September 11, 2023 • 38 mins
Lana Scott (@AMeasureOfLana) sits down with Brooke Taylor to catch up about life! Lana touches on marriage and how it's been since she's got married in November of 2022. Of course The Voice is brought up and we get a little behind the scenes look at what it's like to be on the show. This fall she is releasing her debut album and so much more!
Grab a drink, let's go backstage!
Follow on Instagram: @BackstageWBrooke
Grab a drink, let's go backstage!
Follow on Instagram: @BackstageWBrooke
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
All right, you ready to rock? Yeah, here we go backstage.
Welcome to the backstage with Brook.You're all access past to music City where
nothing is off limits. Grab adrink, let's go backstage. Hanging out
Atlanta, Scott y'all. Welcome tothe show, Queen. Thanks for having
me. Oh my gosh, youare so welcome. I'm so happy to
(00:21):
finally meet you in person. Metoo. I feel like I'm fan girling
right now because I love your podcast. I'm looking around the room. It's
so vivying here. I love it. It's so funny because when you reached
out to me, I was justlike, shut up because I watched the
Voice. I looks like one ofmy favorite shows, and it's like one
of my guilty pleasures that I willrecord it so that way, like when
I'm just hanging out, I wantto put my kid to sleep. Yeah,
that's the one I watched, soI remember you on the season and
(00:45):
I just it's just so funny,like how worlds collide and yes, Well
it meant a lot to me whenyou wrote me back and said yes so
quickly, I was like, wow, okay, awesome, that means a
lot. But it's so It's sofunny when people are afraid to ask questions
right, and you're just like,what is like literally the worst thing that
someone could say is no, andlike I'm not gonna say no. So
I feel like that's my life.Slogan for the last year is like it
(01:07):
doesn't hurt to ask. So manythings are are working out right now because
I just asked, and I don'twant to live with that what if for
regret? If I don't, youknow, like you said, the worst
that can happen is nothing exactly,And then if you don't, then you
have those like little tidbits in yourmind where you're like, well, what
if I did ask? Like Iwonder what they want? Upset? So
thank you for reaching out. I'mso worded to have you on the shild
(01:29):
hey even, but thanks for havingme. We got to catch up on
life because somebody got married recently,Yes, somebody did. We were just
talking before the mics were on,obviously talking about how you and your husband
met, and so I want totake a big rewind step back, tell
me the details, get us intothe nitty gritty how did you guys meet?
We actually met through music? Iwas singing back up for a good
(01:51):
friend of mine because I'm all aboutsinging, whether I'm the lead or singing
behind someone else. I believe in. This was, you know, five
years ago too, but I saidyes to help in my friend out,
and I'm again just glad I saidyes because I met him there and we
always tease it. The first thingwe noticed about each other was each other's
voices. We're at this church cafeand I was journaling and he walked in
(02:12):
the room and I just heard thesweetest, warmest, most sincere presence,
like, Hey, how's it going? Oh? How can I help you?
It's so great to see you.And I'm like, who is this
person? And I turned around andhis face just matched his sweet to me,
and he noticed my voice just singingbackground vocals came up to me and
we connected through music, which laterturned on into friendship, which turned into
(02:34):
the first date and then you knowhow it goes. Yeah, yeah,
that is so sweet that you guysyou said you met at church that church.
My husband and I met at churchtoo, Did you really? Oh
my gosh, I love it.It's like twenty twenty three and I'm like,
you just never hear that anymore?And I'm like, whenever I hear
somebody who met their husband at church, I'm like, yes, girl,
yes, where the good ones are? Yeah, the good one that's right
(02:57):
girl. Well congratulations, I amso excited for you. I know,
marriage, I feel like is oneof those things where it's like butterflies ringing
bows, this, you know,it's just always like so like high highs.
But marriage is like hard, yes, yeah, like full send.
It is hard. And they say, you know, you want to find
(03:19):
someone that you love, who youlove having fun with, who has the
same interest as you, But theydon't really say find the one you want
to struggle with because life is hard. And I learned at a certain point
in our dating life that I'm like, this is the guy that I want
to go through it all in.It's not gonna be easy, but there's
no one I'd rather have a badday with or grieve, you know,
future losses with. I mean,just has it loans. That's so good
(03:43):
that I love that you said thatsomebody that you want to struggle with,
because it really is true because whenyou think about love and you see movies
and everything, you know, it'slike they don't really show the ugly of
like marriage and like the difficult decisionsyou have to make and then the fights.
