Interview With Broadway Star And Singer-Songwriter Kelsie Watts

Let’s jump right into discussing your new single, “Fit In”. It's a bold, emotionally charged anthem about identity, resilience and the universal desire to belong. What inspired the writing of the song?

Kelsie Watts: Thank you! I LOVE and am so proud of this song! It’s my favourite that I’ve written so far. DQ, the producer and I were sitting in the studio talking about random parts of life, and we got on the topic of never being “cool.” Growing up, I always felt like I needed to be a certain way to fit in with the cool kids. I was never invited to the parties, never had a date to prom, wasn’t “high school skinny,” etc. It took me a long time to realize that just being me is enough. So we wrote a song about it.

What do you want listeners to take away from “Fit In”?

KW: I want listeners to feel empowered and excited to just be themselves. I think it’s so important to lift each other up and celebrate everyone’s individuality and to feel like, with me, they have a safe place and belong just the way they are.

You've written some pretty personal music in the past as well, especially on “I Can't Say Goodbye,” after the tragic loss of your brother. Do these personal topics you write about just come easier then say a situation you're close to, but isn't exactly “you” - if that makes sense?

KW: Oh, absolutely. I can write songs that don’t relate to me, but I don’t enjoy it as much. Topics that I’ve lived are easy to write about because I can pull everything from personal experience.

You're trained to perform anything from opera to musical theatre, how did you land on creating music in the realm of pop and pop-rock over anything else?

KW: I’ve wanted to do pop-rock music ever since I was little! I was brought up on Whitney Houston, Def Leppard, Mariah Carey, Boston, Kiss, and Celine Dion. It’s a heck of a combination of music. I take inspiration from all of it. I’ve had a dream of selling out arenas for as long as I can remember.

Do you ever take your opera and theatre training and incorporate it into your original music? If so, how?

KW: Yes, I 100000% use my opera and musical training all the time. I like to call Opera the foundation of vocal health. I’m able to sing like I do for extended periods of time because I understand vocal health. I owe a lot of that to opera training. Even though I don’t perform Opera, it’s a tool I have in my box. I love combining theatrics with performing. Lady Gaga is a great example of being super theatrical in her shows. I think it all goes hand in hand.

It must have been a fantastic feeling growing up in a musical family and being encouraged by your parents at such a young age to pursue your talents, which led you on a path of church choirs, church plays, and everything in between. Looking back, do you have any profound moments from that time in music that you can attribute to where you are today?

KW: One of the core memories I have from growing up in a musical family is singing during the Christmas season. The first time I heard “All I Want for Christmas is You,” I was HOOKED! I just wanted to sing and perform it all the time. I remember dancing to the entire album in the living room while decorating the tree. We would sing as a family all the time, but Christmas specifically was really special. We each had our own part in “Carol of the Bells.” We performed “Who Could Imagine a King” from the movie The Preacher’s Wife as a family at church every year. We sang the entire California Raisin’s Christmas album while driving to see Christmas lights. It definitely shaped me and my love for music growing up.

You've also had a pretty wild career so far, past that. Just to touch on some of it, what are the differentials from being a featured artist on an AJ Mclean (Backstreet Boys) song to, say, being on Team Kelly on season 19 of The Voice, or auditioning on American Idol? What have you taken away from these experiences to the music you're making today?

KW: I do my best to be a sponge in every situation and soak up as much knowledge as I can. I truly believe that every single artist has something special to share, and it’s important to listen. But as cliche as it sounds, one of the biggest takeaways I’ve received is to simply be me. There is no other Kelsie Watts. 

You're currently on Broadway playing Queen Jane Seymour in SIX the Musical, which was a dream come true. You're hundreds of shows in, and have hundreds of shows left to go on this current run. What gets you through performing once, sometimes twice a day?

KW: Broadway is the Olympics of performing. The schedule of eight shows a week alone is demanding. Stack on top of that the rehearsals, press, physical recovery, social media, and still doing my own music, and it’s truly insane. But I wouldn’t change anything. I believe two things can be true at the same time: I can be physically exhausted and still be beyond grateful to be in SIX. To be honest, I’m still in awe that I’m here. I have “pinch me” moments all the time. The joy from performing on Broadway is enough to get me through the shows. This is an opportunity I am beyond blessed to have, and I want to cherish every moment. 

If the opportunity arose, would you do a tour of SIX the Musical? Actually, this is a two-parter. Also, are there other Broadway shows–past or present and on Broadway or touring–that if you could join the cast right now, even as a certain role, what would it be and why?

KW: Touring would be difficult for me to do, solely because it would make my career as a recording artist very tricky to pursue at the same time. Being on Broadway, I have the luxury of being in NYC and having access to recording studios, writing sessions, publicity events, etc. But I DEFINITELY have roles I would love to play. Elphaba (Wicked), Fantine (Les Misérables), Satine (Moulin Rouge), Maureen (Rent), Regina George (Mean Girls), Ali (Burlesque), and those are just a few [Laughs]. I think it would be super cool to originate a role in a Broadway show. If The Greatest Showman ever comes to the stage, I’m manifesting to originate the role of Jenny Lindt. I think that’d be a blast!

Can your fans and listeners–who have yet to discover you–expect even more music from you this year past “Fit In”?

KW: Absolutely, I plan to keep releasing new music.

Which also leads me to ask, besides a ton more performances of SIX the Musical, what else do you have planned for the rest of 2025?

KW: 2025 has been a busy year. In addition to starring in Six the Musical, I’m still writing and recording pop music weekly. There will definitely be more solo shows, music releases, and, fingers crossed, some really awesome Christmas performances. Right now, I’m in the finals for the Global Citizens Festival. So if y’all wanna go vote for me to advance to the next round, that’d be super helpful! And it’s free!

Thanks for taking the time today, Kelsie! Is there anything you'd like to say before you go?

KW: Thank you for having me! Be sure to keep up with me on all my socials @kelsiewattsmusic on Instagram and @kelsiewatts on TikTok and Facebook.