When a heartfelt Father’s Day tribute turns into a 26-million-stream sensation, you know you’re witnessing something special. For rising music powerhouse and Full Sail alum, her breakout hit “Southern Man” wasn’t just a song—it was a thank-you note wrapped in melody, emotion, and pure Southern grit. What started as a love letter to her husband during the tough days of the pandemic became the launching pad for a genre-blending journey fusing country, blues, R&B, and Southern Soul. From late-night studio sessions to viral moments and major stages, she’s rewriting the rules of soul music—one powerhouse anthem at a time.
FEMI: Your hit single ‘Southern Man’ garnered over 26 million streams worldwide. What inspired you to write, record, and produce this track independently, and how has its success influenced your career trajectory?
Cecily Wilborn: I wrote Southern Man as a tribute to my husband. I had been recently pushed into being the stay-at-home mom when I lost my job during COVID. I had been releasing original music and I was in the process of completing my Music Production degree from Full Sail University. My husband respected my hustle enough to tell me I could solely focus on school and our family and he would carry the responsibility of bills until I graduated. I released Southern Man as a gift for him on Father’s Day, seeing as I was dead broke of having my own funds. By October the song had taken off unexpectedly and I was getting calls about bookings on Southern Soul shows. What started out as an opportunity to perform because of that one song, became the race to see what else I could produce. The success of Southern Man and the following records, my faith and belief that God was going to open these doors, mixed with the mass acceptance of my previously released music definitely added momentum to my career which is how I feel I ended up where I am today.
FEMI: Being a Music Production graduate from Full Sail University, how has your academic background shaped your approach to blending Southern Soul, country, R&B, and blues in your music?
Cecily Wilborn: My sound was actually shaped before I became a student at Full Sail University. As I stated earlier, I had been writing and releasing music in an underground format I guess you could say. Full Sail definitely gets credit for providing me the resources and knowledge I needed to really run a home studio on my own, but I credit a big portion of my blended sound to two of my favorite producers. CT_ThaProducer from Arkansas and Kang803 from South Carolina. They worked very hard to get my confidence level where it needed to be to be comfortable stretching boundaries and trying new approaches.
FEMI: Your album Kuntry Gurl Playlist showcases a seamless fusion of country and Southern Soul. Can you share the creative process behind this project and how you managed to bridge these genres so effectively?
Cecily Wilborn: The music I get from my producers always tell a story. I listen when there are no words being said or sang. I also write without music sometimes just because I like to try new melodies against familiar sounds. I wanted the versatility of the South to show through so that any person, regardless of their gender race or region, could relate to the message in the music.
FEMI: You’ve performed at iconic venues like BB King’s Stage, the Essence Festival, and The Apollo. Which performance stands out as a defining moment in your career, and what made it so memorable?
Cecily Wilborn: I would have to say the Essence Festival competition because in my mind that’s what made me jump back into live music. I never stopped writing. I’ve been writing for groups and artists like my dad’s quartet group and more since I was a child. My sister and I were on vacation and we weren’t even supposed to be at that competition. My sister got a notification saying we could win concert tickets for the night if I won a live band karaoke contest. I didn’t want to get imputed of bed but I don’t argue with my big sis. So we went! She made such a scene to get them to pick me. Needless to say, I won and that’s how Apollo found me. So it was all a domino effect from that moment and I give my bossy sister all the credit for pushing me to do something I definitely wouldn’t have done on my own.
FEMI: With your recent signing to Blackground Records 2.0 and the release of ‘I Need the Blues,’ what can fans anticipate from your upcoming projects, and how do you envision your music evolving in the near future?
Cecily Wilborn: More stories, great lessons, car karaoke and therapy sessions. I want to give them nothing but music that they can sing along to. I’m glad they enjoy hearing me sing but now it’s time for, what we call in my home church in Marianna, AR, the part of service where everyone can play a part! It’s time we come together and start changing what music is teaching the world and I want to be a part of that. One song at a time.
With a mic in hand and a message in every melody, this Southern songstress is only just getting started. Whether she’s taking over legendary stages like The Apollo or cooking up soul-stirring anthems in her home studio, her music remains rooted in purpose, praise, and pure authenticity. As she steps into her next chapter with Blackground Records 2.0, expect even more truth-telling, boundary-pushing, and foot-stomping records that make you feel, think, and sing along. She’s not just making hits—she’s making history.
Photography by Emily Wells and Matthew Harvey.
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