And some great advice that I gotbefore was like, you just you
have to learn to fight because you'regoing to. It's inevitable. You don't
(04:03):
like everybody every single wagon of theday. So that's so true someone you
want to struggle with. I lovethat. My big thing that has saved
me and Sean for sure is communicationwithout blame, Like how it And that
sounds like, oh, what's that, or of course I do that,
but anytime you start a sentence whenyou're in a conflict with you made me
feel blank. Even if you're superjustified, it's still you're blaming them and
(04:25):
they're automatically going to be put onthe defense. And once we started really
practicing that, like I feel thiswhen this happens, it's so much easier
to come towards your partner and say, oh, I don't want you to
feel that way. Yeah, itseems so simple, but it's such a
It helps so much, right,and it's such a difficult thing. I
remember that was one of the thingsthat we learned when we did pre marital
counseling, which I feel like alot of people don't do and I think
(04:46):
it didn't. It's so it's sohelpful in some aspects where you're like,
it gives you those tools where you'relike, Okay, I'm not going to
need to use that, but you'relike, okay, I feel like this,
and then they're like, oh yeah, why do you feel that way?
Right? And then it like,like you said, the communication without
blame thing is hard, but itis so helpful. Yeah, yeah,
(05:08):
the vulnerable rail is the better rail. That's harder, but but it is.
Look at us going on a freakingmarriage therapy a way. I love
it where I think we're just bothpassionate about marriage. I'm guessing like I
just got married. I'll be celebratinga year in November. But I'm like,
man, I'm so I talk aboutit at every show. He's next
to me playing guitar most of thetime, and I just say, it
(05:29):
feels so good to have a differentpurpose in my life that's bigger than myself
now, to be responsible for morethan just me, and it's it's truly
like a privilege, and I'm passionateof that. I'm trying to make marriage
cool again. Well you know itis, because like we were saying,
like, you know, it's twentytwenty three, and it's such a thing
where I feel like there's such aneasy way out for people all the time,
or like when it gets hard,it's easy to just be like,
(05:51):
well I'm I'm out, but likeit's harder to work through it. Yeah,
and like, but there's always somuch more on the other side of
like the work through, you know, and like you said, some of
that you want to go through allof that with and you want to be
on the other side. Not Listen, there are things that happen in people's
marriages that weren't certain things. Butyeah, if it's just like a fight
(06:12):
about who's laundry is on the floor, and this is not being done,
Like come on, guys, Okay, we're not We're not canceling our marriage
because of that. Okay, allright, we don't even mention I mean,
we're only when you're in, granted, but we're like we're not even
gonna mention that word, like theD word, Like that's not even Yeah,
I've had a friend like joke like, oh, you're getting divorced because
I made like I said, like, oh today I felt that it out
to a friend and I was like, oh, I know you're kidding,
but like, I don't even wantto play around like that because my parents
(06:34):
got divorced and my only child grewup in a broken family. Love my
parents both very very much. Theynever stopped being a great mom and dad
to me, so I'm very thankful. But after experiencing that, I very
much decided I don't want this.Like I don't judge my parents, but
I'm like, I want to.I want to see it through when I
have kids and kind of give mykids what I didn't have. Yeah,
(06:56):
totally. I was talking to mysister about that the other day of how
you're goal as a like a parentis to give your kids a better life
than you had, and we wouldlike, you know, you talk about
how you're past and hard things thatyou dealt with growing up. There's six
kids in my family, so there'sa lot of us. I love it.
So we were, you know,their money struggles and things like that
financially, and I was just like, mom and dad did their best.
(07:17):
They gave us a better life thanthey had and that's literally all you can
ask for. I love that.That's so gracious of you too. Yeah,
because you could be like, yeah, we didn't have that. You're
right, we didn't. But justto be the bigger person to be like
our parents did their best, guys, they really did. They were better
than what they had. And thennow our job for our kids is to
give them a better life than wehad. And so far, so good.
Yeah. So my mom always says, everybody does the best with the
(07:40):
cards they're dealt. You have toremember that, Like, not everyone's dealt
the same cards or have the sameexperiences to know better and whatnot. But
I'm gratefully to carry that with me. A lot of times I was,
this is the cards they're dealt,this is their best, and I'm gonna
have grace and remember that I'm gonnaneed it too, probably tomorrow literally,
girl. I was just thinking aboutgrace and word and how difficult it truly
(08:01):
is to be a graceful human beingand not like graceful as in like not
tripping, but like having grace forsomeone to say like all right, I
know you're slipping up right now,but yeah, you're better than this,
or having grace for a situation inyour life. Like grace is such a
heavy, big word to like carryaround but what a like great attribute to
(08:22):
have. I love that what yousaid about letting someone know, hey,
you're better than that. Yeah,because I've been thinking a lot lately about
the difference between nice and kind,and they say, you know, kind
is really being truthful, Yeah,within grace, but being truthful being that
friend that's not afraid to say like, hey, like you got some spinach
in your teeth, but much deeperthan that, Yeah, like the one
(08:43):
that can tell you, hey,I don't I see you kind of veering
off course right now? Are yousure you are good? Versus the nice
thing, which is just to alwaysbe cheer leading no matter what, like
you go, you go, yougo, even if you know it's not
the right direction. Yea. Myfriend, I have a really good friend.
