Once or twice in a generation comes a voice that demands to be heard. One that can stop you in your tracks as you're walking down the street. Courtney Keil is one of those voices.
The three-time winner of Best Female Vocal at Tamworth Country Music Festival's People's Choice Awards (2023-2025) knows a thing or two about stopping many in their tracks, and she's been doing so as long as she could speak.
"I loved singing as soon as I could talk," Keil remembers her musical childhood. "My parents recount me singing in the back of the car, making up songs. They were always so encouraging, playing music in the house and taking me to concerts.
"I started singing lessons at nine, and from then on, I just wanted to be a singer. I did musical theatre and songwriting courses through my teens, before I started writing my own music and releasing it."
Keil's songwriting and stunning vocals have taken her across the land, from Gympie Music Muster to John Cain Arena (in Melbourne), opening for artists including Brian Cadd, The Whitlams Black Stump Band, Adam Harvey, Karise Eden and Gina Jeffreys.
She outlines her songwriting methods. "I grew up playing piano, so that was always the base. As I got into country music, the guitar started to be used; I'm growing into that space a lot more. Working with other incredible songwriters means that then you can tap into their instrumental skill sets as well."
Working with incredible songwriters is par for Courtney's course, weaving her tales through the trusted hands of Nashville's finest songwriters – including Sam Gay (Deric Ruttan/ Little Texas), Templeton Thompson (Reba McEntire/ Jo Dee Messina), and Sally Barris (Trisha Yearwood/ Keith Urban) – all adding their unique touch to Keil's messages of endurance, sentiment and soul.
Courtney outlines what she looks for in a songwriting companion. "Personal connection. You want to be on a similar page. Half of songwriting is having conversations about life or experiences.
"You want to feel it's a safe place and they're understanding, willing to put themselves in your shoes. I've met some really beautiful people. I can throw anything at them and they'll run with it.
"I love getting to share ideas, especially when you hit a speed bump, they might inspire something else and go, 'what about this?'. I prefer it to writing on my own."
Teaming up with longtime producer Rod McCormack and Sally Barris, Keil wrote summer anthem 'Friends For Life', a celebration of those who stood tall when she couldn't. If Keil's previous #1 debut on the country charts and four #1 singles are anything to go by, 'Friends For Life' will be an instant hit.
"It's about my immediate circle of friends," Courtney shares. "I had a challenging start to this year, and upon reflecting, I saw how much I was able to lean on them and have them as a support system. I don't take for granted how good my friends are. I sat down with Rod and Sally, and went, 'let's write a feel-good song'.
"In my opinion, it's easier to write a sad song, because pain's an easier topic to reflect on and put into words. Feel-good songs, to me, are harder to get to sometimes. The topic of friendships came up and I thought it would be a great way to honour the friends I've had.
"I hope people feel the same thing about their friendship circle when they listen to it. Coming into summer, they can turn it up loud, sing-along with friends and reflect on how special friendship is."
Keil recorded the track in Nashville, with a host of talented musicians bringing her vision to life. "It was amazing to have such incredible talent on the track. In July, Rod McCormack flew over to Nashville with me and my dad to use the studio time we had planned in 2020.
"We used Shannon Forrest's studio, the touring drummer for Toto. There were phenomenal musicians, the cream of the crop in Nashville who are playing with Luke Combs and Carly Pearce and Lainey Wilson.
"They have such knowledge about country music that's just second nature to them. We tracked in a big band room, feeding off each other. You pinch yourself in those moments, like 'am I actually doing this right now?' It was really special."
It wasn't all work for Keil, who had some enriching downtime as well in the Music City. "It's a music city, everyone lives and breathes it. The trash cans on the side of the road have speakers in them playing music. There's so many genres there, and it's inspiring to be around.
"It brings your bar up, because your Uber driver or someone in a cafe are all there hustling to be musicians and making the most of their time there. It encourages you to hustle as well.
"I did also hang out with Keith Urban. Rod has known Keith for a long time, touring together over the years. Keith said, 'you wanna come see my new studio?' He bought an amazing studio that Shania Twain recorded in, among others. It was cool to see my dad getting to talk music with Keith. It was a special moment to be able to share with dad."
Keil leaves with an exhortation on behalf of country music, encouraging everyone to see what treasures might be found in the bountiful barrels of the genre. "People might think it's old school and what their grandparents listened to, an old sound.
"There's the old joke, I listen to both types of music, country and western, but it's grown and changed so much over the last few decades. It's a diverse industry and a diverse genre, and I truly believe there's a little bit of something for everyone in it, from classic banjo to contemporary or folky.
"Sometimes people are listening to country artists without realising, or artists with a country influence. It's more common than people realise. I hope people give it a try. If it's not their cup of tea, that's okay, everyone likes different things, but I think there's a little bit of something for everyone," Courtney smiles.
Courtney Keil 2025-2026 Tour Dates
Tue 4 Nov - Terrigal Beach House (Central Coast)Sun 16 Nov - Terrigal Beach House (Central Coast)
Sun 30 Nov - Avoca Beach Theatre (Central Coast)* supporting Gina Jeffreys
Sun 18 Jan - Tamworth Town Hall* hosted by Kristy Cox
