Baby Boom

Follow up to my Power Couples article, I’ve noticed how many growing families there are in the music world. Baby announcements, gender reveals, young kids becoming big brothers or sisters, it is all very exciting. One of my closest friends recently had her baby and inspired me to recap some of the recent baby arrivals and announcements on the music scene. In addition to the excitement children bring their arrival and anticipation will inspire artists; in the form of a song or some famous mothers share their pregnancy journey or fertility struggles in music, podcasts, or blogs. Let’s dive in!

The most recent baby announcement has been from pop artist Rachel Platten. Last week Rachel finally shared with her fans the exciting news of her first pregnancy with husband of 8 years Kevin Lazan. One of the best aspects of Rachel is how interactive she is with her followers. Now that she has revealed her announcement I expect nothing less than Rachel letting her fans come along her journey with her. In a very exciting Instagram post along with a picture of the glowing mama to be and her baby bump she captioned the photo with a long message about all the emotions she is going through; excitement, vulnerability, love, along with frustration and sickness. Overall she is extremely happy and ends the post saying “I love you all so much, and I promise to continue to share as much of this process with you as I can. Xoxoxox, a totally happy, exhausted, not so nauseous today Rach”.

Country artist and actress Jana Kramer recently announced she is pregnant with her second child with husband Mike Caussin. In a cute Instagram post with her husband and first child Jolie Rae they announced the surprise that they were becoming a family of four and Jolie will be a big sister in November 2018. Sitting all together with a sign that said ‘Only Child Expiring November 2018’.

Jana has opened up about her struggles leading up to her second pregnancy, sadly experiencing a total of five miscarriages.Jana is an open book when it comes to her struggles, because she knows sharing her story can help someone else feel less alone going through similar situations. Her most recent release Dammit is a very emotional ballad about reminiscing for what you almost had, but lost, ‘baby, didn’t we almost have it? Honestly, I still don’t understand it// We used to love to sit, talk and wish// and picture and plan it// Man, now I just...dammit’. Not only is she through the moon about being pregnant she openly advocates for the company who developed Ava bracelet, an ovulation tracking bracelet that Jana says she truly believes in. The bracelet helped her figure out her fertility window and she is truly grateful for the technology that really worked for her! Jana also has a new podcast Whine Down with Jana Kramer on iHeartRadio another social outlet where Jana shares her life with fans. She covers a wide range of topics including her marriage, motherhood, and sex. Jana has already shared so many sweet posts with her baby bump and with her and Jolie, savoring every minute together before there will be two. Also, the two parents were both genuinely shocked when the gender reveal revealed they are having a boy. A cute play on her song Jana captioned this photo of her and the family post the blue confetti baby reveal ‘Still can’t believe “I got the boy” ;)

Another artist who didn’t have the easiest road to baby number two is Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum. Hillary also suffered from a miscarriage after her first daughter Eisele Kaye. Hillary’s Grammy winning song Thy Will, she wrote and recorded on her gospel album she put out with her family, was revealed to be a letter to God about her miscarriage months after its release. Fans knew it was about loss, but Hillary opened up about the specific loss in due time. When Hillary announced her successful second pregnancy she posted an Instagram video of her and husband Chris Tyrrell telling their daughter Eisele together that their prayers were answered and she was going to be a big sister to twins! That’s right, Hillary was blessed with twins this time around. Six months ago January 29th Hillary gave birth to twin girls, Betsy Mack and Emory JoAnn. Probably the cutest thing to see are Hillary’s post about Eisele being a sweet big sister. Like this one from earlier in July appropriately captioned ‘watching Eisele be a big sister is the greatest’.

Hilary and Chris aren’t the only ones expanding the Baby Bellum next generation. Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum also had his second baby this year. Dave and wife Kelli are now a family of four with big brother Cash and their newest addition now seven months old Lillie Renee Haywood. Again, just like the Scott family it is so cute seeing the oldest be a big brother or sister, as seen in this adorable post from Dave’s Instagram captioned ‘Cash is really being a sweet big brother with Lillie...can’t handle it!’

Charles Kelley and wife Cassie are still on child number one, but boy is it fun watching Ward Kelley grow up. The Baby Bellum clan is all around too cute to handle. Spotted at one of their recent concerts Charles has a new tattoo (well two actually), but the one I am referring to is his ‘I love you Ward’ in script on his left forearm. Photos courtesy of VIP attendee Karyn from the Summer Plays On Tour stop in Hartford, CT.

Ward is definitely a mini Charles and I just love watching the father and son moments these two share off and on the road!

The most recent song written for all of the Baby Bellum group is off of Lady A’s most recent album Heart Break titled The Stars. Their kids are their world and brought a new level of shine to each one of their lives, a touching song reminding them as they grow up no matter what they are feeling or going through they always have a home to turn to ‘the stars ain’t got nothing on you//if you ever feel lost and broken inside//just remember the way you helped me shine//the stars ain’t got nothing on you.’

