Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Carly Waddell's love for music started when she was just two years old. As far back as she can remember, Waddell has been performing and captivating audiences from family in her childhood living room, singing around the world, and progressing to fulfillment of her lifelong dream of recording her own original music and sharing with her fanbase.

Waddell's first performance was in the community production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at age 7. After one performance the singing and acting bug hit and she was hooked. She continued performing in musicals and country music reviews until she was accepted into Tisch School of the Arts CAP21 program where she joined a select group of students in the study of musical theater including Stefani Germanotta, best known as Lady Gaga. 

Waddell made the decision to further study closer to home at the University of Oklahoma where she starred alongside Broadway greats Tony Award winning Kelli O’hara and Tony Nominated Will Charse at the Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma! As understudy  for O’hara. Soon after she headed to Savannah, Ga to sing at the Savannah Theatre, one of the oldest theaters in the United States.