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…