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Charese Fruge’ (@MCMediaonline) Talks To Kelly Henderson
July 26, 2022
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Kelly Henderson’s expertise is Celebrity Grooming and Styling. She’s the host of a very successful podcast called ‘Velvet’s Edge’ on iHeartMedia. She started ‘Velvet's Edge’ as a blog many years ago to talk about grooming and styling as a creative outlet. It then turned into a style and lifestyle website, which then led to iHeart approaching her to start a podcast under the same name. “The interesting thing about the podcast is that it started with a focus on outer beauty because after all that was my line of work, but as I evolved and the world changed, so have the topics,” says Henderson. “Now the podcast is much more of an internal beauty focus. I believe that's all connected, but I became obsessed with insides matching outsides as the true display of beauty. The podcast takes deep dives into the inner workings of humans- why we do what we do, how we heal or people's stories about their journey and how they landed where they are.”
I became interested in the ‘Velvet’s Edge’ Podcast when I was listening to Kelly interview one of my dear friends and favorite artists, singer/songwriter, and producer Kevin Griffin, from Better Than Ezra. Trust me when I tell you I have heard all his interviews. But this one was different. She asked questions I had never heard before and covered topics that most people could only speculate on. Her energy and vibe made it easy for Kevin to answer questions, and unlike most interviewers (who like to hear themselves talk), she left the floor open so he could tell stories. It was really good. So, let’s find out how Kelly went from Celebrity Grooming and Styling to turning her passion into a successful business and podcast.
“I grew up in Louisiana and went to LSU- where I got a degree in Public Relations,” explains Henderson. “I moved to Nashville in 2004 to pursue that, but struggled to find a job and really ended up just not liking the work. I met a makeup artist who hired me to assist her and trained me along the way. I had always been obsessed with red carpets growing up, but never actually thought about the option to do something like that as a career. I actually thought I would rather be a stylist as I was obsessed with fashion, but I started to get hired to do hair and makeup, so I went back to cosmetology school to make it official. I worked with some musicians in one-offs along the way, but when I started working with Dierks Bentley consistently, things really seemed to shift for me long term.”
“I became known for working with men doing hair and makeup (but it's called grooming when you work with men) and added styling to the list of things I did with them because I learned that I really thrived in the creation of the whole picture - from top to bottom… hair, skin, clothes,” says Kelly. “My niche was set, and I've since held long term clients like Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Bobby Bones, Kip Moore, LANCO, Jordan Davis and Riley Greene. One of my biggest accomplishments that I'm most proud of is being a part of the transition of Bobby Bones’ style from “radio guy” to the handsome, sophisticated, and charismatic guy that he is today. I love the makeover process.”
“In the beginning, Bobby Bones approached me to join his podcast network on iHeart and I actually said no,” says Kelly. “I had zero experience in podcasting and didn't think I could do it. He saw something different in my skill set and pushed me to try and I'm so glad he did.”
Throughout the course of Kelly’s career, she’s experienced many exciting opportunities and she’s constantly evolving. “I have worked at every event from the Grammys to the Superbowl and I NEVER thought I would get to experience those things in my life,” she says. “That's what dreams are made of when you are kid. Right now, I'm most excited and proud of paving a new path for myself and others to operate from their true power and authenticity. I think it's what our world is missing and I'm excited to see how this unfolds as we change the narrative of success and happiness over the coming years.”
“The absolute best thing about having a podcast for me is the people I have gotten to meet and interview,” says Henderson. “All of my guests are people I admire or look up to or follow their work in some capacity, so it's basically like getting to do an hour session with your heroes or people who fascinate you or can teach you something on some level. It's thrilling for me.”
Her success hasn’t come without its challenges though. “Woof. I have faced a lot of challenges that have been on a public level and that initially felt extremely difficult, exposing and embarrassing,” explains Henderson. “I don’t think I really handled any of the challenges perfectly and in some cases was reactive out of fear or frozen into panic and not responsive at all. Now I know wholeheartedly that everything that happens, even the hard, tough stuff, is happening for your highest good at all times. Those ‘challenges’ needed to leave my life because they really weren't in alignment with who I actually was or the path that I was meant to be on. While you are in it, challenges can feel so overwhelming and scary, but every ‘loss’ really does just open up space for something greater, so trusting that and leaning into that is a game changer.”
Kelly’s got even more advice for women looking for something greater in life. “Get really quiet with yourself each day and settle into your power,” she says. “I think we have gotten it a bit wrong with this BOSS Babe mentality. That's a masculine energy and loses the true power of what we as women can bring. I know the constant driving and striving led me to eventually break down and even though that's what our culture has taught us success looks like, I no longer buy in,” says Henderson. “My advice, get quiet with yourself and get really in touch with your own unique gifts. I'm tired of everyone looking and acting the same, it's super uninteresting to me at this point. What makes you YOU? Answer those questions and live that life-- that's a true trailblazer.”
A few things you should know about Kelly, her career highlights include working with legends like Hank Williams, Jr. and interviewing one of her fashion idols, Norma Kamali. “Things with the legends NEVER get old,” she says. “Very surreal even after 15 years in the business.” She loves to read. “I'm currently reading ‘This May Be Too Personal’ by Alyssa Shelasky which I am enjoying. And as far as binging, I just finished ‘The First Lady’ on Showtime and was OBSESSED. It is so well done and such a great show. And I just started binging "How to Change Your Mind" about psychedelics as healing modalities and the government's suppression of them for financial gain and I'm very into it.”
What keeps Kelly up at night? “The last few years it has been processing all the mayhem and chaos that our world has become. Lately I feel much more in acceptance of where we are - it just is as it is,” she says. “I'm really working on establishing a healing network for people and places they can go to process or navigate everything that has happened and is still happening in our world. It's been a lot and I think a lot of us have crashed and it just helps to have somewhere to go, to receive something instead of something being taken from us and to not feel so alone.”
Follow Kelly Henderson on Instagram @velvetsedge and check out the ‘Velvet's Edge’ on the iHeart app, Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcast.
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