Award-winning New Zealand country artist Kaylee Bell will travel to the UK next month for a 13-date tour supporting British country duo The Shires.
The tour will begin at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on November 3, following a busy year for Bell, who has built an international audience through her music and live performances.
Bell has held the title of Australasia’s Most Streamed Female Country Artist for five consecutive years and has accumulated more than 100 million streams across her catalogue. She has also shared stages with artists including Ed Sheeran, Keith Urban and Kane Brown.
Her international breakthrough came with “Keith”, a tribute to Keith Urban that has surpassed 30 million Spotify streams and 60 million TikTok views.
In 2023, Bell became the only New Zealand artist to win a Country Music Association (CMA) Award, receiving the Jeff Walker Global Country Music Artist Award in Nashville.
Bell Celebrates a Busy Year of Performances and Award Nominations
The upcoming UK tour follows several career milestones for Bell in 2026.
She performed at the sold-out Once In A Lifetime concert in Christchurch, which attracted 37,000 people and marked the first show held at the city’s One New Zealand Stadium.
Bell was also inducted into the NZ Gold Guitar Awards Hands of Fame and received five Aotearoa Music Awards nominations, including Album of the Year and Best Country Artist.
In June, she became the first female artist from Australia or New Zealand to appear on the CMA Close Up Stage. Her appearance at CMA Fest in Nashville featured a discussion hosted by Apple Music Country presenter Ty Bentli.
The year also marks the 10th anniversary of her breakout single, “Getting Closer”, which she co-wrote with Australian country singer Morgan Evans.
Morgan Evans Collaboration Marked an Early Career Milestone
Bell said her long-standing friendship with Evans made their collaboration on “Getting Closer” a memorable experience.
She explained that she moved to Australia at the age of 20 and performed her first show in Western Australia with Evans and his band, allowing them to become friends early in her career.
Bell described Evans as one of the most genuine, kind and talented people she had met.
The pair wrote “Getting Closer” in Nashville. Bell said the song helped establish her musical identity and gave listeners an early indication of her sound.
She described it as a defining moment in which she began making a clear statement about the kind of artist she wanted to become.
Album Cowboy Up Reflects Changes in Bell’s Life
Bell’s latest album, Cowboy Up, follows a period of significant change in her personal life.
She welcomed her son, James, in January 2025. Since becoming a mother, Bell has continued to combine her energetic country-pop style with more personal songwriting inspired by her experiences as an independent artist balancing touring and family responsibilities.
The singer has identified Shania Twain as a major influence on her career. Bell previously paid tribute to Twain in the song “Song for Shania” and said the Canadian star’s music encouraged her to learn guitar.
She also credited Twain with showing her that it was possible to maintain a music career while raising a family.
Bell said having a one-year-old son had made her more deliberate about how she spent her time and the work she chose to pursue.
She explained that time away from her family had become more important to consider, prompting her to set higher expectations for her professional commitments.
Motherhood Has Influenced Bell’s Songwriting
Bell said becoming a parent had given her a different perspective on life and changed the subjects she could explore in her music.
She explained that her experiences had opened up new ways to connect with listeners, particularly women who could relate to the challenges of motherhood.
The singer said that some aspects of becoming a mother were difficult to understand fully until experiencing them personally.
She added that her songwriting was evolving alongside her life, allowing her to draw on new experiences and emotions.
Singer Returns to the Stage Six Weeks After Giving Birth
Bell performed at Australia’s CMC Rocks country music festival just six weeks after giving birth to James.
She said returning to the stage was a positive experience that helped her reconnect with an important part of her identity after childbirth.
Her son attended the performance, watching from the side of the stage with protective headphones. Bell’s sister was also present.
The singer recalled experiencing a range of emotions after giving birth and said knowing she would return to performing helped her rediscover a sense of herself beyond motherhood.
Bell said she was grateful to have taken the opportunity, describing the performance as an important step in returning to her career.
She emphasised that being a mother remained a central part of her life, while performing continued to be important to her personal identity.
Bell also described the CMC Rocks appearance as one of the band’s favourite shows, recalling the experience of performing with her newborn son nearby.
UK Tour Continues Bell’s International Career
Bell’s upcoming 13-date tour with The Shires will take her to venues across the UK, beginning in Glasgow on November 3.
The tour follows her recent performances, award recognition and continued work on music shaped by her experiences as a touring artist and mother.
With more than 100 million catalogue streams and an internationally successful tribute to Keith Urban, Bell will continue bringing her country music to audiences beyond Australasia.
