Willa Ford Returns After 20 Years: From “I Wanna Be Bad” to Her New Album Amanda

After more than 20 years away from music, the singer behind the Y2K hit “I Wanna Be Bad” returns with a deeply personal new album titled Amanda — named after her birth name and a reflection of who she is today. In this episode of the Spout Podcast, Willa opens up about her return to music, navigating fame during the early-2000s pop boom, and the journey that led her back to the studio. She shares stories from the peak of the TRL era, working alongside pop icons like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore, and how the industry often pitted her against them. Willa also discusses the deeply personal experiences that shaped this new chapter, including her diagnosis with PNES seizures, the importance of mental health for artists, and why she chose to return as an independent artist in full control of her music. Plus, she reflects on her pivot into entrepreneurship, building a successful interior design business, and why stepping away from music may have been the best decision she ever made. Now, she’s ready to return to the stage with her first-ever headline tour and a new body of work that represents her most authentic self. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices