Abby Cates

Abby Cates' thoughtful, contemporary pop is the work of a learned musician. The Cincinnati, Ohio-raised singer/songwriter auditioned for the TV singing competition The Voice, getting picked by original American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson as a mentee; she advanced to the live playoffs, covering Ellie Goulding and Emeli Sande along the way before being eliminated. After moving to Nashville, Cates began self-releasing her own warm, emotional originals in 2021, from the acoustic-forward "Roadtripsong" to the upbeat "Better Friends" and breakup ballad "Saw Ur Mom at the Grocery Store." More singles slowly followed, including "Lawrence" (2022), "April Fools" and "Rainbowfish" (both 2023), and 2025's "Toyota Camry."