(Photo provided by Diane King) Diane King, born in Beverly, moved to Nashville two weeks after graduating high school in 1983 to pursue her dreams.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Real, authentic, and brave; these are the words Appalachian native Diane King used to describe her upcoming album “SKY.”

The album’s release date is scheduled for Sept. 19 and features 10 songs that showcase King’s natural inclination towards songwriting, rhythms, and her Appalachian roots.

King will release her second single, “Love Like This” on Friday with the song and video available on streaming platforms. According to King, “Love Like This” is a celebration of love without hesitation.

The album is King’s first project written, co-produced, and sung under her direction. She said she co-produced the album with Stephan Oberhoff whom she works closely with on a creative level.

The album also features Nashville musicians like Steve Mackey, Wanda Vick, Jack Bruno, Lynn Williams, Bob Britt, Aaron Currie, Bruce Bouton, Kevin Bate, Kacee Clanton and Crystal Miller.

(Photo provided by Diane King) Diane King’s first album “SKY” is scheduled for release on all streaming platforms on Sept. 19.

“I just became laser-focused and started really working hard on my musicianship,” said King.

A Beverly native, during the fall of her senior year in high school, King had the opportunity to attend an Amy Grant concert in Charleston and spoke with Grant afterwards. Her advice to King was to go to Nashville and start meeting people. So that’s what she did.

After moving to Nashville two weeks after graduation from Fort Frye High School in 1983, she fully immersed herself in the music industry and everything it had to offer.

During her first few years in Nashville, King found a band and played keyboard and sang back-up vocals. At this time in her life, she discovered her love for songwriting.

“It was a really interesting transition because I was afforded the opportunity to understand and know what songwriting was – that it was another musical outlet and talent that one could have,” said King.

(Photo provided by Diane King) Diane King is largely inspired by her ties to rural Appalachia, of which she has a long family history on her mother’s side.

Growing up in Beverly, King felt drawn to the sounds of mountain music and acoustic rhythms. She said she was most familiar with Christian music since that’s what she had grown up listening to and playing.

“When I got to Nashville it was like all the dots connected for me because it was then that I understood that I had a talent for songwriting,” said King.

With Nashville being the hub for country music singers and songwriters, King drew inspiration from her Appalachian roots.

“It’s just in your DNA, it was country and roots music, mountain music, it’s absolutely cellular for me,” said King.

After a few years in Nashville, King began establishing connections with producers and music labels in the city. Legendary songwriter Harlan Howard heard her perform at the Bluebird Cafe which is a famous venue in the city – King said that’s where musicians get recognized for their talent.

(Photo provided by Diane King) Singer and songwriter Diane King is releasing her second single, “Love Like This” on Friday.

She worked with Howard for some time before assembling the Diane King & Little Stone trio which consisted of vocalists Crystal Miller and Paul Ginther. The trio traveled across the south and the midwest, touring and playing their music.

King took a break from touring and worked on the business side of the music industry at Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy for a few years. She soon realized she missed making her own music and returned to her passion to form Lorena which was a bluegrass vocal trio with herself, Miller and Karen Staley.

“Just as that was happening and getting a little bit of traction, that’s when I was diagnosed with cancer,” said King.

She underwent over four years of treatment before returning to music in 2023. After her recovery, she spent a year partnering with Oberhoff and creating the project “SKY.”

“Each song can mean different things to different people,” said King. “My absolute favorite is ‘Riding Out The Storm’ which is very acoustic and mountain music and real country,”

King said she’s very excited for people to hear this album and she’s grateful for the partnership with Oberhoff.

“I loved it so much, the production part, and I’m eager to do it again,” said King.

Her music can be found on all streaming platforms and for more information about King, check out www.dianekingmusic.com