Middle Tennessee State University commercial songwriting alum Kelty Greye is celebrating a milestone that still feels a little unreal. Just two years after graduating, her cinematic cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle” is featured in DC Studios’ new Supergirl film — a moment that fulfills a dream she’s carried since childhood.
Greye said the news arrived quietly at first. A music supervisor emailed in April asking to license her cover for a film, offering no details. She assumed it was for a small indie project. An hour later, her agency sent a proposal stamped with Warner Brothers and DC Studios. “I thought it had to be a joke,” she said. “After a minute of Googling, I realized it was for Supergirl, and I was in complete shock.”
For Greye, the placement is more than a résumé line. Growing up, she walked to the movie theater after school to catch the latest superhero release. She taught herself John Williams’ scores by ear on the violin and listened to soundtracks on repeat. Seeing her own name appear near Williams in the credits, she said, felt “surreal and magical.”
Ironically, the recording that made its way into a major studio film began in her MTSU bedroom. After her sync licensing agency paired her with producer Scott Feldman (KidMotel), the two selected “The Middle” from a list of available covers. A longtime emo fan, Greye slowed the song down and rebuilt it with sweeping strings — a natural fit for someone who has played violin for 20 years.
She credits MTSU’s commercial songwriting program for preparing her to navigate the industry with confidence. Lessons from Professor Bess Rogers’ music‑for‑TV‑and‑film course guide her sync work, while Professor John Ouellette’s entertainment IP law classes helped her understand contracts. She also points to co‑writing the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment’s Emmy‑winning “We Do It All” commercial as a hands‑on experience that translated directly into professional life.
Since graduating, Greye has kept the momentum going — completing her first Hollywood Reporter interview, earning a mention in Rolling Stone, releasing her debut EP Haunt Me, and producing the audio drama Beneath the Cosmic Waves.
