Cardin wrote her first song when she was six. Her professional songwriting and recording career began with an artist development deal at the age of 16 with Grammy-award winning composer and producer CheChe Alara (Camila Cabello, Lady Gaga), where she was trained in both songwriting and studio recording in Los Angeles, California. Cardin continued to develop her craft as a performer after being accepted to Brigham Young University’s prestigious Music Dance Theatre program. Cardin immersed herself in vocal training, acting and creative writing. McKinney’s studies were placed on hold as she moved through American Idol Season 7, eventually landing in the Top 25.

After American Idol, Cardin signed a publishing deal with Victoria Shaw (Garth Brooks, Lady Antebellum) and joined on as a staff songwriter on Nashville’s Music Row. As a co-writer to legends such as Mike Reid (I Can’t Make You Love Me), Tommy Sims (If I Could Change The World), Jennifer Hanson (Leave The Pieces) and more, Cardin honed and perfected her craft. Today, Cardin continues to write with legends, telling the stories of others and starting to share her own.

To learn more about Cardin, visit her website here.