- May 17, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 4, 2025
KIMBERLY (KIM) CRUSE IS KNOWN AS A SOUTHERN BELL AND A DEVOTED NATIVE OF WOODVILLE, TX. HER INNATE GOD-GIVEN VOCALS AND DISTINCT SOUND BLOSSOMED FROM HER EARLY YEARS AS A WORSHIP LEADER AT HER FATHER’S CONGREGATION. SHE WAS ABLE TO SHARPEN HER CRAFT BY STUDYING MUSIC AT STEPHEN F AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY AND HUMBLY SHARED HER GIFT WITH A VARIETY OF CHURCHES ON COUNTLESS WORSHIP TEAMS.
Born and raised in Woodville, TX, Kim Cruse is the true definition of Southern charm with powerhouse pipes to match. Affectionately known as The Velvet Saxophone for her smooth, soul-soaked sound, Kim’s voice first took flight as a worship leader in her father’s church—and it’s been soaring ever since.
With formal training from Stephen F. Austin State University and years of leading worship teams under her belt, Kim honed her gift into something magical. From sharing the stage with gospel legend John P. Kee to touring with R&B icon Monica, she’s blended genres and generations with effortless grace.
Kim’s star power really began to shine after winning Terrell Grice’s YouTube competition Race to the Blue. Her victory led to a feature on his album "An Invitation to the Cookout"—and soon after, she found herself collaborating with the incomparable Lalah Hathaway on a single, further cementing her place among R&B royalty.
In 2021, she dropped her self-titled debut EP Kim Cruse, which broke into the Top 10 on iTunes’ R&B charts. By 2022, she was crowned Waffle House’s Artist of the Year, secured a TuneCore deal, and lit up the national stage on NBC’s The Voice, earning a spot in the Top 8 under the guidance of John Legend.
Since then, Kim’s voice has been everywhere—from collaborations with Jamie Foxx and Wingstop, to captivating performances with the Houston Grand Opera, and headlining festivals across the country.
Her latest album, "Mixed Emotions", is a fearless journey through healing, heartbreak, and high notes. With tracks like the empowering “It’s Giving” (aka your new summer anthem) and the raw, unfiltered “Triggered”, Kim isn’t just singing—she’s testifying.
Bubbly. Bold. Beautifully unfiltered. That’s Kim Cruse
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