Karlie McKinnon rises with ’Outta My Head’
NEWS | MUSIC
Karlie McKinnon at her home. Photo by Duy Le @duybale
Utah singer/songwriter Karlie McKinnon emerged victorious in 2025 with a full-length album, “Part-Time Honey,” celebrated with a release show at The State Room. After a turbulent period of seemingly endless bad luck, she transformed her life and music with help from friends, chance encounters, and magical optimism. Her “glow up” continues in 2026 with a new single, “Outta My Head,” to be released on Jan. 23.
“Part-Time Honey” was recorded at The Proper Way Studio in Ogden, a warm space run by Scott Rogers and Shane Osguthorpe, whose belief in her was life-changing. “I don’t think Scott knows that he literally saved my life,” she said. The album chronicles her experience through divorce and financial hardship, including the nakedly raw song “Vultures,” written during her darkest time.
From a very young age, McKinnon just wanted to sing, and music has always been a part of her. It’s a trait she shared with her Nana, who taught her to play the piano and encouraged her to sing. She also wanted to be good, and lovable, which she strived for by straightening her hair and writing “nice girl” songs. The songs came to her as early as age seven, and continued through her music studies at Utah State University, and a decade of recording and performing until marriage and a 9 to 5 job.
She sees “Part-Time Honey” as her most honest and empowering work. It was her “grappling with trauma” and with “Outta My Head,” she said, “this is me emerging from the cocoon.”
I met with McKinnon to talk about the new album with a particular interest in “Vultures.” But after a three-hour visit to her favorite coffee shop and a walk through her new idyllic Hallmark movie neighborhood, the “vultures” of her past were nowhere in sight.
She’s on the other side and bubbling with excitement. “Outta My Head” was recorded at June Audio, a highly-regarded recording studio in the music industry. It came about after friends of friends from the studio saw her perform at Lake Effect, a regular Salt Lake gig.
Now with a difficult era behind her and inspired by her daughter, she’s in love with her life that’s true to her natural self, wild curls and all. Her hair, like her art, came to life when she stopped trying to make it what others wanted. Now “my hair is my brand,” she jokes. Like her music, it’s the real deal, and it’s beautiful.