Meet the Dallas Realtor Harmonizing Her Career with Country Music

By nature, Realtors are an interesting lot. With entrepreneurial tendencies, extroverted dispositions, and distinct personal branding, this cohort is anything but conventional. Therefore, it’s no surprise that many of them possess talents outside the realm of real estate. Over the years, we’ve met all manner of interesting Realtors. However, it’s rare to find one that harmonizes their passion and purpose as flawlessly as Realtor and country music artist Elaina Kay.

Meet Elaina Kay – Realtor, Rancher, Artist

A North Texas native, Kay grew up on her family’s ranch in Wichita Falls. From an early age, she took to ranching, rodeo, and everything in between. However, she found her true passion behind the microphone.

“I have been singing and tap dancing since I was 10 years old,” Kay said. “Growing up, performing was always a passion of mine. However, I never really found an outlet until I got more involved with rodeo at Tarleton State University.”

A member of Tarleton’s barrel racing and rodeo team, Eliana began performing regularly at tailgates, attracting audiences across the circuit. Soon she was writing her own songs and playing at local bars around Stephenville.

“When I graduated college, I had to make a choice, said Kay. “It was between pursuing my passion for music or putting my degrees toward a conventional career. I decided to go full steam ahead into my music and I have never looked back.”

Coming Up In Country Music

The next several years were defined by Kay’s experiences as an emerging country music artist. She lived in Nashville, recorded songs, and hit the road with national touring acts like Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s, Wynonna Judd, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, and more.

In 2019, she recorded her defining album, Issues, which was lauded by Rolling Stone, D Magazine, and others.

“People were catching on, I was getting a lot of yeses, and everything seemed to be going perfectly,” said Kay. “Until it wasn’t.”

From a Roadblock to a Reinvention

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. Everything from sporting events to awards shows to concerts took a hit.

“I was in Idaho and got the call that our West Coast tour was canceled,” said Kay. “It devastated me.”

Kay drove 30 hours back to D-FW alone, strategizing her next move. Years spent hustling as an up-and-coming artist had instilled in her a great deal of grit, determination, and flexibility. All of which seemed to fit perfectly into her next move.

“Being a farm and ranch agent is a lot like being a touring country musician,” Kay says. “You get out of it what you put into it. You have to grind and get out there, and you’re on the road all the time…”

What started as a way to supplement her music career has turned into a dual passion, allowing Kay to live the cowgirl lifestyle while connecting to a whole different community of fans. As an agent for Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, Kay leverages a lifetime of working ranch experience to help her clients gain the confidence needed to understand transactions from both buyer and seller perspectives.

 “It’s a perfect recipe for me,” said Kay. “I didn’t think I’d find anything I love doing as much as I love playing music. I still get to meet new people and have unique experiences every day. I’m so thankful I found something I could be so passionate about.”

Cornbread & Country

Of course, as for her music career, Kay continues to draw crowds. In 2019, she established Eliana Kay’s Cornbread & Country, a showcase of live local artists, dancing, Texas barbecue, and other western vendors.

“We have wonderful supporters there and it’s always an incredible time and opportunity to showcase our music and the music of great local artists,” said Kay.

Cornbread & Country is gearing up for its seventh annual showcase and we’ll be right here with the latest information as soon as it’s available.