Exclusive: Demps Talks “Who’s Who,” Earning Kelsea Ballerini’s Approval, and Having “Nothing To Lose”

Influencer-turned-country singer Katie “Demps” Dempsey had some relationship questions. When she first heard her new song, “Who’s Who,” she felt seen.

“If you look at the lyrics, it’s questioning, ‘Hey, are you in this for the long haul?’” she said. “‘I have all these feelings for you, but you’re not really giving them back to me.’ When I first heard the song, I felt like it was meant for me. It was just sitting in a hard drive, waiting for me. I love that.”

Written by Kelsea Ballerini, Nicolle Galyon, and Jimmy Robbins, the lyrics include: Who’s your one that got away?| Who’s your one that gave a damn?| Who’s your never should’ve put their name in that tattoo?| Who’s the love of your life? | Who am I?| Who’s who?

And Ballerini approves. She commented on Demps‘ video of the song that she loved “Who’s Who” and that Demps sounded like “a dream.”

“That meant a lot to me, knowing that Kelsea wrote it, and she likes how I sang it,” Demps said. “There’s just so much emotion because I’ve been through that.”

“Who’s Who” follows Demps’ debut single, “Bitch On Wine,” also written by Ballerini, Galyon, and Robbins. Demps has more than 3 million combined social media followers, with close to 2 million on TikTok. Robbins produced both tracks.

Demps Organically Grew Her Followers

When she meets people who don’t know her, Demps tells them she works in song promotion because that’s how she got started in the music business. Demps built her social media following to help lift artists – and made comical videos about the lives of single moms. Singing professionally is so new to her that someone must push her to share that information. However, she grew up as a theater kid who had always loved to sing. She went to a performing arts school and played violin.

Demps started to build her social media following by going live on TikTok and singing karaoke. When she was offered the opportunity to make her own music, she thought, “Why not?”

“I have nothing to lose,” she said. “I spent so much time promoting other artists, why not start promoting myself?”

She partnered with Mailbox Money Records, Empire for distribution and described her life as “a whole new world.” She called the experience “absolutely amazing.”

“The feedback I’ve gotten is just mind-blowing,” she said. “I am just so thankful for my followers because I grew my followers account on TikTok close to 2 million organically just from being my damn self and just showcasing my life as a single mom. I didn’t think people would be intrigued, but my Lord, they are.”

Demps said her followers love her music and that she isn’t going to stop now.

“I’m in it for the long haul,” she said. “So, I’m truly excited to see where all this goes and where ‘Who’s Who’ could possibly take me.”

(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)