The daughter of a recording-industry mogul and a vocalist for Hollywood movie studios, actress-cum-chanteuse Shawn Southwick (occasionally billed as Shawn King) grew up in the thick of show business, surrounded by Southern California's elite. Southwick established a career as a professional singer during early childhood, then at a later age performed backup in recording sessions for such artists as Neil Diamond, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Bobby Sherman. After high school, Southwick attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, and embarked on a career as a supporting actress and bit player in Hollywood productions; she enjoyed a heightened profile as a guest star on popular mid-'80s prime-time series including The A-Team, Knight Rider, Hardcastle and McCormick, and Riptide, and as host of the USA network's Hollywood Insider from 1990-1996.
In 1997, Southwick married CNN correspondent Larry King and took time out from her career to start a family. She subsequently embarked on a second act in her career, this time as a country-music vocalist. Her debut recording, In My Own Backyard, was produced by Steve Tyrell and emerged in September 2005.