Each week, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Tony Taglavore takes to lunch a local person – someone who is well-known, successful, and/or influential, and asks, “What’s Your Story?”
By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services
Valedictorian. Finalist for Louisiana Student of the Year. A 35 ACT score.
The girl who is “Haughton through and through” has the goods to succeed in just about any profession.
“I always felt like I needed to be an engineer or an architect. I need to be a doctor. I need to be something that people expect. So, I told everyone I was going to be a dermatologist. I told everyone I was going to be an architect.
Problem was, she didn’t want to be any of those things.
“My parents said from the time I was born that I was an entertainer. ‘If there was a microphone, we would have to hold you back from it.’ If there was a funeral, I would run up and try and talk into the microphone.”
So, when it came time to make a career plan, parents and daughter had a heart-to-heart talk.
“My mom and dad sat down with me and said, ‘You do not want to do that (engineer, architect, doctor). Any time you talk about it, you are not excited about it. You have no love for that – we can tell. What you do have a love for is music. You love writing. You love singing. You love performing. Just try it.”
She is. The daughter of a salesman, and a community college math teacher, is now early into her freshman year at college, majoring in Music Business. She has released two singles which have been streamed some 50,000 times. “I’m sure 49,000 have been my family playing them over and over.”
Remember, everyone wanted her to do something different. Well, almost everyone.
“To (my parents), my happiness and my being in the will of the Lord is so much more important than doing what people expected, and it’s so much more important than having a job that is financially secure and very controllable. They would rather see me follow what God has for me than follow what other people wanted me to do.”
Days before leaving for Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, 18-year-old Kylie Small told me that story – and her story – during lunch at a place she chose, Newk’s Eatery in Bossier City. Kylie had tomato soup, half a turkey sandwich, and a Dr. Pepper. I enjoyed the Newk’s Favorite salad, and water with lemon.
“I wish (Belmont) was closer to home, because I love family. I love Haughton, and I am very sad to leave. But this is where I need to go to do what I want to do. There is no better place to follow my dreams than Nashville.”
Those dreams—to be a singer and songwriter – were born at an early age, and by accident.
“My parents put me in piano. I hated piano. I was not good at it. I did not enjoy it. It was not fun.”
When first-grader Kylie tried out for the Bossier Parish Talented Arts Program, the folks listening agreed – Kylie wasn’t good at piano.
“They asked if I could do anything else, because I can’t do piano. I said, ‘Yes, I can sing.’ Nobody ever told me I could sing. I had never sung seriously. But I sang what I can only imagine was the best rendition of Let it Go (from the Disney movie Frozen) they had ever heard, because it got me into (the program).
From elementary through high school, Kylie, with the help of music teachers, refined her voice. She also competed in cheer, and played soccer, volleyball, and softball. Kylie served on Student Council, and was involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“I dipped my toes in every single thing I could in high school. I stayed busy. That’s how I stayed out of trouble.”
So how did the oldest of two sisters (by five years) manage to excel in the classroom when she was busy excelling in so many other things?
“Honestly, I’ve never studied once. A lot of things came very naturally to me. It’s a blessing and a curse. I’m very grateful God gifted me with a lot of things. I just did really well in school naturally . . . . Tests and school never worried me. They were never much of a concern.”
What was a concern was how Kylie was going to get noticed for her musical talents. Mom and grandma – “I call her Honey” – had the answer.
“Get on TikTok! You need to get on TikTok and you need to start posting. That’s how people are going to find you.”
Mom, grandma, and TikTok. I found that to be an interesting combination.
“I started doing (TikTok) my sophomore year. It took off. Two weeks later, I was contacted by a talent scouting agency in Nashville. That’s when I thought, ‘Okay, God is opening doors, and maybe I was called to do music.”
The agency helped Kylie release her first single, Them Boys, and her latest song, For a Cowboy. Both, which Kylie co-wrote with a Nashville songwriter, are available on most major music streaming platforms.
At Belmont, Kylie, who is a big fan of Lainey Wilson and Dolly Parton, will learn the business side of music. When not in class, and not making hats at her part-time job, Kylie will sing and play guitar for whoever will listen. She hopes one of those people will be the one to make her dreams come true.
“There are so many talented people who haven’t made it. It’s a little bit worrisome. With so much talent out there, how will I ever get my talent seen?”
But competitive by nature (remember all those sports she played?), Kylie is ready to fight for her time in the country music spotlight.
“In four years, I would love to be going on tour. I want to have an album out. Being a full-time artist is the goal. I would love for that to pay the bills. My parents have been so supportive, especially financially . . . . I would love to be able to make it, then pay them back. I know they don’t expect me to. They don’t want me to, because they love me. But they’ve done so much for me, I want to do that for them.”
I wanted to get Kylie’s opinion on a song I wrote about stubbing my toe on a piece of furniture in the middle of the night while going to get a piece of pound cake. Instead, I decided to ask my final question. As always, what is it about Kylie’s life that could influence others?
“Don’t let fear, doubt, or other people’s expectations stop you from doing what you love . . . . The amount of people who are not on your side is a lot smaller than the people who are. The few negative ones are often times just really loud . . . . People hate success. People hate to see successful people . . . . You have to overlook that, do what you love to do, and what you feel led to do.”
Hmmm. Sounds like the makings of a hit song.
Do you know someone with a story? Email SBJTonyT@gmail.com.
The Journal’s weekly “What’s Your Story?” series is sponsored by Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers.