Josh Kelley’s debut country hit, Georgia Clay, isn’t the 31-year-old’s first go-round with Nashville. Ten years ago, while studying at Ole Miss, the Augusta, Ga., native showcased his songs for record labels in Music City. It didn’t go well. “I remember being sad on the drive back,” he says, “but everything happens for a reason.” He eventually went to Los Angeles and signed with Hollywood Records. “They turned all my bluegrass songs into pop songs,” he says.
Kelley met his wife, actress Katherine Heigl, when she co-starred in his Only You music video. “It was right before she hit, after, like, nine episodes of Grey’s Anatomy,” he says. “We were enamored with each other, and everybody knew it, too.” The two married in 2007 and now spend most of their time in Utah.
Kelley currently is supporting Miranda Lambert on her The Revolution Continues tour. “On the day of the first show, Miranda comes in and gives me a big hug. She’s like, ‘I am so glad we’re doing this,’ ” he says. “I never did that with any other artist I got to play for.” In August, he’ll join Taylor Swift’s tour for 13 dates.