In the heart of Nashville, where stories are the local currency, Brooke Lee is currently trading in gold. Just a few years ago, she was a Charlotte teenager watching the band Blue Monday ignite a crowd, a moment that didn’t just entertain her—it gave her a blueprint. Today, that blueprint has been realized in high definition. With a voice defined by a signature “smoky” rasp and a songwriting pen that refuses to blink, Lee has transitioned from a local “Queen City” favorite to opening for the likes of Willie Nelson and NEEDTOBREATHE.
As she prepares to release her sophomore EP, Desert Darling, on April 17, Lee isn’t just releasing music; she’s inviting us into the passenger seat of her life’s most formative road trip.
Capturing the “Electric and Timeless”
The EP’s title track, “Desert Darling,” serves as the project’s spiritual North Star. Written alongside and produced by Danielle Blakey, the song explores the intoxicating suspension of time that comes with a new, all-consuming love. It’s a theme that resonates through the entire six-track collection, which moves fluidly between the recklessness of “Kissing A Stranger” and the gritty self-reflection of “Burn To Black.”
To ensure the record felt as alive as her stage show, Lee made a deliberate choice that bucked the Nashville “session player” trend: she brought her longtime touring band into the studio.
“Anything I write about is something I can relate to,” Lee says of her process. “We all have a story to tell and I want everyone to hear mine through my songs.”
The result is a sound that Holler describes as “steering wheel tappers,” blending the breezy, West Coast country-pop of Sheryl Crow with the “boot-stomping sass” of Lainey Wilson.
| Track # | Title | Songwriters |
| 1 | Kissing A Stranger | Brooke Lee, Justin Richards |
| 2 | Desert Darling | Brooke Lee, Danielle Blakey |
| 3 | Burn To Black | Brooke Lee, Danielle Blakey, Jon Nite |
| 4 | This Roof | Brooke Lee, Justin Richards |
| 5 | I Gotta Go | Brooke Lee, Aaron Eshuis, Neil Medley |
| 6 | Just Because | Brooke Lee, Danielle Blakey, Justin Richards |
From Charlotte to the National Stage
Brooke’s ascent hasn’t been an overnight accident. It’s been a steady climb fueled by a “wild child” spirit and a work ethic rooted in her North Carolina upbringing. After moving to Nashville at 21, she “cut her teeth” in the honkytonks of Broadway before signing with Spirit Music Publishing and CAA.
Her 2025 single “Dandelion,” featuring Lukas Nelson, proved she could hold her own alongside country royalty, but it’s her solo work that truly reveals her grit. This year, her partnership with Chevrolet for the “See The USA” campaign further cements her status as the ultimate soundtrack for the open road.
What’s Next?
Following the April release, Brooke Lee will be taking the Desert Darling experience back to the fans. With headlining dates approaching in Charleston, Atlanta, and a homecoming show in Charlotte, the “budding country music star” (as dubbed by People) is ready to prove that the desert isn’t just a place—it’s a state of mind.
The Journey to Adulthood: You’ve described this EP as a “road trip through your formative years.” If each of the six tracks represents a specific mile marker or memory, which one felt the most difficult — or perhaps the most healing — to revisit in the writing room?
If I had to pick one, it would definitely be “This Roof.” Writing that song with Justin Richards was such a special day for me. It holds so many memories because my best friend was moving, and for a few years her roof was my safe place. We would sit out there and cry, dream, and laugh. Revisiting that space while writing brought up a lot of emotions. That roof is where I worked through my first love, my first real heartbreak, and ultimately the moment I decided to let go and choose myself. I think that song really captures the heart of this project and who I’ve become. It was definitely the most emotional one to write — it brought back some hard memories, but also so much healing.
The Title Track Energy: “Desert Darling” is described as capturing a love that feels “timeless and impossible to let go.” In a fast-paced industry, how do you protect those “timeless” moments in your personal life so you can keep writing about them with such authenticity?
I try to slow things down on purpose and really be present when those moments are happening. This industry moves fast, but the moments that shape my writing usually live in the quiet parts — long conversations, drives home after shows, time with people who make me feel present instead of pulled in a million directions. I try not to treat those moments like content or inspiration in real time. I just live them, and the songs come later. Because at the end of the day, if I lose those real relationships and experiences, I lose the truth in the music — and that’s the whole reason I write in the first place.
The All-Female Power Duo: You wrote and produced much of this project with Danielle Blakey. How did that partnership help shape the “grit and natural rasp” of your sound compared to previous releases?
Danielle truly knows me — she gets me and she gets my voice. We’ve been writing together for several years now, and from our very first session there was a natural connection. She’s always pushing and encouraging me to reach my fullest potential. Danielle has an incredible ear for vocals, and in the studio she really pushed me to give everything I had and show every side of myself. We both love music that feels edgy, raw, and real, and she helped pull that out of me on this project while constantly encouraging me to stay authentic in every take. One of the coolest parts of recording this EP was that we didn’t do endless takes. We’d run songs a couple of times and then move on, because we wanted to capture what came out naturally — the grit, the rasp, the emotion in the moment. I think that approach really shaped the sound of this project and made it feel more honest than anything I’ve released before.
