What is Kellie Pickler's Net Worth?
Kellie Pickler is an American country music artist and TV personality who has a net worth of $4 million. Kellie Pickler rose to fame when she competed on "American Idol" in 2006, coming in sixth place. Known for both her strong country music voice and her decided lack of pop culture and social savvy, the pretty but awkward young singer was instantly popular with gawky teens and older country fans. Kellie released her debut album, the certified gold "Small Town Girl," in 2006, and the singles "Red High Heels," "I Wonder," and "Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind" landed on the "Billboard" Hot Country Songs chart.
Her second album, released in 2008, netted her two Top 20 hits and a Top 10 hit on the country charts. Her third country album was released in early 2012 and debuted at #7 on the Billboard 200. None of its singles were popular, however, and later that year, she chose to part company with her record label and sign with a smaller independent label. In 2013, Pickler won "Dancing with the Stars" with partner Derek Hough, and she co-hosted the daytime talk show " Pickler & Ben" from 2017 to 2019.
Early Life
Kellie Pickler was born Kellie Dawn Pickler on June 28, 1986, in Albemarle, North Carolina. Her mother, Cynthia, left two years after Kellie was born, and her father, Clyde Jr., was often in jail during Pickler's childhood, so she was raised by her grandparents, Faye and Clyde. Cynthia briefly came back into Kellie's life and took custody of her when she was 10 years old, but she was returned to her grandparents two years later. Pickler attended North Stanly High School, where she was a member of the cheerleading squad. She graduated in 2004 and sang LeAnn Rimes' "On the Side of Angels" at the ceremony. In 2005, Kellie competed in WSOC-TV's Gimme the Mike! Charlotte contest, coming in second place. At the age of 17, she won the Miss Stanly County pageant, and she competed in the 2004 Miss North Carolina pageant.
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Career
In 2005, Pickler auditioned for "American Idol" in Greensboro, North Carolina, and her performances of Martina McBride's "A Broken Wing" and Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" inspired the judges to send her to Hollywood. Simon Cowell considered Kellie one of the most impressive contestants and predicted she would end up in the final three; however, she was eliminated on April 26, 2006, finishing sixth. The mayor of Albemarle presented Pickler with a key to the city on what he dubbed "Kellie Pickler Day," May 6, 2006. In July of that year, Kellie signed with 19 Recordings/BNA Records and began performing on the American Idols LIVE! Tour.
Pickler released her first single, "Red High Heels," in September 2006, and the video was nominated for Breakthrough Video of the Year by the CMT Video Awards. The following month, "Small Town Girl," her debut album, was released, reaching #9 on the "Billboard" 200; with sales of more than 79,000 copies, Kellie had more first-week sales than any other new artist in 2006. In 2007, she earned a Top New Female Vocalist nomination from the Academy of Country Music and toured with Brad Paisley as his opening act. Pickler released her second album, "Kellie Pickler," in September 2008, and like "Small Town Girl," it debuted at #1 on the U.S. "Billboard" Top Country Albums chart. In 2009, she toured with Taylor Swift, and in June of that year, she began her first headlining tour. She released the album "100 Proof" in June 2011, and in October 2012, she signed with Black River Entertainment after Kellie and Sony Nashville opted not to renew her contract. In 2013, Pickler released her fourth album, "The Woman I Am," and won the sixteenth season of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." In 2017, she began co-hosting a nationally syndicated talk show, "Pickler & Ben," with Ben Aaron; the show aired 261 episodes over two seasons. Kellie has also starred in "Christmas at Graceland" (2018), "Wedding at Graceland" (2019), and "The Mistletoe Secret" (2019) on the Hallmark Channel.
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Charity Work
Pickler is a supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and she has raised money for the organization as well as visited patients. In 2006, she performed at benefits for N.C. Children's PROMISE and the NFL Youth Education Towns Boys & Girls Club of New Orleans. In 2007, Kellie participated in the Mario Magro: Kiss for a Cause Foundation Celebrity Auction and competed on the "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" celebrity edition, raising funds for the American Red Cross and the AARP's Grandparenting Program. Pickler performed for the troops during USO tours in 2007, 2008, and 2010 and won $25,000 for USO on a 2016 episode of "Celebrity Family Feud."
Personal Life
Kellie became engaged to songwriter Kyle Jacobs in June 2010. They eloped on January 1, 2011, marrying in the Caribbean. The couple starred in a CMT reality show, "I Love Kellie Pickler," from 2015 to 2017. Tragically, Kyle died by suicide in February 2023.
She previously dated Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators, but they split up in 2007. Pickler is friends with Taylor Swift and fellow idol alums Carrie Underwood and Katharine McPhee, and she served as a bridesmaid when McPhee got married in 2008.
Kellie gave up meat in 2008, and PETA named her the "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" in 2009. Pickler's main influence is Dolly Parton, and Sony BMG Nashville chairman Joe Galanteshe arranged for Kellie to meet her idol in February 2007. In 2012, Summer Holt Miller, a friend of Kellie's, underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer, and Pickler shaved her head on "Good Morning America" to show support for Miller.
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Awards and Honors
In 2007, Pickler won a Songwriter Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers for "Red High Heels." She also won the award in 2008 for "I Wonder" and 2010 for "Best Days of Your Life." In 2008, "I Wonder" earned Kellie CMT Awards for Breakthrough Video of The Year, Tearjerker Video of The Year, and Performance of The Year. Pickler was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2016, and in 2012, "Billboard" ranked her # 14 on their "Top 24 'American Idols' Of All-Time" list.
Real Estate
In 2010, Kellie paid $1.435 million for a 4,865-square-foot, 4-bedroom home in Nashville, Tennessee. In November 2023 Kellie listed this home for sale for $2.89 million.
She also owns a luxury motorhome, which includes a dog kennel and mini spa, and was featured on the HGTV show "Celebrity Motor Homes" in 2011.
