Penny Rushing, better known as “The Kipi Chick,” didn’t start playing the ukulele until she was 47, but her passion for music has since flourished. At 53, Penny now regularly performs and inspires others in the community with her story of perseverance.
Surrounded by music thanks to her multi-talented husband, Penny was drawn to the ukulele’s happy sound, often heard in movies and TV. On her 40th birthday, she was surprised with a trip to Elderly Instruments in Lansing, where she chose her perfect ukulele. But it sat untouched for seven years, frustrating her attempts to learn. After trying YouTube tutorials with no success, Penny locked herself away and powered through an online Udemy course. It finally clicked when she learned to play Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours.” “Once I figured it out, I was so thirsty for it,” she shares.
Penny now performs every other Sunday at Sawyer’s Brewing Company and hosts open mics there as well. She enjoys taking audience requests, saying, “I like to know I’m playing something that people want to hear.” Penny feels blessed to be in an area with so many talented musicians and venues.
Penny also leads the Strum It Ukulele Club, which she founded with a small group of friends and has since grown to 50-60 members. Open to all levels, the club meets Sundays at the Book Nook. Her advice to aspiring musicians: “Just keep trying. If one method doesn’t work, find another way to reach your goal.”
Follow Penny’s journey on Facebook at The Kipi Chick, and support her on Buy Me a Coffee.
A big thank you to Penny Rushing for joining us in the Podcast Studio and sharing her incredible musical journey. Don’t miss the episode – watch it now:
Check out our introduction article for this series here.
