The Band Perry Artistfacts

2005-
Kimberly PerryVocals, guitar2005-
Reid PerryBass2005-2025
Neil Perry Drums, mandolin, accordion2005-2025
Johnny CostelloMandolin2025-
The Band Perry - siblings Kimberly, Reid, and Neil Perry - built a career on blending country storytelling with rock and pop. They're best known for their haunting 2010 crossover hit "If I Die Young," which became one of the defining songs of the decade and went 9x Platinum.
When Kimberly Perry was 8 years old, her beloved pet bunny, Beatrice, passed away. The heartbreak inspired her to write her very first song, "Bunny Rabbits Are Nice."

It may not make the setlist for The Band Perry's high-energy live shows, but somewhere in pet heaven, Beatrice surely approves.
The Perry siblings hail from Ridgeland, Mississippi, where all three grew up immersed in music. Kimberly started performing as a solo act while her brothers formed The Mobile Music Machines, opening for their big sister's shows when they were just 8 and 10.
In 2005, the siblings joined forces to form The Band Perry, honing their sound and sibling harmonies. That same year, the Coca-Cola Company invited them to perform on the nationwide "New Faces of Country" tour, a huge early opportunity for a band still finding its footing.
Their big break came in 2008 when Bob Doyle, Garth Brooks' longtime manager, spotted their talent. Doyle brought them to Nashville, where the trio signed with Republic Nashville and released their self-titled debut album. "If I Die Young" exploded on both country and pop radio, setting the stage for stardom.
The Band Perry's follow-up album, Pioneer (2013), produced by Rick Rubin, delivered more hits, including the darkly dramatic "Better Dig Two" and the fierce empowerment anthem "DONE."
In July 2016, the Perrys took their sibling teamwork to Family Feud, where Kimberly scored 196 points in the Fast Money round, one of the highest in show history. The band donated their winnings to Teen Cancer America.
Also in 2016, The Band Perry left Republic Nashville for Interscope Records, exploring synth-pop textures on songs like "Stay in the Dark." They called it an "evolution," not a reinvention, though fans were divided over their new sound.
After a two-year hiatus, The Band Perry reformed in mid-2025, signing with Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment (under Big Machine Label Group). The updated lineup included Kimberly Perry, Reid Perry, and Kimberly's husband Johnny Costello, who replaced Neil Perry after Neil chose to continue his solo career. In October 2025, Reid Perry also announced his exit to pursue artist management, leaving Kimberly Perry as the last remaining Perry.
Kimberly's romantic life has had its own Nashville-worthy twists. She married MLB catcher J.P. Arencibia in Greeneville, Tennessee, on June 12, 2014. The two met after Arencibia saw her in the "If I Die Young" video and asked a friend to arrange an introduction. They divorced in 2018.

In June 2021, Kimberly married musician and guitarist Johnny Costello, whom she first met at a brunch in Dallas, Texas.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

More Songfacts:

Big Yellow TaxiJoni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" is about the commercialization of Hawaii. On her first trip to the islands, she looked out of her hotel window and saw a parking lot as far as the eye could see.

We're Not Gonna Take ItTwisted Sister

Musically, the Twisted Sister song "We're Not Gonna Take It" is based on the Christmas tune "O Come All Ye Faithful."

The FlameCheap Trick

Cheap Trick hated the ballad "The Flame" but recorded it because they needed a hit, and the song delivered, going to #1.

The BestTina Turner

"The Best" by Tina Turner was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler; Turner's hit version added a bridge and a saxophone solo by Edgar Winter.

RoyalsLorde

Lorde was 16 years and 11 months old when "Royals" topped the Hot 100. In doing so she became the youngest ever solo artist to write and perform a #1 hit.