Bringing the Road to the Studio: It’s rare for artists to bring their touring band into the studio rather than using session players. Why was it important for you to have your guys on these tracks, and how do you think that changed the “weight” of the songs?
I’m really blessed to have guys in my band that I share such a strong chemistry with — both on stage and musically. My guitarist, Logan Foland, and I have been playing together since we were 15, so we’ve grown really tight as a duo and as a full band over the years. Travis Fincher, who played drums on the project, felt like the perfect fit for my sound from the very first show we played together. One of my favorite things about playing with him is how he naturally moves with my voice. He listens and adjusts in real time, and that’s really special. Both Logan and Travis are the kind of musicians who leave their stamp on everything. I could close my eyes and know it’s them playing. This project is extremely personal to me, so it was really important that the people helping bring it to life were the same ones who’ve been living these songs with me on the road. I think that’s what gave the recordings their weight — it’s not just musicians playing parts, it’s people who already understand the emotion behind them.
The Blue Monday Spark: You knew you wanted to do this after seeing Blue Monday at 13. Now that you’re the one on stage enthralling the venue, what is the one thing you hope a 13-year-old in your audience takes home after your show?
I hope that 13-year-old — and honestly anyone in the room — walks away feeling inspired to be more themselves than ever. I want them to feel encouraged to step outside the lines a little, to get uncomfortable, and to find what brings them real joy and peace. That’s what being on stage gives me — it’s this feeling of freedom and magic, and over time I’ve learned to look for little pieces of that same feeling in everyday life. So more than anything, I hope that kid leaves my show believing there’s space for them to be fully who they are, and that the magic in life really does come from authenticity.
Opening for Legends: From Willie Nelson to NEEDTOBREATHE, you’ve shared stages with incredibly diverse acts. What is the most unconventional piece of advice you’ve picked up from watching these veterans from the wings?
I feel beyond grateful to have shared stages with such a wide range of artists, but one huge common thread with people like Willie Nelson and NEEDTOBREATHE is longevity. I remember sitting side stage watching them and realizing nothing about what they were doing felt rushed — they weren’t chasing moments, they were just completely rooted in who they are. That felt like unconventional advice in itself. It showed me that careers aren’t built in giant leaps, they’re built in steady, honest steps over time. That really stuck with me. I’m completely okay with small progress as long as things keep moving forward, because I believe that authenticity is what gives a career its staying power.
The Lukas Nelson Connection: “Dandelion” was such a standout. What did collaborating with Lukas teach you about the balance between vulnerability and strength in a duet?
Lukas had actually become a really dear friend of mine before we recorded the duet, so there was a lot of trust in the room from the start. It didn’t feel like I was singing with another artist — it felt like I was making music with someone I could be open with, and that made the performance feel really natural. I had actually written “Dandelion” a few years before meeting him, and when he heard it, he told me it felt like a song that really captured who I am and how I move through life. Working with him reminded me that vulnerability and strength in a duet actually support each other. You don’t have to overpower a song to make it strong — sometimes it’s about trusting the moment and the person you’re singing with. That experience really stuck with me. It changed how I think about collaboration. The best duets aren’t about two big voices competing, they’re about two people creating space for each other.
The Evolution of a Lyricist: You’ve been in Nashville since you were 21. Looking at a song like “Kissing A Stranger” versus your earliest Nashville demos, what’s the biggest difference in how you approach storytelling today?
In my first year or two in town, I wouldn’t say I was chasing anything — but I didn’t really know myself yet. I’ve always loved color and detail in lyrics. I want people to be able to close their eyes and see the song. But I think the biggest difference now is that I’m not scared to be completely vulnerable in my writing. I still want to share the small, specific details of my life, but I’ve learned that the more honest and open I am, the more people are able to connect and see themselves in the songs. That shift has really changed how I approach storytelling. It feels less like I’m trying to write something clever, and more like I’m trying to tell the truth in a way that lets other people feel it too.
The Chevrolet Partnership: Your music is being used to help people “See The USA.” When you’re actually out there on your headlining tour this spring, what is your “must-have” road trip ritual or snack that keeps you grounded between cities like Charleston and Atlanta?
PopCorners are my go-to snack all day long — and if we’re getting specific, I’m a kettle corn flavor girl. As far as rituals, I’m really big on carving out a little alone time before a show. Stepping away from my phone and just having a few quiet minutes to myself really helps calm me and get centered. I also always take a moment to thank God and give Him the glory before I walk on stage — that keeps me grounded no matter what city I’m in
Defining the “New Echelon”: People are calling you a “budding country music star.” As you move into this next chapter, what does “success” look like to you beyond the charts and the sold-out rooms?
To me, success looks like longevity and connection. Of course the big moments are incredible, but what really matters to me is building something that lasts — having people grow with the music and feel like they’re part of the story. If I’m able to keep making honest songs, keep showing up on stage, and know that the music is actually helping people through something in their lives, that’s success to me. I want a career that feels sustainable, meaningful, and true to who I am — not just a moment. At the end of the day, success is being able to look back and feel proud that I stayed authentic, kept moving forward, and built something real.
