We were lucky to catch up with Bailey Cole recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bailey Cole, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I feel like I’ve always had the dream of becoming a “Superstar,” but I was pretty shy about it until a few years ago. When I was around six years old, I was obsessed with music videos—singing into a remote or hairbrush in my bedroom mirror, listening to songs on repeat, copying the singer’s style to learn how to sing. Everything about performing fascinated me. Something in me has always believed I could pursue it.
Fear took over for most of my childhood, but the times I felt most alive were on stage in community theatre plays. Every summer, I’d spend a week at theatre camp, which ended with weekend performances. Feeling the rush of the stage and everything that went into putting on a production lit a fire in me. I knew it was something I was meant for—to create art and share it with the world.

Honestly, I’ve always been just as intrigued by what goes on behind the scenes as I am with being on stage. I love meeting people who feel that same fire and drive to entertain, to be part of something big.

My first “main character” role was getting cast as Toto in The Wizard of Oz—and even though I had to bark and play a dog, the spotlight made me feel more alive than I’d ever felt. That was the first moment I can remember dreaming of that artistic, crazy world becoming my forever reality.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an artist. I sing, I write, I feel—and then I write some more.

I grew up in a broken home, surrounded by addiction and chaos, never thinking there would be light at the end of the tunnel. Music was—and always has been—my glimmer of hope. Writing has brought me therapy, growth, and peace, and it’s always been my dream to share that with the world.

I know my story isn’t rare, and that’s exactly why it means so much to connect with people through my music—people who can relate on a deep level. That connection is healing in itself.

I’ve always felt like a fairy with a broken wing, yet I’ve never stopped believing that one day I would fly. My music is for the lost, the broken, the confused, the hopeless—anyone who needs a voice saying, “It’s going to be okay. Just keep going.”

Life is full of highs and lows, but I truly feel like I’m a vessel of hope—a reminder to never give up on yourself, no matter your surroundings.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist, for me, is turning pain into art. I’m an extreme empath—I feel so much for so many. Being able to channel that into creativity, especially during low points, is a gift I’ll always cherish.

I’ve always struggled with depression, and mental health is something I truly want to lean into through my music. It’s not just part of my story—it’s part of my purpose.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I was 19, I had just finished beauty school and was officially an esthetician. Deep down, I always knew music was my destiny—but where do you start? How do you get to the places you dream about? So, I played it safe. I took the easier route to make money and live on my own.

The moment that made me question everything was when I realized I’d need to spend the next few years building a clientele and making a name for myself as an esthetician just to earn good money. That’s when I had to ask myself: Is this my future? Is this it? Do I really want to work in a spa for the rest of my life, putting my dreams on the back burner just because I don’t believe they’re possible?

I knew if I didn’t pivot then, I might not get the chance again—to be young, full of passion, and driven enough to chase the life I really wanted. For a lot of people, becoming a successful esthetician is a great path. But for me, it felt like settling. Like I’d be giving up on my purpose.

I tried to ignore it, but this massive voice in my head kept saying: Now or never.

Within a few months, I quit my job at the spa and made a plan to move to Nashville and go for it. I told myself, You can always go back home. But you won’t always have the opportunity to explore everything life might have waiting for you.

Fast forward—six years in Nashville. I’ve released five songs, recorded my debut album in New York, acted in a movie in LA, recorded a track in Laguna Beach, been on the radio, performed live—and this is only the beginning.

All this to say: trust your gut. If you’re meant for something, it will find you—but you have to believe in yourself enough to chase it.

I’ll always feel at peace knowing I took the risk. Nothing was guaranteed. But I listened to my gut, I went for it—and I’ve never looked back.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://baileycolemusic.com
• Instagram: @baileycoleofficial
• Facebook: @baileycoleofficial
• Youtube: Bailey Cole

Image Credits

Cedrick Jones
Sherry Adams
Anastasia Elliot
Derek Jones