North Logan teen betting her western singing career on blind faith

Kenadi Dodds sings one of her original tunes in the living room of her North Logan home. As an eighth grader, she has already performed the national anthem for the Utah Jazz, the Salt Lake Bees and many Utah State University sporting events. She also makes appearances at some local restaurants.

Kenadi Dodds wants to be a country western singer. At 14, she wants to be on the radio singing top ten singles. She is doing everything in her power to make her dream happen.

But it has not been easy; she and her family have had to overcome some unusual obstacles.

Both of her parents are visually impaired and don’t drive. Kenadi has to ask extended family, neighbors or take public transportation to get to where she needs to go.

Kenadi Doods has dreams of making it big in the country music world.

She was told she needed to go to a well-known voice coach in Salt Lake. In order to go, Kenadi’s parents have to find someone to take her down, wait an hour while she works with the coach, and then return Kenadi home. Her family pays for the gas but that is a good three hours out of the way from home.

Kenadi Dodds puts on a smile when she talks about her future as a performer.

The eighth grader from North Logan has performed the national anthem for the Utah Jazz, the Salt Lake Bees and many Utah State University sporting events. She also sang at three shows in the Vivint SmartHome Arena. She also makes appearances at some local restaurants.

She has opened, or sung with, The Swon Brothers, an American country music duo from Muskogee, Oklahoma. In 2013, the Swon Brothers finished in third place on the fourth season of NBC’s The Voice. She opened for them once when they came to Utah, and she went to Muskogee to sing with them there.

Kenadi went to do a songwriting workshop with Jamie O’Neil, a well-known country singer, and was invited up during a concert to perform one of the songs she wrote.

Charlie Jenkins, another Utah country western talent and rising star in the country music world, had her sing in one of his shows.

Kenadi and her guitar have had two shows at the Days of 47 Rodeo. One performance was at the rodeo, and one at a dinner for VIP’s who sponsor the rodeo.

Kenadi Doods has dreams of making it big in the country music world..

She has been a showman from the start.

Brandi Dodds remembers Kenadi singing Shania Twain songs in her car seat when she was just a toddler.

“She would sing what words she could pick out then mix the rest with baby gibberish,” Brandi said. “She could sing the tune without missing a note.”

“Her grandmother took her to a Shania Twain concert once when she was nine years-old,” Brandi said.  “She told her mother that’s what she wanted do.”

The queen of country pop has become her idol.

She has always enjoyed performing in front of people,” Brandi said. “In preschool she sold tickets to and then did a puppet show.”

Kenadi Dodds wants to make it in the country western world.

In first grade she attended the Utah State Youth Conservatory. The instructors told Kenadi’s parents she had perfect pitch and they wanted them to do more with her.

“They said they wanted to develop her voice,” Brandi said. “But it is tough for us to get her places when we don’t drive.”

Her father Chris has been her coach and co-songwriter. She has produced up to nine original tunes and is trying to make the money to put an album of songs together.

“We are doing all that we can do,” Chris said. “We are leaving the rest in God’s hands.”

 

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3 Comments

  • 124 March 13, 2019 at 4:32 pm Reply

    Interesting story, but the writing could use some help. For example, how many songs did she produce – 9, or “up to” 9? And the quotations don’t really move the narrative. But good for the girl.

    • CAB April 19, 2019 at 12:06 pm Reply

      Don’t be dimwit!!! Stop looking so hard for mistakes and accept the talent as it is.

  • Cole Wadsworth February 16, 2020 at 4:44 pm Reply

    That is amazing! I used to know her from grade school! She was one of my best friends in 4-5th grade! I had no idea what she’s been up to! Good for her!

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