Who is Bailey Marie?
At just 18, Bailey Marie has already lived a story that feels like it was written for a country song. Expelled from her private Christian school after performing at Charlotte’s iconic Coyote Joe’s, she could have walked away defeated. Instead, she leaned into her resilience, turned the headlines into momentum, and wrote her truth into a new single, Honky Tonk Hallelujah.
The Coyote Joe’s Story
Coyote Joe’s was more than just another gig—it was the moment that set Bailey’s career in motion.
“I knew Coyote Joe’s was the spot to play,” she said. “When I finally got booked there, it was incredible—but my school didn’t like it and I got expelled. That kind of blew up, but I kept going back, and the people at Joe’s have been nothing but amazing to me. Sweetest people in the world.”
The venue has since become a cornerstone of her career, leading to opportunities to share the stage with Priscilla Block and, this fall, Lily Rose.
A Life Built on Music
Bailey’s love of performing runs deep. She grew up dancing, acting, and singing long before she ever stepped onto a Nashville stage. “I started singing since I was born,” she laughed.
One defining moment came during a family trip. “We were on the way to the beach one time, and I just started singing in the car,” she remembered. “I thought, ‘I kind of like this.’ And right after that, I was like, ‘I want to be a singer.’” From there, she started taking vocal lessons, performing in theater, and eventually making trips out to California and Nashville to chase her dream.
Today, her dedication takes her to Nashville almost monthly for songwriting sessions, where she crams as much writing as possible into each quick trip.
Viral Fame at 18
When news broke about her expulsion, Bailey’s story went viral across the U.S. and even the U.K. Suddenly, she found herself in a national spotlight.
“There were a million people saying positive things, which was great—but then there was the hate side, too,” she admitted. “People will still come up to me and say, ‘You’re the girl who got kicked out of school.’ I don’t really see myself as that, but I know so many people do. I’ve had to grow into that identity.”
Despite the unexpected attention, Bailey graduated high school on her own terms, calling her senior year “probably the best it could have possibly been.”
Festivals and the Road Ahead
Bailey has already left her mark on major stages, performing at the Carolina Country Music Fest and Lovin’ Life Festival. Field & Stream was on her calendar, and she hopes to add more festival appearances soon.
“CCMF was incredible,” she said. “Hopefully more to come—maybe even Barefoot someday.”
For now, she’s focused on sharpening her live shows. “We’ve really been working on putting the most top-tier performance together,” Bailey explained. “We want to start going out and playing these bigger venues, putting in the work, and sharing songs that people can connect with.”
What’s Next
Her new single, Honky Tonk Hallelujah, doesn’t yet have a release date—but Bailey teases that a music video is already in production, complete with a special TikTok guest. Fans can also expect more music, more writing trips to Nashville, and bigger stages ahead.
“Anybody that’s been through everything with me from start to finish—I can’t thank them enough,” she said. “This journey is just beginning, and I’m so excited for what’s next.”
💫 Fast Tracks celebrates artists like Bailey Marie who remind us that even the toughest setbacks can turn into the strongest anthems.
You can learn more about Bailey here.