Baylee Littrell’s “Hey Jesus” — His Powerful Battle With Faith
You grew up in Alpharetta (near Atlanta), Georgia. Where would you take first-time visitors to your hometown?
It’s a beautiful historical town that has expanded rapidly over the last 20 years. I’m proud to say I live in one of the original houses of our town with my girlfriend. My house was built in 1906 and that is also the same year most of Main Street was built in Alpharetta.
With the desire to carve your own path, how do you navigate expectations while still honoring your family?
I’ve always been focused on creating my own legacy and trying not to merge my dad’s career with mine. I’m so proud of my dad’s career and I know he’s proud of me for following in his footsteps, but I don’t set expectations for the future or try to compare myself to my father’s career. They’re two completely separate entities, and I have already carved my own path.
You earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for your dual role in the musical Disaster!. What was it like to be performing eight shows a week on Broadway at age 13?
I definitely look back at it now as one of the greatest times of my young life. Although at the time, it was very overwhelming being the only child and not having my friends there with me. Broadway is one of the most authentic art forms, and I will forever cherish my time on Disaster!
You released your debut single, “Boxes,” from your country music debut album, 770‑Country, in 2019. What drew you to the song written by Daniel Ross, Steven Lee Olsen, and Jesse Lee?
I’ll never forget listening to that demo for the first time and resonating with so many of the lyrics. “Damn proud of my daddy’s name” was definitely a lyric that made me love the song along with “love the way that you love my momma.” “Boxes” came out at the perfect time when a new wave of country-pop was being born. It seemed like a great radio-ready song, and it was fun to sing and eventually perform.
Following up in 2022, you released EP, Vol. 1, composed entirely of original songs. You received rave reviews from both industry veterans and fans. What inspired you to record this solo writing project?
My 2022 project was definitely a year of growth and self-discovery. I really wanted to write my own songs and be 100% authentic with my work. I was inspired by a lot of 70s country and rock with this EP, even elements of rhythm and blues with tracks like “Be-Leavin.”
American Idol reached out to you for years before you finally decided to audition. The song you chose for the audition is an original track, “Waiting on Myself to Die.” How did you choose this song for the audition?
I decided I wanted to take the risk and do an original song. I figured if I was already taking that big of a risk I might as well bring the elements of personal struggle and emotion into my song of choice. I thought “Waiting on Myself to Die” would resonate with many viewers and help them realize they’re not alone in their struggles.
You’re earning your LSU degree online (Sport Administration with a concentration in Sport Leadership) while pursuing your music career. What advice would you give other students trying to balance similar demands?
Balancing studies with demanding careers is obviously very hard. It’s truly all about having the right university that gives you the tools to succeed. I believe even with a demanding schedule LSU prioritizes their online students’ education and that helps them get to the finish line at a rapid pace.
You just released “Hey Jesus” and are working on your second album. Who would be your dream collaborator on it?
I would love to collaborate with The Band Camino on a song. I love their music and the alternative rock elements they bring to the table. Last but not least, who wouldn’t want to work with Snoop?! I would love to do a song with him. Ok ok one more:) I would love to do a collaboration with the Eagles and do a rendition of “One of These Nights.”
Beyond music, you’ve also expanded into visual arts. How does this creative outlet connect with your music, and what themes do you hope to explore?
Sometimes I will name my pieces of art after songs that I listen to while painting them. I always associate a song with a piece of art that I work on. My next album will have an exclusive art piece for every individual song. I’ll continue to focus on mostly abstract pieces but bringing some realism into the picture would be a nice addition for my future pieces. In many ways, art has saved my life over the years and creating it is my favorite thing.
What are your long-term goals for your music career? What kind of impact do you hope to make?
I hope my music resonates with people. I would love to be known as a great and complex lyricist. You have to be a great author to write a great song. Writing stories that one can literally picture in their mind is my goal.
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