Kristy Lee Cook grew up in Selma, Oregon idolizing artists like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, and Chris LeDoux. The avid barrel racer and hunter is now a Broken Bow Records recording artist who recently released her latest single ‘Lookin’ for a Cowgirl.’ She took time to talk to New England Country Music about songwriting, her latest single and getting to work with some big names in country music.
Songwriting is something that is fairly new to Kristy Lee, in fact she had never written a song before signing with Broken Bow Records. Writing songs was a little intimidating at first, but Kristy Lee said she has learned that it is really just a matter of being willing to share her stories and not being afraid to talk about her experiences with other writers. Being open and honest is something that comes pretty natural to Kristy Lee. She told us, “I’m pretty honest and blunt and a lot of times people don’t like it but it’s just how I am and I think it helps the songwriting. I tell it like it is and I don’t sugarcoat anything.”
One of the songwriters Kristy Lee has gotten to work with is her good friend Bridgette Tatum who wrote Jason Aldean’s hit ‘She’s Country.’ Together they co-wrote Kristy Lee’s latest single ‘Lookin’ for a Cowgirl.’ Kristy Lee said that Bridgette is an “absolute blast” to work with, and since they are both “good country cowgirls” they really understand each other and work well together.
When it came to writing ‘Lookin’ for a Cowgirl’ Kristy Lee said, “I was just trying to explain what a cowgirl is and put something positive out there for women and try to put something different out there that’s country but that’s got a little bit of an edge and a little bit of sass to it and just say who I am as an artist.”
Kristy Lee told us the trend in country music right now is songs about cowboys and country boys and for that trend to change there needs to be something that comes along to break it and make a new path. She hopes that ‘Lookin’ for a Cowgirl’ is one of the songs that could help to break that trend. Kristy Lee said, “I feel like it’s been a long time since we’ve had a woman singing about being a country girl and being a cowgirl and how it really is. I definitely feel like we need more of that and I’m hoping that this song will help to open the door for other artists that want to say the same thing.”
Since signing with Broken Bow Records, Kristy Lee has had the opportunity to work with the production team, New Voice, which consists of members of Jason Aldean’s band, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Rich Redmond along with David Fanning. New Voice actually produced ‘Lookin’ for a Cowgirl.’ Kristy Lee said they are “the best band in Nashville,” and she loves getting the chance to watch them and to play with them live. Getting to play with them in a private show in Nashville for all the radio stations, her label reps and different people in the music industry was one of the coolest performances that Kristy Lee has gotten to do.
Kristy Lee has also had the opportunity to work with Randy Houser on the duet ‘Wherever Love Goes.’ She said singing with him was “one of the coolest moments” and that he is “one of the best voices in Nashville and he can just sing circles around people.” She also told us that Randy is great to work with because he is just a cowboy and she is a cowgirl so they can relate to each other really well.
In addition to promoting her new single, Kristy Lee is keeping busy working on a ranch in Texas and barrel racing with her new horse. There is no doubt we are going to be hearing more about Kristy Lee in the future and hopefully someday soon we will get the chance to see her here in New England.
You can follow Kristy on Twitter, Facebook, and on her official website.