Shelly Fairchild

Shelly Fairchild
Background information
Born (1977-08-23) August 23, 1977 (age 49)
OriginClinton, Mississippi, U.S.
GenresAmericana, alternative country, alternative rock, pop, rock, folk rock, country
OccupationSinger-songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active2004–present
LabelColumbia Nashville
Websitewww.shellyfairchild.com

Shelly Fairchild (born August 23, 1977) is an American music recording artist. Signed to Columbia Records in 2004, she released her first album, Ride, in early 2005. It included the single "You Don't Lie Here Anymore", a No. 35 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts.

Biography and personal life

Fairchild was born in Clinton, Mississippi, to a musical family. She began performing at an early age in church and later in her high school's show choir. Fairchild studied communications, theater and music at Mississippi College and subsequently starred in local stage shows including Grease and Always Patsy Cline. She also traveled with the national touring company for Beehive: The 60's Musical.

In a 2023 interview, Fairchild discussed the proliferation of rumors that she was a lesbian, which she stated she "never confirmed 100% to be true" despite executives at her label at the time, Columbia Records, requesting that she not appear in public with LGBTQ friends or partners. Fairchild also stated that she and her same-sex partner at the time attempted to keep their relationship private, although she also described herself as "marginally out [at the time]," which concerned executives at her label due to their fear that radio stations would disapprove. Her label also attempted to change her image to match the feminine beauty ideal. Around 2006, Sony Music Nashville dropped her, leading Fairchild to state, "I had a very clear message that my sexuality played a large part in the lack of interest in moving forward with me as an artist, although they obviously couldn't come right out and say that... legally." Fairchild discussed her frustration with the prevalent "bigotry and prejudices" within the country music industry, yet she also stated that the bigotry she had faced due to her sexuality inspired her to channel her anger into activism, to continue writing, and to continue "fighting for us," with "us" referring to the LGBTQ community.

Career

In 2004, Fairchild signed to Columbia Records. Her first album, Ride, was issued in early 2005. Its lead-off single, "You Don't Lie Here Anymore", co-written with Clay Mills, peaked at No. 35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, although subsequent singles failed to chart. She toured in support of the album including an opening spot on Rascal Flatts' sold-out Here's to You tour which also featured Blake Shelton, but was dropped from Columbia by the end of the year.[citation needed]

In 2008, Fairchild signed a record deal with Stroudavarious Records which was founded by producer James Stroud. Her first release was the song "It's All Gonna Work Out", which she released for a charity album called We Are Enterprise.[citation needed]

On April 11, 2011, Fairchild's second album, Ruby's Money, was released; Fairchild chose to release the album on her own label, Revelation Nation Records.

In 2014, Fairchild was one of three background singers for Martina McBride's "Everlasting Tour". She considered touring with McBride to be a highlight of her career, as she has "looked up to [McBride] as a singer [her] whole life".

Between 2015 and 2016, Fairchild ran a crowdfunding campaign through PledgeMusic for money to support her efforts to record what would become her third studio album, Buffalo.[non-primary source needed]

Buffalo was released in December 2016. This record entered the Top 100 Country albums on iTunes in its first week. Fairchild went on to release her first single, "Mississippi Turnpike," which she debuted in her first music video in ten years. It premiered exclusively on Taste of Country and received regular airplay on CMT, making it her first independent play on the major network since her first album Ride.[non-primary source needed]

In June 2021, Fairchild sang at the Ryman Auditorium participating as a featured artist in the Nashville and Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce Pride Event. Tina Cannon, the executive director of the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that the show's purpose was to not only "combin[e] the talent of two of the greatest musical communities in the world," but also to "directly [support] LGBTQ+ artists."

In July 2021, Fairchild began touring with Lennon Stella as one of her background singers for her festival dates including Wonderstruck, Bonnaroo, Roots N Blues, and Moon Crush.[non-primary source needed]

In 2026, Fairchild contributed backing vocals to two tracks on Melissa Etheridge's album Rise. She also co-wrote "Bottle Tells Me So", a track that appears on Ashley McBryde's album Wild.[citation needed] She Crowdfunded her fourth studio album Sacred Southern Daughter through Kickstarter and recorded the it in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The album was released on August 28, 2026.

