McKee was born in Vacaville, California, and spent her formative years in the Seattle area. Taking an early interest in the exposure to music and the theater offered by her father, Bonnie began singing at age five with the Seattle Girls' Choir. She toured Europe in 2000 as a member of its top Prime Voci choir, including a concert in Rome at the request of Pope John Paul II.

Bonnie's youth Read more...

McKee had progressed to writing her own music by the time she was twelve. By fifteen she was performing on her own and had produced her own six-track EP. This material, re-recorded, formed the core of her first major label album, Trouble, released on September 28, 2004.

McKee's first major brush with national exposure came in the March 7, 2004 "Shoot the Moon" episode of the American Dreams Read more...

McKee's voice is classified as mezzo-soprano. Deep-throated vocals with a wide range. She is capable of hitting notes in the whistle register, as heard in "When it All Comes Down". Her whistle register is heard twice in the song.