Cori Kennedy a hit at new event

STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN M. JORGENSEN

Cori Kennedy was the Friday night headliner at the “Spring into Summer” event at the Steele County Fairgrounds. She will return to Owatonna in August to perform at the Steele County Free Fair. 

Cori Kennedy has been a home-grown sensation around southern Minnesota this spring following her appearance on the 28th season of “The Voice.”
Owatonna was no exception last week as she headlined the Friday night musical entertainment at the “Spring into Summer” event at the Steele County Fairgrounds.
Kennedy is from West Concord; she graduated from Kasson-Mantorville High School in 2015.
While she is now working on expanding her career as a country music singer and songwriter, music was not what she was known for in high school. Although she played percussion in the K-M band, as well as piano, she was also an athlete — and after graduation went to Minnesota State University, Mankato to play softball.
She said she is somewhat of an outlier in her family and is “the only one in my family who is musical.” She described herself as “all country. I love traditional country.”
After college, Kennedy returned to the area, living in Kasson and selling commercial furniture in Rochester.
She said she found herself becoming more interested in a possible career in music after college; she taught herself how to play the guitar during that time.
Kennedy had been posting her music on social media — to favorable reviews — and decided to take a chance and see if a music career was for her.
She auditioned for “The Voice,” a singing reality competition TV series, and was accepted. During her blind audition, coaches Reba McEntire and Michael Buble turned their chairs for Kennedy, who chose to be on McEntire’s team.
Although she did not win the competition, it propelled her into that music career she’d considered; in October she made the move to Nashville.
She has been back in Minnesota and surrounding areas this spring, performing to sold-out crowds. “It’s been very busy,” since the Voice appearances, Kennedy said.
Throughout the process, her family has been supportive.
“It’s just been so fun,” said her mother Tammy Kennedy. She and Kennedy’s fiancé Eric went to Los Angeles for the audition.
All the performances were pre-recorded, her mother said, but the results had to remain a secret.
“We could not tell anyone,” she said, adding the family has supported Kennedy in all that she has done. “Cori is one who whatever she does, she pours her heart into it.”
For those who did not get a chance to see Kennedy perform at “Spring into Summer,” or would just like to hear her again, Kennedy will return to Owatonna in August to perform at the Steele County Free Fair.
Despite growing up less than 30 miles away from Owatonna, she said, it will be the first time she has attended the fair.