- Bella Mackenzie, Homegrown Trio – Grew Up Country 02:29
Hailing from the small coal mining town of Moranbah, Australian Country Artist on the rise Bella Mackenzie, fell in love with country music listening to the likes of Lee Kernaghan and Kasey Chambers, who seemed to be writing about her life in rural Queensland.
It’s only fitting that today Bella returns with her new single ‘Grew Up Country’ featuring fellow North Queensland siblings Homegrown Trio.
‘Grew Up Country’ is a heartfelt celebration of small-town roots, resilience, and the unshakable pride of rural life. Bella’s warm, emotive vocals lead the story, bringing an authentic and deeply personal perspective, while acclaimed Australian country group Homegrown Trio add rich harmonies and a layered instrumental depth that lifts the track into a full-band anthem.
This isn’t the first time Bella and the Homegrown Trio have come together. Growing up competing in the same country music festival talent quests around Australia, their journey’s have been intertwined since childhood. All those early moments have finally led to collaborating on their first single together.
Telling her story through song from the age of twelve, Bella Mackenzie spent her teens earning her live stripes performing at her father’s pub in Moranbah, while Homegrown Trio’s roots in country music can be traced back to their upbringing on a cattle farm and their parents’ love for country music.
Building on their shared upbringing and long friendship Bella and HGT have created a sound that’s both nostalgic and uplifting – a love letter to the country upbringing that shaped them all.
Bella shares, “Writing this song brought back so many nostalgic memories from my childhood, growing up in the country. It fills me with immense pride & gratitude to be able to put that experience into a song for others to relate to & reminisce on their own experiences growing up in the country.”
Homegrown Trio share, “‘Grew Up Country’ is about the roots that shape you, and working with Bella, who shares that same love for the lifestyle, brought a real authenticity to the track. It feels like a piece of home wrapped up in a song. We all grew up with that country lifestyle – singing in the living room, riding horses on the weekends, and blasting our favourite country records while cruising around in Mum and Dad’s old car. So working with Bella on Grew Up Country just felt natural, like singing with family.”
Raised on a million-acre cattle station in Far North Queensland before relocating to Charters Towers, Homegrown Trio first captured national attention as a Top 16 finalist on The Voice Australia in 2018. In 2021, they made the move to Nashville, Tennessee, where they signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and released a debut EP produced by industry heavyweights Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift), Dann Huff (Keith Urban), and Joy Williams (The Civil Wars). That same year, they toured the U.S. with the Jonas Brothers and Kelsea Ballerini on the Remember This tour. Their debut single “Heartbreaker” made waves on Australian country radio, charting at #7 on the CountryTown Hot 50 Airplay Chart and #6 on the KIX Country Hottest 20. Now, as part of the Homegrown Trio, they’re set to take the stage at the Deni Ute Muster 2025 this October, joining a stacked lineup that includes Zac Brown Band, Jackson Dean, John Williamson, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley, and more.
Today, Bella Mackenzie has over 3.5 million global artist streams and 99.5k social media followers, winning hearts and minds of country music fans with singles ‘COWBOY’, ‘DOWN SOUTH’ and ‘BUY ME A DRINK’ and her debut EP WILD THING. Since launching her career, Bella has received from media outlets including Country Town noting her “catchy country-pop tunes, and can-do attitude”; while Rolling Stone Australia chose her debut single ‘COWBOY’ as the Best Australian Music Of The Week. ‘COWBOY’ went onto gain high rotation on KIX Country, ABC Country, iHeart Country, Nova Fresh Country and Triple M Country, peaking at #2 on the Australian Country Radio Charts.
Bella has supported James Johnston, Chase Rice and Redferrin on national tours and played to capacity crowds at BIGSOUND, BOOTS, BUCKLES & BEERS, Ridin’ Hearts Festival and most recently the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final. Next year, Bella will be performing at CMC Festival 2026 with more lives shows soon to be announced.