Ruston Kelly Confronts His Past in Poignant ‘Brave’ Video

Ruston Kelly contemplates his journey, along with all the mistakes and triumphs he’s experienced, in the video for the new song “Brave.” The song is Kelly’s first original music since putting out his Rounder Records debut, Dying Star, in 2018.

A hushed acoustic number, “Brave” features Kelly singing about his struggles with addiction and his missteps, along with accounting for those issues with the loved ones who lifted him up in his lowest moments. “I never took for granted all the love in my life/I hope that’s how I’m remembered when I die,” he sings, confronting his past without fear.

The clip, which is dedicated to Kelly’s mother, was filmed at the singer’s sold-out show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in early March, and includes photos of him as a child with his family — his father, Tim, and sister, Abby, were part of his touring band at the Ryman show — as well as footage from his wedding to fellow performer Kacey Musgraves.

Along with the new video, Kelly has put out a new “Brave” T-shirt that features his handwritten lyrics to the song. Proceeds from sales of the shirt will be donated to MusiCares.

“Brave” follows the 2019 release of Kelly’s EP, Dirt Emo Vol. 1, which featured covers of Dashboard Confessional, Wheatus, and Taylor Swift, among others.