Australia’s “Yodelling Drag Queen” LayDee KinMee Has One Message for Her Ex: “You’re Not A Lover”

More than 20 years ago, Jace Pearson began writing a breakup song in the aftermath of his first true heartbreak. He never finished it. Now, after another relationship brought those emotions rushing back, the award-winning Australian entertainer behind the larger-than-life drag persona LayDee KinMee has finally completed the story. “You’re Not a Lover,” out September 18, turns two decades of heartbreak into a sharp-edged pop/country-pop track about the moment love gives way to clarity, and “come back” becomes the last thing you want to hear.

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As LayDee KinMee, Pearson has never been interested in playing it small. Standing nearly seven feet tall in heels and hair, he yodelled his way to a standing ovation on Australia’s Got Talent, has performed across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe, and became known as “The Yodelling Drag Queen.” But behind the larger-than-life performer, “You’re Not a Lover” comes from something intensely personal.

Written by Jace Pearson, Michael Carpenter and Bec Caruana, the song began with lyrics and a melody Pearson wrote following the devastating end of his first true love. The breakup inspired nearly a dozen songs, but this one remained unfinished. Years later, Pearson brought what he had written into a session with Carpenter and Caruana, who helped reshape the song, soften some of its darker edges and bring the story into the present.

By the time Pearson recorded it, however, a new heartbreak had given those old words an entirely different meaning. He had recently walked away from another relationship after realizing the love and future he envisioned weren’t being reciprocated in the same way. “At the time of recording, I had gone through another breakup,” Pearson says. “I was so in love, but it wasn’t reciprocated to the same extent. I had spent so much time falling for this person, giving him my all and letting my guard down. When I realized it wasn’t going to progress as I had hoped, I had to walk away to prevent future heartache, even though the heart was already aching.”

That collision between heartbreak then and heartbreak now gave “You’re Not a Lover” its bite. Beneath its unapologetic refrain is a familiar turning point: when loving someone is no longer enough reason to keep letting them hurt you. “We’ve all had our hearts broken, and we’ve all been at a point where we want to see our exes suffer—metaphorically, of course,” Pearson says. “As much as we loved that person, we also come to the realization that it is in fact over and we don’t want them ever coming back. It’s a true breakup song.”

For Pearson, revisiting the song also became part of the healing process. “The writing process is so healing, and listening back is also healing,” Pearson shares. “Whenever I experience an emotion, I search for a song to nurture me through that experience. Many of us will experience a breakup, and perhaps this is the song to guide you through that process.”

“You’re Not a Lover” follows LayDee KinMee’s recent singles “Here I Am” and “Home Run Yodel,” continuing a recording career that brings together pop, country, cabaret, theatricality and the real-life experiences of the person behind the performer.

More than two decades after Pearson first put his heartbreak into a song, “You’re Not a Lover” finally gets its ending. Not with reconciliation or another chance, but with the clarity to walk away, and mean it when you say don’t come back.

For more information on LayDee KinMee and to follow her, please visit 

Website, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

For media inquiries for LayDee KinMee:

Danielle Reiss

Dead Horse Branding

pr@deadhb.com

Phone: (949) 421-9787

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About LayDee KinMee

LayDee KinMee is one of Australia's most celebrated and distinctive drag entertainers, known for powerhouse vocals, magnetic stage presence, and a career that has taken her from local club stages to international festivals, cruise ships, television screens, and concert halls around the world.

Portrayed by award-winning entertainer Jace Pearson, LayDee KinMee has spent more than a decade building a reputation as a world-class performer, captivating audiences throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and beyond. Whether hosting major events, headlining pride festivals, or delivering unforgettable live vocal performances, LayDee is renowned for creating genuine connections with audiences through humor, heart, and undeniable charisma.

Many first discovered LayDee following her memorable appearance on Australia's Got Talent, where her unique yodelling performance earned a standing ovation from all three judges and introduced audiences to "The Yodelling Drag Queen." Since then, she has gone on to become an award-winning entertainer, touring internationally and earning recognition through multiple ACE Awards, MO Awards, and DIVA Award nominations and wins.

As a recording artist, LayDee KinMee brings the same authenticity, theatricality, and vocal versatility that have defined her live career. Drawing inspiration from pop, country, cabaret, musical theatre, gospel, and classic storytelling traditions, her music celebrates individuality, resilience, joy, and self-expression. Her releases blend larger-than-life entertainment with heartfelt messages, creating songs that are equally at home on a festival stage, pride celebration, or personal playlist.

Now entering a new chapter of her recording career, LayDee KinMee continues to expand her artistic reach while remaining true to the qualities that have made her a fan favorite for years: authenticity, connection, and the belief that every performance should leave audiences feeling a little brighter than when they arrived.