Kim McLean (born April 1, 1961; formerly known as Kim Patton or Kim Patton-Johnston) is a singer-songwriter originally from Greensboro, North Carolina of Irish-Cherokee heritage. McLean moved to Nashville to pursue a career in songwriting. A month after arriving in Music City, she signed her first staff songwriting deal with an upstart publishing company, Little Big Town, run by publishing mogul, Woody Bomar.