Today we’d like to introduce you to ELSIE.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My dad was a pastor, and I was always in the youth choir, but I started playing piano at church when I was twelve. That’s where I really learned to connect with music on a spiritual and emotional level. But it wasn’t until I was seventeen that I discovered my voice as a singer and songwriter—that’s when I realized I had something to say and a deep love for storytelling.
In 2017, I released my first project, a self-titled EP called ELSIE, and in 2018 I won The Country Showdown, the biggest country music competition in the country. That moment felt like the beginning of something big. But life had other plans. Shortly after that, things shifted. I started a family, and music took a back seat. I honestly wasn’t sure if I’d ever return to it.
During that time, I moved to Korea, and it was there—far from home, far away from everything I knew—that the desire to create came back stronger than ever. I would wake up everyday longing to be on the stage, singing my songs to anybody who would listen. It was toward the end of my second summer over there that it hit me- I still had songs to sing. I decided I was going to give music another shot, but this time, on my own terms.
That decision brought me to where I am today. I released my single Forgiveless, which is probably one of the most vulnerable and honest song I’ve ever written. It reflects everything I’ve walked through—the pain, the growth, the healing. Being selected for Rissi Palmer’s Color Me Country Class of 2025 and BET spotlighting me as a Rising Star in the Future of Black Culture was such an affirmation of the journey I’ve been on.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Right when it felt like things were taking off in my music career, life shifted. The country music competition that I won never paid me. The following year I ended up having my daughter at just 28 weeks, and that experience shook me to my core. Navigating the NICU, the fear, the uncertainty—it changed me. After that, I went through postpartum depression, which was something I didn’t expect and didn’t know how to deal with it at the time.
On top of that, we moved to Korea—not exactly the easiest place to find your footing as a mom of 2 under 2.. I was far from family, from community, from music. It was isolating at times, but it also forced me to look inward. I had to ask myself, “What do YOU want? What are YOUR dreams and are you bold enough to chase them?” And in answering that, I slowly found my way back to the music with more honesty and purpose than ever before.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth, but every rough patch has deepened my purpose, my message, and my why.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a singer-songwriter, born and raised in South Mississippi. My work blends the storytelling roots of country with the emotion and grit of soul—music that feels like the South: raw, beautiful, and honest. I write songs that speak to the full spectrum of human experience—grief, love, motherhood, faith, forgiveness—and I aim to make people feel seen, especially folks who don’t always feel represented in country music.
What I’m most proud of is staying true to my voice. I took a long break from music to start a family, and coming back wasn’t easy. I had to rebuild, not just my career, but my confidence. Releasing Forgiveless was a major turning point for me. It’s a song that came from a deeply personal place, and to see how it’s resonated with people reminds me why I do this.
I think what sets me apart is the way I show up—fully myself. I don’t fit the traditional mold of what a country artist is supposed to look or sound like, and I don’t try to. I bring all of me into my music: my Southern roots, my gospel upbringing, my lived experiences as a Black woman, a mother, and a survivor. I’m not chasing trends—I’m telling the truth. And I believe that kind of honesty is what makes my music timeless.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned 2 really important lessons: 1. Just because you have kids doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your dreams. If anything, I’ve found it even more rewarding having my children be part of the journey. Nothing fills me up more than hearing, “Mommy, you did AMAZING,” after a show. I’ll float off that for days—because let’s be real, kids will always give it to you straight! Haha.
2. You have to keep going! It’s okay to pause, but you cannot quit. That’s actually the only way you fail is if you quit.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://iloveelsie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjustelsie__/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItsJustElsie/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsjustelsieyall
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/qXFSC9u0qxU
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/59Nnfz49QLQBvrdhwxcDMd
Image Credits
Core Photography (first 2– ruffle dress)
Justin Hardiman (last 3/4)
