Since her days on American Idol in 2006, Kellie Pickler has gone on to become one of the most beloved artists in country music. In addition to her impressive collection of hit albums and singles, Pickler is also the star of her successful CMT reality show, I Love Kellie Pickler.
But Kellie knows that none of her accomplishments would have been possible without the support of her grandparents. During her childhood, Kellie was primarily raised by her paternal grandparents, Faye and Clyde Raymond Pickler Sr. While she was certainly close to her grandfather, Kellie has continuously named her grandmother as her greatest champion and source of inspiration.
Sadly, Faye passed away in 2002 just one day after learning that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Her death rocked Kellie to her core, since she considered Faye to be the “mother” in her life.
15 years after Faye’s death, Kellie decided to honor her grandmother in the best way she knew how…through music. During her set at the CMA Fest in Nashville in June 2017, Kellie debuted a new song that she described as being inspired by her grandmother.
That song is titled “If It Wasn’t for a Woman,” and was co-written by Kellie, her husband Kyle Jacobs, and songwriter Brian Bunn. The song describes how Kellie went on to become the person she is today all because of her grandmother’s love and support. As she sings, “If it wasn’t for a woman, teachin’ me wrong from right, prayin’ for me at night…I’d be half the woman I am, if it wasn’t for a woman.”
Kellie’s performance was undoubtedly one of the most emotional at the CMA Fest that year. If you were unable to watch her sing in person, you don’t want to miss the video we have to share with you. Tune in below to watch her heart-tugging performance of “If It Wasn’t for a Woman.”
We’re sure that Kellie’s grandmother would be proud of her for writing this song and for singing it so beautifully.