Podcast Summary: takin' a walk — “The Healing Power of Music: Kelsie Watts on Grief, Resilience, and Recovery”
Host: Buzz Knight (iHeartPodcasts)
Guest: Kelsie Watts
Release Date: November 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode revolves around the healing power of music, focusing on singer, songwriter, and Broadway performer Kelsie Watts. Through an intimate conversation, host Lynne Hoffman (guest host for this episode) delves into Kelsie’s upbringing in a musical family, her experiences on The Voice and Broadway, the profound impact of losing her brother to depression, and her advocacy for mental health. The episode is candid and uplifting, exploring how music can channel grief, foster resilience, and offer hope to both artists and listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Musical Influences and Family Roots

• Kelsie grew up surrounded by music; both parents sang and played piano in church. She recounts her earliest memory, caught on home video at age two, performing “The Basics of Life” in Looney Tunes pajamas (05:17).
• Influences spanned gospel, pop, and rock: Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Tina Turner, Def Leppard, The Rolling Stones, Kiss, and Kirk Franklin (07:28).

“I don't remember learning to sing... I've just grown up with music. Both of my parents sing and play piano and grew up singing in church.”
— Kelsie Watts, 05:17

2. Emotional Power and Discovery in Music

• The first time Kelsie was emotionally affected by music was during a family road trip listening to Les Miserables. The story of Fantine moved her to tears and demonstrated music’s transportive power (06:22).

“I remember finally understanding that Fantine was dying. And I was distraught, like absolutely distraught, crying in the backseat.”
— Kelsie Watts, 06:22

3. Grief, Mental Health, and Advocacy

• Kelsie lost her brother, Jordan, to depression in 2013. She describes the profound absence of warning signs and how the tragedy was linked to a sudden discontinuation of medication (08:25).
• She uses her experience and music (“I Can’t Say Goodbye”) to educate and foster conversation around mental health, aiming to reduce stigma (08:25–10:42).

“His brain literally just broke... The more that we talk about it, the less taboo it becomes and the more comfortable other people begin to talk about it.”
— Kelsie Watts, 08:25 & 10:42

• Discusses the power of “making it” every day—living with grief, not in it (11:07).

“You have to learn to live with the grief instead of in the grief.”
— Kelsie Watts, 11:07

4. Channeling Pain into Songwriting

• Songwriting serves as both catharsis and connection; credits therapy for helping her process pain enough to share it without breaking down every time she performs (12:28–13:27).

“I’m able to say, hey, I’m writing a story about this. Yes, it’s my story. But it’s gonna do a lot of good because it’s gonna reach a lot of people.”
— Kelsie Watts, 13:17

5. The Voice and Broadway: Contrasts and Lessons

• The Voice gave visibility but little direct artistic shaping. Kelsie spent minimal time with coach Kelly Clarkson, but learned about the business and developed a thick skin (14:08).
• Performing on Broadway (“Six”) is vastly different: it’s live, high-stakes, and intensely demanding—emotionally and physically. No re-dos, and each audience is unique (15:55–18:59).
• Stage fright, perfectionism, and audience reactions are universal challenges.

“On the television side, I’m just Kelsey... In theater... there are only six of us on stage, so you really can’t... have a lot of room for error.”
— Kelsie Watts, 16:39 & 17:54

6. Grounding Faith and Staying Authentic

• Kelsie’s faith allows her to refocus before every performance, singing “for an audience of one” and relieving pressure to be perfect (19:59).

“I sing for an audience of one, and that’s all that matters. So if these people love me, amazing. If they hate me, that’s okay. They don’t have to love me.”
— Kelsie Watts, 20:03

7. Songwriting Process and Authenticity

• Prefers co-writing and draws on personal stories and conversations before writing. Insights into her upcoming single “Fit In,” inspired by feeling “a lot” and the pressure to conform—especially post-Voice (27:36–34:55).

