While she may be petite in stature, Shelby Lentz has a voice that can fill any venue. Her talent was recognized early: by fourteen, she was singing the National Anthem at local sporting events, had performed at the Wild Bull Saloon, and had earned more than 100,000 votes in Bob Kingsley’s Future Star online competition. At fifteen, she opened for Warner Music artist Frankie Ballard at the State Theatre in Kalamazoo. She also began collaborating with local songwriters on original music and went on to open for Matt Giraud, Joanne Shaw Taylor, and Montgomery Gentry.

​

Over more than a decade of performing, Shelby has brought her music to bars, restaurants, wineries, coffee shops, and community events in Michigan and across the country, including Texas, California, South Dakota, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. One performance especially close to her heart took place at her local Veterans Affairs hospital. Shelby also spent two years pursuing music in Nashville, where she attended Belmont University, worked at the Grand Ole Opry, recorded two studio EPs, and performed at the legendary Tootsies on Broadway.

​

Her second EP, Unbroken, features “Champion,” a song she co-wrote with Jessica Kellie Adams and inspired by the Rocky films. After Huntington’s disease affected her family and she received her own diagnosis, Shelby founded Champions for HD, a nonprofit supporting research and families facing the disease. Named in honor of the song, Champions for HD receives a portion of Shelby’s music proceeds. “Champion” has become an anthem of strength for the HD community.

​

Shelby’s first full-length album, Teenage Diary, was released in July 2023. Featuring songs she wrote as a teenager, it pairs heartfelt lyrics and catchy melodies with the early 2000s pop/rock and pop/punk energy of artists like Avril Lavigne and Paramore. The album was recorded at Record One Nashville.

​

Shelby recently became a mother to her first child, Braxton. She feels blessed to be both his mom and a performer, and motherhood has made her outlook on life even more beautiful. Whether she’s sharing her original music or drawing from a catalog of more than 300 cover songs, Shelby brings heart, versatility, and a powerful voice to every performance.

Photo Credit: Danielle Leeanna Photo