Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest album, and what themes or stories you aimed to convey through your music?

Well, my background is a bit different than most. I’ve been to prison. I like to joke and say I’m like the female Jelly Roll – without the roll. My upbringing was rough. My self-esteem was non-existent. And my drug addiction literally almost killed me – several times. I started speaking and singing in prisons about three years ago (with the encouragement of a dear friend) and it started to become my passion. That being said, my latest EP and title track “If These Boots Could Talk,” kind of sets the framework for the bigger picture and story behind my music.
Now that I have established the message I want to convey and who I want to be as an artist. I will be releasing a new EP, June 6, 2024. The title track is called “Stop Missing Me,” a song about the conflict of head and heart that love can sometimes bring. I wrote it with Kix Brooks, of Brooks and Dunn, and grammy-award winning writer and producer Don Cook.
Both Kix and Don are staples in the Nashville Community and are inductees in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. I feel honored and humbled that such a talented, inspiring group of people were willing to work with me on this record.

Music often has the power to transport people to different places and times. Can you describe a moment in your life when a particular song or album had a profound impact on you?

Well, when I was a teenager I had a lot of angst and anger. Like I said, my homelife was not the best and I felt trapped. I was a victim of circumstances, like so are who many that fall into addiction. They want an escape. The first time I listened to Tidal, by Fiona Apple I realized that not only were her words so profound and eloquent to be such a young artist and I wanted to strive for that level of profundity, but that I could channel all that angst and anger I was feeling into a positive medium through music.

Many artists have rituals or routines they follow before performing or recording. Do you have any unique or quirky pre-show or pre-recording rituals that you find help you get in the zone?

Haha. Yes. So if I have a big show coming up I will eat nothing but green apples and Lay’s potato chips that day – original Lays, not Ruffles. And it may be in my head but they both really help me to have a smooth sound vocally. The Lays thing is sort of well-known. I know Nashville producers who keep them in their studios. But I’m the only person I know who swears by green apples, too.

Your lyrics often tell a story or convey a message. Can you share the story behind one of your songs and the inspiration that led to its creation?

“If These Boots Could Talk” aka “Boots” is an autobiographical song based on the story of how I got to prison, and the mentality I forced myself to have once I got released. The story is centered around a real pair of boots that were my grandmother’s. I particularly enjoyed making the music video because the Sheriff’s Department in Winn Parish – a rural parish in the middle of Louisiana – took their old courthouse jail that was built in the ‘20s and cleared it out for me. It had been used for storage for decades. Needless to say, the video is pretty raw.

If you could curate a music festival with a lineup of your dream artists, who would be the headliners, and what would the theme of the festival be?

The theme of the festival would be “Come Together” and I would try to have the absolute widest array of genres and artists that I could. Headliners would be Kendrick Lamar, Fleetwood Mac, Florence and the Machine, and Leon Bridges.

Music can be a powerful tool for advocacy and change. Are there any social or political causes that you’re passionate about, and how does your music play a role in promoting these issues?

Actually, as of last December, myself and Kix Brooks, of Brooks and Dunn founded a nonprofit called Hope on the Inside, where musicians and entertainers have joined us in going into prisons and detention centers and spreading a little joy. It’s been overwhelmingly successful. I feel so blessed that I’m able to give back in such a meaningful way. It’s a place where both my talent and my story can be used for the greater good. It’s soul food.

The music industry has evolved significantly with technology. How do you see artificial intelligence and emerging technologies impacting the creation and distribution of music in the future?

I mean, there is no connection like the human connection. AI cannot feel the music it produces. So while I understand that technology is important for progress, I hope we never lose sight of the emotional human connection that makes music so very powerful.

Many recording artists evolve over time. How do you see your musical journey changing and growing in the next decade?

My goal is for Hope on the Inside to grow to such an extent that we have national tours where myself and other artists go into prisons to entertain and connect. Honestly, as much as I enjoy playing at shows and festivals, the prison outreach thing really keeps me going. When I go speak to inmates – men and women – it’s a different level of connection with your audience. Everyone is sober, everyone is supportive. They are all so grateful and humble. They give you their full attention. You’re not just entertaining a bunch of people there for the party. You’re making a real difference and you can FEEL the joy that comes with that. I would like artists from all genres and backgrounds to be able to experience that.