“Writing is personal. It’s all about the song. I can sing my face off, but if I’m singing for no reason and there’s no meaning... nobody’s gonna feel anything.”
— Kelsie Watts, 27:56

8. High School Outsider Experience

• Was not part of the popular crowd; found refuge in choir and theater. Reflects on how those experiences shaped her identity and songwriting (29:34–36:43).

9. Pre-show Routines and Rituals

• Detailed regiment involving vocal and physical warmups, timed costume changes, and group breathing exercises for team cohesion in Six (37:09–38:46).

“As a group, once we get on stage, all six of us... stand in a circle and hold hands... But if we say [the number] at the same time, we have to start over.”
— Kelsie Watts, 38:38

10. Mental Health Advocacy

• Kelsie works to de-stigmatize conversations about mental health and suicide loss, frequently speaking with affected families and supporting organizations like Dee Dee Hirsch and 988 (39:26).

11. Touching Listener Stories & Impact

• Receives messages online and stage door confessions about how fans have connected with her mental health-focused music—sometimes helping save lives (41:40–44:14).

“I had a girl tell me one time... ‘Because I tried to take my life and thankfully I didn’t succeed, but it helps to know I’m not the only one.’ And it just, like, stopped me in my tracks.”
— Kelsie Watts, 43:24

12. Dream Collaborations and Ambitions

• Would love to collaborate with Jelly Roll, Pink, Rihanna, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga. Aspires to originate a Broadway role and tour internationally (44:41–45:50).

13. Advice for Struggling Listeners

• Emphasizes the importance of having even just one trusted confidant; community is essential for resilience (46:47–47:54).

“You don’t have to have an army. You just need just one that you can really hunker down with and be like, ‘Hey, I am not okay.’”
— Kelsie Watts, 47:21

14. Musical Preferences and Listening Habits

• Unlike expectation, Kelsie listens to far more podcasts and audiobooks than music for pleasure, except for special moments or gym sessions (48:46–51:16).
• Last song played: “If You Want Perfection” from Death Becomes Her; favorite song for repeat: “River” by Bishop Briggs.

15. Dream Performance Venue

• Hopes to perform at Rock in Rio in Brazil for its enthusiastic audiences, and dreams of performing in Asia (51:27–52:30).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I really believe it brings purpose to the pain.” — Kelsie Watts (11:07)
• “Writing is personal...if I’m singing for no reason and, like, there’s no meaning behind what I’m singing, nobody’s gonna feel anything.” — Kelsie Watts (27:56)
• “I sing for an audience of one, and that’s all that matters.” — Kelsie Watts (20:03)
• “You have to learn to live with the grief instead of in the grief.” — Kelsie Watts (11:07)
• (On impact) “It helps to know I’m not the only one.” — Kelsie Watts relaying a fan’s comment (43:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:49 Music as healing — “Music saved me.”
• 05:17–07:28 — Early musical upbringing and influences
• 08:25–11:07 — Grieving her brother, mental health, and turning pain to purpose
• 14:08–15:15 — Behind the scenes of The Voice and lessons learned
• 15:55–18:59 — Broadway vs. TV: live performance challenges
• 19:59–22:43 — Faith, performance anxiety, and staying centered
• 27:36–34:55 — The songwriting process, “Fit In,” and learning to be authentic
• 39:26–41:31 — Talking mental health and breaking taboos
• 41:40–44:14 — Fan stories and the power of music
• 44:41–45:50 — Dream collaborations and career goals
• 46:47–47:54 — Advice for struggling listeners/community
• 51:27–52:30 — Dream venues and international ambitions

Final Messages

• Kelsie’s journey illustrates how music is a lifeline during grief, a form of solidarity for those struggling, and an opportunity to give back through vulnerability and openness.
• Her advice: Find even one person you can be real with—community breeds resilience.
• She encourages authenticity in artistry and life, championing mental health and owning one’s story.

For listeners: Kelsie Watts’ honest conversation is a testament to the power of sharing your pain and passions openly—and a reminder that while grief and challenges are deeply personal, they are never faced alone. If you are struggling, reach out. You matter, and you belong.