The Kinleys
Promotional image of The Kinleys, c. 2000
Promotional image of The Kinleys, c.2000
Background information
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresCountry
Years active1997–2005
LabelsEpic, Identical
Past members
  • Heather Kinley
  • Jennifer Kinley

The Kinleys were an American country music duo composed of identical twin sisters Heather and Jennifer Kinley (born November 5, 1970). Between 1997 and 2000, they recorded two albums for Epic Records (1997's Just Between You and Me and 2000's II). The duo charted eight entries on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in this timespan, including the No. 7 "Please", their debut single. Another one of their songs, "Somebody's Out There Watching", was featured in the soundtrack to the television series Touched by an Angel. After departing their label in 2000 due to dissatisfaction with touring, the duo released one last album in 2004 before disbanding.

Biography

Heather and Jennifer Kinley were born November 5, 1970, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The two are identical twin sisters.[1]

Having started out on Al Alberts' Showcase, a televised talent show from the Philadelphia area, the twins moved to Nashville at the age of 19.[2] After five years of training and practicing, they caught the attention of talent scouts and were signed with Epic Records. Their debut album Just Between You and Me was issued in late 1997, producing a No. 7 hit on the Billboard country singles charts in its lead-off single "Please".[3] This song was followed by the album's title track at No. 12, although the next two singles both fell short of Top 40. Just Between You and Me was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Its commercial success led to a tour with Clint Black and a radio programmers' showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1998, The Kinleys received the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Vocal Group or Duo of the Year.[4]

The duo also recorded the song "Somebody's Out There Watching", which was used on the TV soundtrack album for the show Touched by an Angel. Released as a single in 1998, it reached Top 20 on the country charts.[4] In July 1999, they released the first single from their planned second album, "My Heart Is Still Beating". The single failed to make the Top 40 in the Country charts and the second, self-titled album, slated for an Autumn 1999 release, was put on hold by Epic, who decided to bring in Radney Foster to work with the duo in order to broaden their sound and gain stronger chart appeal. "My Heart Is Still Beating" was eventually not included on their second album.

The duo did not release another single until the Foster-produced "She Ain't the Girl for You", the first single from their second album, II. This album also produced a minor single in "I'm In", which peaked at number 35 on the country charts. Ten years later, Keith Urban released a cover of this song, which went to number 2.[4] Half of II was produced by Tony Haselden and Russ Zavitson, with whom the duo worked on their first album, while singer-songwriter Radney Foster (who also co-wrote "I'm In") produced the other half.[5]

After II, the Kinleys exited Epic's roster, as "neither enjoyed life on the road one bit" and both had wanted to start families.[4] They self-released their third and final album, All in the Family, in 2004 before disbanding.

Personal lives

Both sisters married in 2000, seven months apart: Heather to Mark Mendenhall, and Jennifer to Adam Hughes. Both sisters each have two sons, and Heather has a stepdaughter and stepson.[4] As of 2013, Jennifer worked as a registered nurse in Nashville, and sang in a Nashville church whose music leader is former MCA Records artist Lionel Cartwright.[4]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US Country
[6]
US
[7]
US
Heat

[8]
CAN Country
[9]
Just Between You and Me 22 153 6 32
II
  • Release date: July 18, 2000
  • Label: Epic Nashville
18 177 10
All in the Family
  • Release date: August 3, 2004
  • Label: Identical Records
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US Country
[11]
US
[12]
CAN Country
[13]
1997 "Please" 7 67 22 Just Between You and Me
"Just Between You and Me" 12 [upper-alpha 1] 9
1998 "Dance in the Boat" 49 84
"You Make It Seem So Easy" 48 44
"Somebody's Out There Watching" 19 64 23 Touched by an Angel: The Album
1999 "My Heart Is Still Beating" 63
2000 "She Ain't the Girl for You" 34 48 II
"I'm In" 35 x
2001 "You're Still Here" x
2004 "Little Shoulders" All in the Family
2005 "I Will"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
"x" denotes that no relevant chart existed
Notes
  1. "Just Between You and Me" did not enter the US Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 22 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[1]

Music videos

Year Video Director
1997 "Please" Chris Rogers
"Just Between You and Me" Thom Oliphant
1998 "Somebody's Out There Watching" Jim Shea
1999 "My Heart Is Still Beating" Jim Shea
2000 "She Ain't the Girl for You" Adolfo Doring
"I'm In" Eric Welch
2005 "I Will" Flick Wiltshire

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1998 "Please" Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Nominated

American Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1999 The Kinleys Favorite Country New Artist Nominated

TNN/Music City News Country Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1998 The Kinleys Vocal Group or Duo of the Year Nominated
1999 Nominated
Female Star of Tomorrow Nominated

Academy of Country Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1998 The Kinleys Top New Vocal Group or Duo Won
2001 Top Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated
2002 Nominated

Country Music Association Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1998 The Kinleys Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated
1999 Nominated
2000 Nominated
2001 Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2012). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 227-228. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
  2. DeLuca, Dan (1 October 1997). "The Kinleys Double-team Country Scene The Sisters Grew Up In The Phila. Area. Theirs Is A Harmonic Bond". Philly.com. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  3. Bush, John. "Kinleys Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Stark, Phyllis (January 7, 2013). "A Sister Act: The Kinleys had it all, then bravely walked away". Country Weekly. 20 (1): 46–47. ISSN 1074-3235.
  5. Waddell, Ray (June 17, 2000). "The Kinleys Expand Sound on Epic's 'II'". Billboard. p. 41.
  6. "The Kinleys Album & Song Chart History - Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  7. "The Kinleys Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  8. "allmusic (((The Kinleys > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums)))". Allmusic. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  9. "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Country Albums/CDs". RPM. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  10. "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - September 15, 2010: The Kinleys certified albums". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  11. "The Kinleys Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  12. "The Kinleys Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  13. "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Country Singles". RPM. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
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