Fairchild has performed at the Grand Ole Opry.

Other ventures and recognition

Fairchild has written for television and film. In January 2017, Fairchild signed with Nashville-based licensing firm Resin8.[non-primary source needed]

In July 2017, Rolling Stone magazine listed Fairchild as one of the "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know".

In July 2020, Fairchild was awarded the LGBTQ Rising Star Award at Ty Herndon's "Love and Acceptance" show streamed on CMT.

In August 2020, Fairchild was featured in Brandon Stansell's documentary Three Chords and a Lie, which discusses the difficulties of coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in many American communities. The documentary was streamed on the Canadian TV channel OutTV.

Film and television placements

Network/Show title Song title Songwriters Air date Ref.
Valor "Faster Than A Bullet" Shelly Fairchild, Sam Tinnesz, Jeff Pardo September 26, 2017
ABC's Station 19 season finale "Takin Over (Come On, Come On)" Shelly Fairchild, Kurt Goebel, Ellen Tift-Goebel May 8, 2018
Grey's Anatomy "Help, I'm Alive" season 15 episode 10 trailer "Get You Back" Shelly Fairchild, Angelo Petraglia, Lincoln Parish January 3, 2019
ABC's Summer Fun game series "Takin Over (Come On, Come On)" Shelly Fairchild, Kurt Goebel, Ellen Tift-Goebel June – August 2019
Netflix Selling Sunset "Faster Than A Bullet" Shelly Fairchild, Sam Tinnesz, Jeff Pardo March 28, 2019
Netflix Selling Sunset "Show Stopper" Sam Tinnesz, Jason Eskridge, Jeff Pardo March 30, 2019
Riverdale episode 405 "Drive" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato, Stephony Smith November 15, 2019
Roswell, New Mexico episode 207 "Drive" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato, Stephony Smith March 23, 2020
Roswell, New Mexico episode 208 "Worry No More" Shelly Fairchild, Aaron Shafer-Haiss April 24, 2020
Roswell, New Mexico episode 210 "Worry No More" Shelly Fairchild, Aaron Shafer-Haiss April 30, 2020
Netflix Selling Sunset "Boss Behavior" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato May 6, 2020
NBC The Titan Games "I Am Ready" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato, Matthew Gerard June 25, 2020
CBS CBS News, CBS Evening News "Nothing Better" Shelly Fairchild, Nick Brophy, Moe Loughran July 20, 2020
NBC The Titan Games "This Is What I Came For" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato, Matthew Gerard July 20, 2020
Netflix Selling Sunset "On That Hustle" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato July 28, 2020
Netflix Selling Sunset "Wild Out" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato July 30, 2020
Netflix Selling Sunset "Out Alive" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato August 1, 2020
Netflix Selling Sunset "Takin' On The World" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato August 3, 2020
NBC The Titan Games "No Holding Back" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato, Matthew Gerard August 6, 2020
NBC The Titan Games "Finish What I Started" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato, Matthew Gerard August 8, 2020
NBC The Titan Games "Til It's Over" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato, Matthew Gerard August 10, 2020
NBC The Titan Games "Last One Standing" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato, Matthew Gerard August 12, 2020
USA Network Love Island "Boss Behavior" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato October 1, 2020
USA Network Love Island "Final Hour" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato October 12, 2020
Showtime (TV network) Shameless "Takin Over (Come On, Come On)" Shelly Fairchild, Kurt Goebel, Ellen Tift-Goebel January 6, 2021
Microsoft "International Women's Day Commercial" "Made To Shine" Shelly Fairchild, Joshua Silverberg March 9, 2021
MTV Younger season 7, episode 4 "Ready Right Now" Shelly Fairchild, Nick Brophy, Jennifer Hanson April 15, 2021
MTV Siesta Key episode 404 "Wild Child" Shelly Fairchild, Sam Tinnesz, Jeff Pardo June 2, 2021
MTV The Hills: New Beginnings episode 205 "Nothing Better" Shelly Fairchild, Nick Brophy, Moe Loughran June 16, 2021
Netflix Selling Sunset episode 301 "Made To Shine" Shelly Fairchild, Joshua Silverberg July 6, 2021
MTV The Hills: New Beginnings episode 208 "Here Comes Trouble" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato, Robbie Neville July 7, 2021
Netflix Selling Sunset episode 306 "Here Comes Trouble" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato, Robbie Neville July 18, 2021
Netflix Selling Sunset episode 306 "Nothing Better" Shelly Fairchild, Nick Brophy, Moe Loughran June 18, 2021
MTV Siesta Key episode 412 "Takin Over (Come On, Come On)" Shelly Fairchild, Kurt Goebel, Ellen Tift-Goebel August 4, 2021
Roswell, New Mexico episode 303 "One Mississippi" Shelly Fairchild, Cade Doyle, Micheal Dale August 9, 2021
Fox Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer episode 113 "Out Alive" Shelly Fairchild, Peter Amato August 18, 2022

