When You Lie Next to Me

Background:

An American country music singer/songwriter who made her big stage debut at the Oklahoma Opry when she was nine years old, Kellie Coffey broke into the country music market with her crossover single “When You Lie Next to Me” (2002), which became Top 15 hits on both the U.S. country music and adult contemporary charts. Her debut album, also titled “When You Lie Next to Me,” was launched the same year on BNA Records and reached Top 5 on the US Country album charts. Coffey was handed a 2003 Academy of Country Music Award for her work on the album. The sophomore effort “Walk On” was released in 2007, with the new single “I Would Die for That.”

Coffey and her husband Geoff Koch have a young son named Jackson Geoffrey. They met while Coffey was a struggling performer in Los Angeles.

Mrs. Koch

Childhood and Family:

The middle of three children with two boys, Kellie Coffey was born on April 22, 1971, in Moore, Oklahoma, to a dentist. She was encouraged to become a singer since she was a little girl. Kellie received a degree in vocal performance from the University of Oklahoma.

Kellie is married to actor Geoff Koch. She gave birth to the couple's first child, a 7lbs, 11 oz baby boy named Jackson Geoffrey, on November 15, 2005.

I Would Die for That

Career:

A native of Oklahoma, Kellie Coffey started singing in church, and got voice and piano introduction from an early age. Thanks to her supportive family, she was brought to the Oklahoma Opry at age nine, making her first big stage debut. There, she performed Tanya Tucker's song “Pecos Promenade” and Charley McClain's “Dancing Your Memory Away.” However, she did not come to the decision of becoming a professional singer until she was in her junior year in college. Recalling, she said, “We were putting on the annual revue, 'The Sooner Scandals,' and in between acts I sang “Save The Best For Last,” a song Vanessa Williams had recorded. It was one of those electric, magic moments. I was pouring my heart out in this song and I felt a connection with the audience. It was amazing. I knew then that it was what I wanted to do."

Upon graduating, Coffey headed for Los Angeles to her singing/songwriting dream. It was a hard time for Coffey to leave her family because they are very close. She took a job as a singing waitress to support her life, and began writing songs. She also attended a singing/performing class. Coffey's luck started to change after she made a demo tape and sent it around. Subsequently, she found herself working on recording sessions and in live shows. She sang backup for Barbra Striesand's Millenium Concert and recorded songs for Disney Theme Parks. During a workshop of a musical, Coffey encountered the future husband Geoff Koch, who was playing one of the leads. This resulted in Coffey singing and writing songs for the popular TV series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” a gig that allowed her to leave waitress days behind.

Coffey's big break arrived when Judy Stakee offered her a development deal with industry giant Warner Chappell, after Stakee saw her performed at Genghis Cohen. Next, she had the opportunity to work JD Martin and was sent to Tennessee to write with Warner Chappell's Nashville writers. In 1998, Coffey recorded a demo CD consisting of five songs that she co-wrote all but one and with JD Martin producing. She sent the demo to A&R and Music Row and shortly thereafter, she got a call from a call from RCA's Renee Bell. Coffey impressed label head Joe Galante with a very casual set of three songs in the meeting and before she knew it she was signing a development deal with the label. She then moved to Nashville.

Finally, Coffey launched a career as a recording country artist with the release of her debut album, “When You Lie Next to Me,” in 2002. Produced by Dann Huff under BNA Records Nashville, the album became a Top 5 hit on the Country album charts and spawned the hit single of the same name, which reached No. 8 on the US Country Music and No. 14 at the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. Other singles produced include “I Just Knew,” “Whatever It Takes” and “At the End of the Day.” The following year, Coffey was named Top New Female Vocalist by Academy of Country Music.

In January 2004, Coffey found herself serving as the opening for the 2004 George Strait tour. Later that same year, she recorded a single called “Texas Plates” and it went on to chart No. 24 on the U.S Country. The song was the first single from her unreleased second CD, “A Little More Me.”

After several years, Coffey made her return to her studio for a new album titled “Walk On.” Released in 2007, it is a self-examining album which looks into the meaning of her life experiences. The track “I Would Die for That,” which addresses the weighty issue of infertility, produced an instant popular video on YouTube

Awards:

• Academy of Country Music: Top New Female Vocalist, 2003