{{short description|American singer}} {{BLP sources|date=March 2016}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Molly Kate Kestner | image = Molly Kate Kestner 01 05 2018 -6 (38645907955).jpg | image_size = | caption = Kestner performing in 2017 | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|11|29}}<ref>[https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VCC6-G2B ]{{dead link|date=April 2020}}</ref> | birth_place = [[Freeborn County, Minnesota]], US | origin = [[Austin, Minnesota]] | death_date = | genre = Pop | occupation = Singer | instrument = Vocals, piano, violin | years_active = [[2013 in music|2013]]–present | label = [[Atlantic Records]] | associated_acts = | website = }}

'''Molly Kate Kestner''' (born November 29, 1995) is an American singer-songwriter most notable for her song "His Daughter", which went viral in 2014 in many countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2014/05/meet-molly-kate-kestner-the-voice-behind-youtube-hit-his-daughter/|title=Meet Molly Kate Kestner, the Voice Behind YouTube Hit 'His Daughter'|author=|work=ABC News|accessdate=11 December 2015}}</ref> After the release of her debut self-released single, Kestner was signed to [[Atlantic Records]] and has released seven major label singles since joining their roster.<ref>{{cite web|author=Molly Kate Kestner |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/molly-kate-kestner-mn0003266289/discography |title=Molly Kate Kestner &#124; Album Discography |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=1995-11-29 |accessdate=2020-04-11}}</ref>

==Early life== Kestner is one of seven siblings in her family.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25678347/minnesota-teen-molly-kate-kestners-youtube-ballad-goes|title=Minnesota teen Molly Kate Kestner's YouTube ballad goes viral|date=1 May 2014|website=TwinCities.com|accessdate=11 December 2015}}</ref>

Before the success of "His Daughter", Kestner performed covers and original material, and put them on YouTube for extended family members too far away from her and her family. In addition to singing and piano, Kestner is also an accomplished violinist. Kestner was a member of the 2012–2013 Minnesota Music Educators Association All-State Mixed Choir.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kttc.com/story/25409824/2014/05/02/molly-kate-kestner-austin-singing-sensation|title=Molly Kate Kestner: Austin singing sensation|date=2 May 2014|website=Kttc.com|accessdate=11 December 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234029/http://www.kttc.com/story/25409824/2014/05/02/molly-kate-kestner-austin-singing-sensation|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Success of "His Daughter"== {{Infobox song | name = His Daughter | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Molly Kate Kestner | album = | released = May 12, 2014 | recorded = 2014 | studio = | venue = | genre = Pop | length = 5:57 | label = Broken Phone Productions | writer = Molly Kate Kestner | producer = | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Good Die Young | next_year = 2016 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|35say5G5cz8|"His Daughter" (Official video)}}}} }} "'''His Daughter'''" is a song written by Kestner that chronicles a woman that has an unplanned pregnancy.

Her video later brought the attention of ''[[Star Trek]]'' actor [[George Takei]], who commented on his Facebook page "Has America found its young [[Adele]]? I'm nearly breathless from listening." "His Daughter" also received attention from singer [[Jordin Sparks]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/meet-molly-kate-kestner-voice-behind-youtube-hit-214702588--abc-news-music.html|title=Meet Molly Kate Kestner, the Voice Behind YouTube Hit 'His Daughter'|date=14 May 2014|work=Yahoo|accessdate=11 December 2015|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010645/https://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/meet-molly-kate-kestner-voice-behind-youtube-hit-214702588--abc-news-music.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/minn-teen-original-song-viral-article-1.1776968|title=SEE IT: Minn. teen's original song goes viral|website=Nydailynews.com|date=2 May 2014 |accessdate=4 April 2017}}</ref> Kestner's video later gained 2 million+ views after Takei and Sparks shared Kestner's video. Kestner later performed the song on ''[[Good Morning America]]''.

Kestner later released a studio version of "His Daughter" on iTunes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itunescharts.net/us/artists/music/molly-kate-kestner/songs/his-daughter/|title=iTunesCharts.net: 'His Daughter' by Molly Kate Kestner (American Songs iTunes Chart)|accessdate=11 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234636/http://www.itunescharts.net/us/artists/music/molly-kate-kestner/songs/his-daughter/|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Singles=== * "His Daughter" (2014) * "Good Die Young" (2016) * "Prom Queen" (2017) * "It's You" (2017) * "I Don't Know" (2017) * "Compromise" (2017) * "Footprints" (2017) * "Not Over You" (2018) * "On Again" <small>(with Honors)</small>(2018) * "Prisoner" (2018) * "My Way Up" (2019) * "Get Up" (2021) * "Troubles" (2021) * "Bridges" (2021) * "Better Than My Best" (2021) * "Used to Be You" (2021) * "Hiding in the Crowd" (2021) * "Small Town Stars" (2022) * "Hand That You Hold" (2022) * "Blame It on the Weather" (2022)

===Songwriting credits=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:160px;"| Title ! scope="col" | Artist(s) ! scope="col" style="width:180px;"| Album ! scope="col" | Written with |- | rowspan="2"| 2017 ! scope="row"| "[[Move You]]" | rowspan="2"| [[Kelly Clarkson]] | rowspan="2"| ''[[Meaning of Life (album)|Meaning of Life]]'' | rowspan="2"| Amy Kuney, Nick Ruth |- ! scope="row"| "Slow Dance" |}

==Personal life== Kestner married singer-songwriter Brock Baker in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mollykatekestnermusic.com/post/154181929348/married-my-best-friend-today-brock-baker-forever |title=Molly Kate Kestner – Official Website – Tour Dates, Music, and m &#124; Married my best friend today. Brock Baker, forever |website=Mollykatekestnermusic.com |date=2013-04-16 |accessdate=2020-04-11}}</ref><ref>[https://talkaboutpopmusic.com/2016/07/31/interview-brock-baker/ ]{{dead link|date=April 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Molly Kate Kestner}} * [http://mollykatekestnermusic.com/ Official website] * [https://www.facebook.com/mollykatekestner Molly's Facebook] * [https://www.youtube.com/user/mollykestnervidz Molly's Channel]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kestner, Molly Kate}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1995 births]] [[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]] [[Category:21st-century American violinists]] [[Category:American women singer-songwriters]] [[Category:Atlantic Records artists]] [[Category:Singer-songwriters from Minnesota]] [[Category:People from Austin, Minnesota]] [[Category:21st-century American pianists]] [[Category:American women pianists]] [[Category:21st-century American women singers]] [[Category:YouTubers from Minnesota]] [[Category:21st-century American multi-instrumentalists]]