Songwriting credits

Little Big Town – "Looking for a Reason" Maggie Rose – "Put Yourself in My Blues" Lee DeWyze – "Stay Away" Mindy McCready – "I Want to Love You" Kassie DePaiva – "I Want to Love You" Shelly Fairchild – "You Don't Lie Here Anymore" Shelly Fairchild – "Tiny Town"

Background vocals

Eric Church – Creepin' Jason Aldean – Burnin' It Down Randy Rogers Band – "Kiss Me in the Dark", "Just a Matter of Time", "You Could Change My Mind", "Just Don't Tell Me the Truth" Ty Herndon – "World I'm Living In" Trace Adkins – "Jesus and Jones", "Cowboy's Back in Town" Terri Clark – "Longer" Ray Scott – "Train Wreck", "Doing Me Wrong" Chicago (band) – "Why Can't We" (lead and background)

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Country
 US
 US Heat
Ride 31 162 6
Ruby's Money
  • Release date: April 26, 2011
  • Label: Revelation Nation
 — — —
Buffalo
  • Release date: December 2, 2016
  • Label: Independent
 — — —
Sacred Southern Daughter
  • Release date: August 28, 2026
  • Label: Independent
 — — —

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country
2004 "You Don't Lie Here Anymore" 35 Ride
2005 "Tiny Town" —
"Kiss Me" —
2008 "It's All Gonna Work Out" — We Are Enterprise
2017 "Mississippi Turnpike" — Buffalo
2026 "For the First Time" — Sacred Southern Daughter
"End Up in Austin" —

Music videos

Year Video Director
2004 "You Don't Lie Here Anymore" Kristin Barlowe
2005 "Tiny Town" Trey Fanjoy
2017 "Mississippi Turnpike" Roger Pistole