Charles Kelley wasn’t the only Kelley brother who took awhile to have a kid. Cassie had fertility struggles before having Ward. Charles’ brother Josh Kelley and wife actress Katherine Heigl adopted their two girls before just recently Katherine giving birth to son Joshua Bishop Kelley Jr. They first adopted their first daughter Naleigh from South Korea in 2009. Unexpectedly, in 2012 they started the adoption process again, but instead of the long process of international adoption Katherine got a call about a birth mother in Louisiana and in a month’s time they had their newborn Adalaide Marie Hope Kelley. Josh’s girls have definitely inspired some beautiful ballads in his career. For his first daughter Naleigh he penned the song Naleigh Moon with Nashville songwriter Clint Lagerberg. Beautiful words about the feelings of becoming a first time father ‘halfway around my little world//you had no idea that you were my girl//you found my arms not a moment too soon//I couldn’t see past me till I saw you//My sweet Naleigh Moon.’ I don’t know personally, but I hear your first child changes you, changes your whole perspective, and Josh and Katherine had a very unique experience anticipating the arrival of a child across the world that they would love unconditionally as their own. I saw Josh Kelley perform twice, once headlining a set at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC and another in Boston opening up for younger brother Charles on The Driver Tour. I’ve never heard him perform Naleigh Moon live sadly, but the family video to that song is precious to watch (see below).

At Rockwood he did perform the song he wrote for his second daughter Adalaide titled Cowboy Love Song. He shares the anecdote that he had a song written for Naleigh, so it would be wrong not to have a song for his other daughter. He joked that he thinks this one is better, but he was just joshing around, but it is one of his favorite songs. Now we just have to wait for a song for Joshua Jr, which I am sure is to come since it is his first son, evening out the score with all the women in Josh’s life. The entire Kelley clan had a little reunion at the Summer Plays On Tour stop in Toronto. Josh posted two pictures on his Instagram account of all the siblings and their cousin Ward and another adorable one with Uncle Charles holding his smiling nephew baby Joshua! Too cute!

Josh Kelley isn’t the first famous father to adopt before having a child naturally. Thomas Rhett and wife Lauren Akins adopted their first girl Willa Gray from Uganda, only after finding out Lauren was pregnant. As the Life Changes singer says in his song Life Changes ‘I remember the day I told my Daddy and Mama//You’re gonna have a grandkid, yep//From Uganda, that’s right, we’re adopting// Well I was wrapping my head around being a dad//a big wrench got thrown in the plans we thought we had//Now Lauren’s showing, got one on the way//Yeah that’s two under two, hey, what can I say?// Ain’t it funny how life changes’ The newer version of the song now has Willa Gray and sweet Ada James added to the verse. Thomas recently released a video for Life Changes, clips live from backstage of the Life Changes Tour featuring his now family of four. The best part about Thomas Rhett is how open and proud he is of his family. Any artist who opens up about that aspect of their life gives fans another reason to be invested in following the music, because you get to follow the journey of the family that inspires the work of the artist. TR’s Life Changes album is definitely an autobiographical account of the happy Akins family!

Just as Thomas Rhett and Lauren were not planning on Lauren to be expecting shortly after adopting, not all pregnancies are planned and life usually has other plans for us that we don’t even realize. Michelle Branch has been engaged to Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney, her boyfriend of two years and co-producer of her latest release in 14 years Hopeless Romantic. Michelle got engaged on her 34th birthday, this will be her second marriage, and now her second child. She divorced the father of her 11-year old daughter Owen in 2015 and just as she was about to send out save the date cards, surprise her and Patrick are expecting! The wedding is now postponed and Baby Carney is due this summer, she excitedly announced on Instagram with a video of the sonogram.

So, no matter the form they arrive or when they decide to come babies are a blessing to a growing family. Whether you are adopting, not expecting, or suffer a loss before you successfully conceive children open your heart and grow your family. When you’re famous and in the spotlight that usually means your families are also in the spotlight. Rather than hiding from it these artists are examples of embracing it. Sharing their journeys with the world and sharing the love for their families and life in the form of music, podcasts, blogs, videos, and adorable pictures! P.s. Rockin Rox Promo does not take responsibility for any form of baby fever that might arise from reading this post. But, enjoy the adorableness and come along for the ride. Till next time!

P.P.S just as I was proofreading this post and getting all the baby announcement photos together Carrie Underwood made a triple announcement that is a perfect way to close this piece. Carrie Underwood, hockey player husband Mike Fisher, and baby Isaiah are expecting another little fish to the family. That’s right the American Idol winner and country superstar is expecting baby number 2. Timing is really everything, as her next album Cry Pretty is set for release September 14th and The Cry Pretty Tour 360 with special guests Maddie and Tae and Runaway June starts May 2019. Going to have to wait until after Carrie has her second baby for the actual tour, but don’t wait too long to make your plans because tickets go on sale this month! (Friday August 17th at 10am) All the details at carrieunderwoodofficial.com.

Now I can conclude all my baby announcements for the time being. I promise I am done, but it just goes to show you the baby boom is real! It is all very exciting! Now until next time (for real) keep visiting rockinroxpromo.com and my social media for all the most recent baby news!