Introduction:
Kane Brown Opens Up About Fame, Family, and the Pain Behind His Success
At just 31, Kane Brown is one of country music’s brightest stars — a chart-topping artist, husband, and father of three. But behind the fame, the fortune, and the flawless stage lights lies a story of hardship, betrayal, and resilience.
In a candid conversation on Jamie Laing’s Great Company Podcast, Brown peeled back the curtain on his life — from a childhood marked by abuse to the emotional cost of success. “I didn’t have any superheroes growing up,” he shared. “I had a lot of stepfathers, and most of them beat me. My real dad’s been in prison since 1996. My Nana was my hero — she saved me.”
The Dark Side of Fame
Before stardom, Brown’s early music journey was marred by bad deals and broken promises. Even now, he admits the darker side of success lingers — especially when it comes to family.
“I used to go home for the holidays,” he said. “But now, it’s like everyone just wants pictures or something from me. I just want to see my family — not feel like an opportunity.”
The singer revealed that as his fame grew, so did the requests — for cars, houses, rent money — even from people he barely knew. “Someone once helped me get into high school for six months,” he recalled. “Then later asked me to buy them a car. So I did. Then others started asking for more — rent, houses. It became nonstop.”
When Brown eventually began saying no, some turned against him, taking to social media to attack his character. “They post that I don’t care about my family,” he said. “It hurts, because I tried. But there’s this little block button now — and I use it.”
Finding Light in Love
Through it all, Brown says the one person who helped him heal was his wife, Katelyn. “It took me a while to let her in,” he admitted. “I had walls. But she’s the sweetest human being on earth. I honestly didn’t think someone like her existed.”
Ironically, he met Katelyn through one of those “bad deals” that nearly broke his career — a 50/50 contract that left him with half of what he earned. “That deal was terrible,” he said. “But it introduced me to my wife, so I guess it was worth it.”
The couple married in October 2018 and are now parents to Kingsley (5), Kodi (3), and baby Krewe, born in June 2024.
A Second Chance at Family
Having grown up without stability, Brown says his greatest success isn’t on the charts — it’s at home. “I never had that family thing,” he shared. “Now I do. I’m still learning how to be a dad, but I’d say that’s my biggest accomplishment.”
He hopes to raise his kids with kindness, awareness — and wisdom. “I tell them to watch out for snakes,” he said. “If someone bites you once, okay. But don’t let it happen twice.”
He laughs when talking about his children’s innocence. “My daughter asked why not everyone goes to Disney World. I told her, ‘Because not everyone can afford it.’ She said, ‘Why don’t they just sing?’”
That innocence, Brown says, reminds him why he works so hard — and why he keeps his circle small. “At the end of the day,” he said, “my wife and kids are my real success. Everything else is just noise.”