Mary Kaye Holt bio
"Gifted with one of the most dynamic and original voices in western music, Mary Kaye Holt delivers the goods!" - American Cowboy Magazine
Mary Kaye Holt has an epic origin story. Starting in the small Utah town where she first strummed a guitar at age 38 and pregnant with her 10th child, her honest songs about life in the rural West and singular vocal presence quickly staked her claim as an unlikely emerging folk artist…a “Cowgirl singing Cowboy songs.” A rapid ascent followed with 6 albums of range-born ballads, boot-stomping anthems and traditional cowboy folk songs and as an active touring artist, Mary Kaye became known for her ability to hold an audience with wit and humor whether around a campfire or under a hot spotlight. A native born Texan, her music is authentically rooted in the Western landscape her life has been immersed in; caring for livestock, rescuing wild mustangs, and mothering the ten children she raised in some of the most remote regions of the frontier West. A string of awards and recognition have trailed her, notably two prestigious Western Heritage Awards and Female Performer of the Year with both the Academy of Western Artists and Western Music Association. Western Horseman magazine said of her, "Some Western singers are all about preserving traditional cowboy songs. Others strive to write and sing songs about contemporary cowboy life...Mary Kaye does both well.” Now residing in Nashville, Mary Kaye and her husband, Gary Holt, showcase artists and events that celebrate the modern American West with three weekly podcasts: Saddle Up America, Live from Nashville and Campfire Cafe. Current creative work from Mary Kaye includes her weekly Blog/Vlog, “My NashWest Life” and her upcoming 7th studio album, Midnight Mustang, due for release Spring 2026. From her flat brim hat to her bench built boots, Mary Kaye Holt delivers the spirit of the authentic West.