References

  1. 1 2 3 Leggett, Steve. "Shelly Fairchild biography". Allmusic. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Meet Shelly Fairchild". Canvas Rebel. January 23, 2023. Archived from the original on August 23, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  3. ↑ Lambert, Arden (July 2, 2023). "Here Are Gay Country Singers Who Stood Out Loud and Proud". Country Thang Daily. Archived from the original on August 23, 2026. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild — "It's All Gonna Work Out"". Roughstock. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  5. 1 2 Lauchlin Fields (November 2, 2015). "Shelly Fairchild". The 'Sip. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild: New Album on PledgeMusic". PledgeMusic. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild". iTunes Chart. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild". Taste of Country. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild". Instagram. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  10. ↑ Deborah Sengupta Stith (June 1, 2021). "Austin and Nashville artists team up for Pride livestream featuring Patrice Pike, p1nkstar". Austin 360. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Lennon Stella Tour Dates". Instagram. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  12. ↑ Rise (Media notes). Melissa Etheridge. MLE Music, Sun Label Group. March 27, 2026.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ Cooney, Laura (August 28, 2026). "Interview: Shelly Fairchild talks new album, her writing style and working with artists like Ashley McBryde". Entertainment Focus.
  14. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild". Grand Ole Opry. Retrieved January 11, 2017.[dead link]
  15. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild Resin8". Resin8. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild". Rolling Stone. July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  17. ↑ Selena Barrientos (June 30, 2020). "How to Watch and Stream the CMT Benefit 'Concert for Love and Acceptance'". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  18. ↑ Jason Scott (August 26, 2020). "Brandon Stansell Talks Emotional Documentary, 'Three Chords And A Lie'". GRAMMYs. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild". Faster Than A Bullet. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild". Takin Over (Come on, Come on). May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Grey's Anatomy Season 15 episode 10". Grey's Anatomy. January 17, 2019. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild". Takin Over (Come on, Come on). Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Spotify Selling Sunset Playlist". Selling Sunset. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  24. 1 2 shellyfairchild (March 22, 2019). "Sooooooo…". Retrieved June 23, 2023 – via Instagram.
  25. ↑ "Riverdale". Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  26. 1 2 3 "Roswell New Mexico". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Selling Sunset". Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  28. ↑ "The Titan Games". Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  29. ↑ "The Titan Games". Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Selling Sunset". Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Selling Sunset". Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Selling Sunset". Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Selling Sunset". Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  34. ↑ "The Titan Games". Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  35. ↑ "The Titan Games". Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  36. ↑ "The Titan Games". Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  37. ↑ "The Titan Games". Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Love Island". Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Love Island". Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  40. ↑ "Shameless". Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild on Instagram: "Repost from @resin8music • Name a better way to celebrate #InternationalWomensDay than a dope female empowerment ad!? We'll wait 😎⁣ ⁣ So thrilled to have placed "Made to Shine" by @joshuasilverberg x @shellyfairchild in Microsoft's International Women's Day ad spotlighting women in tech 🎮💻 ⁣ ⁣ #R8placements #ad #adcampaign #microsoft #IWD #womenintech #femaleempowerment #madetoshine #shellyfairchild #silverberg #indieartists"". Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild on Instagram: "ONE OF MY FAVE WRITING TEAMS AND I got a killah placement in this killah show! THANKS to the killah crew @resin8music Check it! 🔥Repost from @lonis_music • Hey all you @youngertv fans! Starting today you can stream the first 4 episodes of Season 7 on @paramountplus and hear our song "Ready Right Now" featuring @shellyfairchild in episode 4! 💥 #lonis #writing #production #newmusic"". Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  43. ↑ "The Hills". Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  44. 1 2 "The Hills". Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  45. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild on Instagram: "Just a few cool things going on thanks to @resin8music 🪄🙏🏼🎤🎉🧡 #nothinbetter #onemississippi #wildchild #madetoshine #herecomestrouble #takinover #singer #songwriter #tv #film #sync #newgoals #greatshows #creditsarecool #vevacollect"". Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild on Instagram: "Just a few cool things going on thanks to @resin8music 🪄🙏🏼🎤🎉🧡 #nothinbetter #onemississippi #wildchild #madetoshine #herecomestrouble #takinover #singer #songwriter #tv #film #sync #newgoals #greatshows #creditsarecool #vevacollect"". Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  47. ↑ "The Hills". Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  48. 1 2 "The Hills". Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  49. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild on Instagram: "Just a few cool things going on thanks to @resin8music 🪄🙏🏼🎤🎉🧡 #nothinbetter #onemississippi #wildchild #madetoshine #herecomestrouble #takinover #singer #songwriter #tv #film #sync #newgoals #greatshows #creditsarecool #vevacollect"". Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  50. 1 2 "Shelly Fairchild | All Music Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  51. 1 2 3 "allmusic ((( Shelly Fairchild > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". Allmusic. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  52. ↑ "allmusic ((( Shelly Fairchild > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  53. ↑ "Country – Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 4, 2005.
  54. ↑ "Country – Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. May 27, 2005.
  55. ↑ "Shelly Fairchild — "Mississippi Turnpike"". musicvideo. June 20, 2017. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2017.