AUSTIN McKEDY
- David Lannan
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
It's just an amazing feeling to make people happy and smile with music. It's a tough business and always a journey but I would not trade it for anything. I love it!
SINGING COWBOY AUSTIN McKEDY SPLITS TIME BETWEEN BULL RIDING AND MUSIC
By David C. Lannan
OPENING ACT
Oklahoma native Austin McKedy juggles bull riding and touring with The McKedy Band. He and sister Mackynsie, who plays a mean fiddle and also sings, were destined for a music career as their father, Byron, is also a musician. Their mother Tracy helps with writing songs, bookings and promotion making it a family affair.
Austin trained for music at camps and learned guitar from his father, who begin bringing him on stage with him when he was only 3. He now plays guitar, mandolin, drums, and harmonica.
Read on to learn more about the young future superstar.
Q&A WITH AUSTIN McKEDY
DL: What is your favorite style or genre of music and why?
AM: Traditional Country music because it is what I grew up with and I like the Red Dirt music & western swing.
DL: What are some of your favorite songs you have written and why?
AM: I just recorded one I helped write with my mom, Dad and sister that will be released sometime in the next few months. I have wrote a lot but this will be my first release of one I helped write.
DL: What awards have you won or been nominated for?
AM: I have several awards with Oklahoma Country Singers Association and NACMAI as Traditional Country Male Under 18 Vocalist, I have a Fan's Favorite award with my family band The McKedy Band from Josie Music Awards and I have won Rising Star award from International Red Carpet Awards and I have had multiple nominations through the years with Josie Music Awards for under 18 vocalist and song and videos of the Year nominations.
DL: Where is/are your favorite place(s) to perform?
AM: I love performing for dance halls - its always great to see people out dancing - that's a sure sign people love what you are doing. One of the great dance halls I have enjoyed performing at is National Hall in Fort Worth and I love concert setting shows to.
DL: What do you find most challenging about the music business?
AM: Getting fair compensation for the work you put out. I have CD's and I sell them at my live shows but streaming has taken over so much of how people consume music these days and the streaming platforms are not all that artist friendly on payouts. It can be frustrating.
DL: What is your favorite part of the music business and why? Your least favorite?
AM: Performing, I just love a live audience and interacting with fans, it’s just a great feeling to see in person people enjoying your music. Least favorite again is just the constant grind to get heard and seen. You work hard and put out great music and its just frustrating when you see somebody who just sang a song on tik tok and went viral and they have never performed in their life until that moment.
DL: If you could perform with anyone in the music business who would it be and why?
AM: The king for sure, George Strait. I cover a lot of his music - he is just true country and a musical idol of mine.
DL: What advice do you have for anyone wanting to get in the music business as a singer/songwriter or musician?
AM: You got to be willing to put in the work and make sacrifices. It's a tough business and you can't do it expecting things to just be handed to you. Work hard and enjoy what you are doing.
DL: Is there anything you would like to add about your music journey or life in general?
AM: It's worth all the hard work and sacrifice. It's just an amazing feeling to make people happy and smile with music. It's a tough business and always a journey but I would not trade it for anything. I love it!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Austin and Mackynsie team up with Texas fiddler Sienna Rose for many shows and have made guest appearances on "Small Town Sound" on American Country Network. When he's not singing, Austin is bullriding at the rodeo. He, MacKynsie and Sienna Rose are all part of the Clarksville Creative Sound family of artists.
HAVE A LISTEN
WHERE CAN I FIND AUSTIN?
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