make it happen.’”

That resilience shows up in the way she writes. Clark says that when she’s creating music, emotion always comes first. “If I have a good story to tell, the melody and lyrics just fall into place,” she said. “It starts with what I’m feeling.”

And when she’s not on stage or in a writing room, you can find her right back where it all began, at home in Mississippi. “Being on the farm keeps me grounded. When I come home, I love working cattle with my dad, reading my Bible, sitting by the pond. It reminds me who I am and where I come from.”

Now based in Nashville, Clark is preparing for what promises to be a big next chapter. She’s booking shows for 2026, recording new music, and keeping her eyes on that Grand Ole Opry dream. “This is just the beginning,” she said. “There’s so much more I want to share. More stories, more songs, more chances to make people feel something.”

Listening to her speak, it’s clear that Kayleigh Clark isn’t just chasing fame. She’s answering a calling. One rooted in faith, family, and the unshakable belief that even from the smallest towns, the biggest dreams can rise.