Charles Kelley is setting sail into yacht rock season. The GRAMMY-winning hitmaker has launched ‘Y’all Aboard Hosted by Charles Kelley,’ airing exclusively on SiriusXM’s Yacht Rock Radio (ch. 15). The show is on the air now, having debuted with Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook as his first guests.
Six more episodes are on deck, with a guest list that spans Russell Dickerson, Dustin Lynch, Richard Marx, Trisha Yearwood and more. The format is loose and friendly, built around Kelley inviting his country music friends into the studio each week.
“’80s music always hits, but it’s the best time of the year to turn up some Yacht Rock,” says Kelley. “I’ve been having such a good time kicking back with my friends and vibing out to some of my favorite songs ever released.”
Each episode finds Kelley and his guests swapping stories, spinning favorite yacht rock tracks, and occasionally attempting a Michael McDonald impression or two. To celebrate the show, he’ll also appear for a special episode of SiriusXM’s Music Row Happy Hour, live from Nashville, TN on July 24th.
The show rides the same wave Kelley’s been surfing since his sophomore album, ‘Songs For A New Moon.’ American Songwriter praised the infectious melodies and luxurious pop production driving the record, while Atwood Magazine pointed to its bold ’80s-inspired sounds and raw honesty. PEOPLE credited Kelley with transporting listeners to a time when music simply felt better.
He recently leaned deeper into the era’s steamy ballads, adding Maren Morris to an original album cut for their “Can’t Be Alone Tonight” collaboration, which MusicRow called swoon-worthy.
Kelley knows his way around a creative detour. As one-third of country trio Lady A and a chart-topping songwriter, he’s co-penned favorites for Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Brett Young and more. His 2016 solo debut ‘The Driver’ earned him another GRAMMY nomination for its title track, and the new show extends that streak of going his own way.