Nashville’s newest darling Lakelin Lemmings is officially turning up the heat this summer.
The 20-year-old West Tennessee native is already capturing the hearts of country music fans worldwide, and today marks her biggest milestone yet: the release of her highly anticipated, self-titled debut album (out now via QHMG / Quartz Hill Records). Blending traditional country roots with a fresh, contemporary sparkle, Lakelin is the all-American girl next door with a voice that feels instantly familiar.
To celebrate the massive release, the rising singer-songwriter sat down exclusively with Celeb Secrets to spill all the details on her 16-track debut, her songwriting secrets, and what it’s really like to be a fast-rising star in Music City.
Fresh off a beach trip to “rest and reset” before the whirlwind of release week, Lakelin is embracing every emotion. “I’m really looking forward to releasing my first album… just feeling all the things,” she shares. “Feeling excited and nervous, and I just hope it goes well.”
With 15 of the 16 tracks co-written by Lakelin herself—and produced by award-winning songwriter/producer Ash Bowers—the album is a deeply personal introduction. While they tossed around naming the record after one of the tracks, like “American Dreamin’,” Lakelin ultimately decided to let her own name take center stage.
“I really felt like this project kinda just introduces me into the world and kinda just lays out what I’m about and who I am,” Lakelin tells Celeb Secrets exclusively in a virtual interview. “So I thought, you know, why not make this self-titled?”
The timing couldn’t be better. With fans begging for new music following the success of her debut radio single, “Get Around Boy,” a summer release was a no-brainer. “There’s so many songs on here that could be your summer anthem,” she notes, adding that the project has been fully wrapped since March. “We were like, ‘Why keep it from everybody?’ Give the people what they want!”
Lakelin’s journey to this debut is a testament to her lifelong dedication to country music. She started singing at just six years old, playing local festivals and restaurants in her hometown. By 12, her parents were driving her to Nashville to write and perform. That hustle paid off when she landed a publishing deal at 17, and a record deal by 19.
“It’s crazy because, you know, being 17 and writing songs for a living while all of my other friends are working at fast food… or thinking about college,” she reflects. “I just knew that was never really the path for me, and I felt like this is what God had called me to do.”
That God-given talent shines through on the album, especially on tracks like “What Are We Doing.” Co-written with Ash Bowers, the catchy anthem about modern-day situationships was the easiest song on the album to write, coming together in just 30 minutes.
On the flip side, the standout ballad “I Ain’t For Everybody” proved to be the most challenging—and the one she is most proud to share.
“It’s a very raw, emotional song, and it’s very vulnerable and honest,” she confesses, admitting it’s also the track she’s most nervous for fans to hear. “I am proud of that one just because I was honest and raw in a new way that I hadn’t done before.”
Because it wouldn’t be Celeb Secrets without a little exclusive tea, Lakelin revealed a major behind-the-scenes secret from her time in the recording studio.
“For a couple of the songs, I had literally just recovered from laryngitis,” she laughs. “I remember ‘Keep the Faith’ is a pretty powerful song on the chorus. And literally the day before, I barely had a voice. So there’s your little inside scoop!”
Speaking of “Keep the Faith,” it’s the only track on the album Lakelin didn’t co-write. Penned by country heavyweights Jaron Boyer, Phil Barton, and legendary songwriter Lori McKenna, Lakelin was initially intimidated to cut an outside song, but knew she had to give it a home. It’s already resonating deeply on the road, with fans coming up to her after shows in Las Vegas to tell her how much the track touched them.
Another fan-favorite is the wisdom-filled, sassy anthem “19 & Single.” Written when she was actually 19, the track pushes back against society’s pressure to settle down on a strict timeline.
“It seemed like everybody was getting engaged or married or having babies… and I was like, ‘I’m just out here singing my songs!'” she shares. “I feel like in society there’s this timeline of, like, you have to be married and have your first kid by 25. And I was like, ‘I just don’t think that’s necessarily the path for me.’ 19 and single ain’t the end of the world.”
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With her album officially out in the world, Lakelin is packing her bags for her first-ever international tour. This weekend (August 14-16), she’ll head to the UK for a string of shows, including two massive performances at the Country Calling Music Festival in Chelmsford, England opening for Randy Houser.
“It’s crazy to think some small-town girl from West Tennessee is getting to go across the pond to sing for people,” she gushes.
As for her ultimate bucket list? While she looks up to current superstars like Megan Moroney, Ella Langley, and Miranda Lambert, she has one dream collaboration in mind: “I would love to make a song with my queen, Dolly Parton,” she shares with a smile. “I know she does collabs every now and then with smaller artists, so I’m like, ‘Maybe I’m next!'”
With a debut album this strong, we wouldn’t be surprised if Dolly is already listening.
For more on Lakelin Lemmings and her debut album, make sure to watch our full interview below — and don’t forget to let us know if you’re loving the new project by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity. For more Country news, visit CelebSecretsCountry.com.
