Micaela Kleinsmith Named Winner Of ‘My Kind Of Country’ On Apple TV+

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Micaela Kleinsmith

South African artist Micaela Kleinsmith has won Apple TV+’s My Kind of Country music competition series.

As the winner of the new show from Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and executive producer Kacey Musgraves, Kleinsmith will receive global exposure across the Apple TV+ and Apple Music platforms and much more.

Bullied heavily as a child, music became Kleinsmith’s escape and coping mechanism while growing up. When she discovered she could sing and that people were noticing, she began using her newfound talent as a way to make friends. She started writing songs at 14, and continued to rise as an artist, eventually landing a spot on South Africa’s Idols in 2016.

On My Kind of Country, Kleinsmith was originally championed by Orville Peck, and in the final episodes, premiering today, sings both an original song “Stupid Love,” as well as a unique cover of The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young.” Her new EP Butterfly will be released through Platoon on Apple Music today, and includes her three original songs, “Butterfly,” “Eternity,” and “Raise A Cup,” recorded with producer Tommy Sims. She is also releasing a rendition of “If I Die Young,” and all are streaming now on Apple Music.

“I was so honored and excited to have been selected as the winner of My Kind of Country. This competition has been such a blessing and I’m just so grateful to have been able to learn from so many other talented artists on a global platform like Apple TV+. My Kind of Country gave me an opportunity that wouldn’t normally have been available to me in the industry, and highlights the need for country music to open its doors to new talent and new ideas,” shares Kleinsmith. “Thank you to Orville Peck, Mickey Guyton, Jimmie Allen, Reese Witherspoon and Kacey Musgraves for giving me this chance. I can’t wait for fans to check out my new EP Butterfly on Apple Music.”

“We were all moved by Micaela’s final performances and to be able to witness her growth throughout the competition has made me so proud of my fellow South-African! Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton and I all believe she is ready to be our next country music star,” says Peck. “We are so thrilled to announce her as the winner of My Kind of Country and have the world listen to her new EP Butterfly on Apple Music.”

A fresh take on a music competition series, My Kind of Country, breaks down barriers in country music by providing artists from around the world a platform to be heard. Scouts Allen, Guyton and Peck each hand-picked a roster of talented and diverse artists and invited them to Nashville to showcase their unique sound and compete for the winning prize on the show.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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