Kellie Pickler was born in Albemarle, North Carolina to Cynthia Morton and Clyde “Bo” Raymond Pickler, Jr. Cynthia left when Kellie was 2 but was then granted custody for two years. Kellie was returned to her grandparents at age 12.
Her father was in and out of jail throughout her childhood and she was raised in Albemarle, North Carolina by her grandparents, who were big influences in her life. She has a half-sister named Courtney and two half-brothers, Eric and Michael; she has never met Michael. Kellie and Eric continued to live with their grandfather after their grandmother died of lung cancer in 2002.
At North Stanly High School in New London, North Carolina, from which she graduated in 2004, she was a cheerleader and a beauty queen. In 2005 she tried out for American Idol (2002) and was sent to Hollywood. She sang many famous songs, including “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson, “A Broken Wing” by Martina McBride, and “Blame it on the Sun” by Stevie Wonder.
She was one of Simon’s favorites, but was eliminated in the Final 6. Back in North Carolina she was given a key to the city on “Kellie Pickler Day”, May 6, 2006. She then headed to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue her dreams. She was signed to 19 Recordings/BNA Records and wrote and sang many chart-toppers, including “Red High Heels”,
“I Wonder”, “Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind”, “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful”, “You Didn’t Know How Much I Loved You”, and “The Best Days of Your Life”.