Her name is Demi, And Iremember this once specific time where I
was like, hey girl, thisis what's going on today, Andrew,
my husband is driving me nuts.This is what's happening. And I was
(09:05):
just kind of like inventing about it. Yeah, and she like looks at
me and she does this thing whereshe goes like she's like, you're being
a naggy wife, and I wasjust like I am, And she's just
like, yeah, you're kind ofbeing a naggy wife. And I picture
this in my head, just likeI don't want to tell you this,
but I need to tell you it. She's like, you're being naggy and
I was just like it, justlike full stops you and You're like,
(09:28):
oh, I am being a naggywife. No wonder he's in that mood,
you know. And you're like,but it's so true. You know.
Friends, you're like, wait asecond, I am. And good
for you for stopping and actually thinkingmaybe this is true. Some people would
be like no, I'm not,no, not, you know, and
it's so easy to be that way. Anyway, we got a fun like
that was a good therapy session.I believe I'm gonna go home and hug
(09:50):
and kiss my husband. Yes,girl, all right, we gotta talk
about you. I'm backstage with Brooke. I really like to kind of dive
into the behind the scene, andwe were going to talk about your new
single and all the amazing things that'sgoing on with that here in a second,
but I want to talk about Lannain the very beginning, when was
music like planted in your heart.Tell me, like your story about how
(10:11):
you fell in love with music.Yeah, well I don't have anybody in
my family who ever took that musicpath, so I don't really know where
it came from other than I justalways love to sing, and I would
just I would watch Barney as akid, like a three year old,
and my parents bought me this tinylittle pie or that had like twelve keys,
and I would just slam on itand singing all these home videos.
(10:31):
So I was singing since I couldtalk. And I still remember of this
vision in my head of being inI guess kindergarten or first grade, where
we're learning how to write and youto finish the sentences. When I grow
up, I want to beat andI was like singer and I would draw
a little stick figure with the microphoneand so how cute. I'm often just
thinking of my inner child, likeI'm doing this for you, girl,
(10:52):
because this career is not always easy, but yeah, I love it.
I wouldn't have it any way,but it's fun to think, you know,
I saw that dream through because sooften we can't, and I've been
tempted to in twenty twenty, forexample, too, like is this the
right thing for me? Should Igive up? And do something else.
But it's always been the dream.Yeah, the whole thing about like wanting
(11:13):
to give up and just those thoselike intrusive just doubtful yea, not true
thoughts that start to creep in,right, those that doubt in that fear.
I feel like it's such a realthing, especially in the music industry,
because especially being in music city.You're in Nashville, Like, I
mean, everybody's doing this dream,right, so many women. Yeah,
(11:35):
and like staying motivated and not listeningto those thoughts, how do you overcome
those just intrusive just like thoughts ofthe enemy. Yeah, they're just coming
in I think, recognizing that theyare thoughts of the enemy. Because I
have this calling, I've spent alot of time asking myself, what's my
why, who's my who? Like, why am I singing? Who am
I singing for? What's the missionbehind? Just the hobby, you know?
(11:58):
And and knowing you know, Ihope. I love when anybody's impacted
by my music. I've had grownmen come up to me crying like that
song really touched me, and thatis a huge win to me too.
But I have such a heart foryouth, and I've always felt like God
put this in my heart so thatI could be just a singer who writes
songs that can more often than notencourage people and leave them feeling motivated or
(12:22):
excited to be alive or want totake that chance today. And not every
song can have that perfect silver lining, but just those relatable where there's a
little bit of hope and fuse becauseI see music as a responsibility and there's
so powerful. I mean, musicaffects us. Music has totally gotten me
through things, and it's also madecertain things harder. And I think just
(12:43):
knowing again, like all people,but especially youth, are so impacted by
the music they hear. So I'mjust trying to be someone who can put
a little more love and hope outthere for people and need it like me
because I need it all. Iwas just gonna say, I feel like
we all need it. But thatwas like a perfect segue to your new
song when we this the message behindthis song and just I mean, you're
(13:11):
doing amazing things with it. Iknow that you've partnered with the American Foundation
for Suicide Prevention with this song.Yeah, and what a time for a
song like this? Oh thanks,you know, so it felt right.
It felt like the right time withschool almost being out at you know,
like this came out in May,and I'm gonna do another reboot of the
video and fall just because if yousee the video, a lot of it
(13:31):
takes place in a school building anda girl struggling through middle school. But
it could be high school, itcould be college, it could be you
know, whatever it is for theperson watching. But I think it's really
easy. And I've been there beforewhere the thing you're going through, the
problem a struggle, feels finites likethis is it Like whether you're young and
you're like, I'm never gonna fallin well again because he broke up with
(13:52):
you, or you're like I don'tknow where to go to college and like
this one said no to me,what am I gonna do? Like things
can just feel so like I said, finite, and this song is a
message that what you're going through aneight permanent. It feels like it is.
But trust me, like all ofus, you know, in our
late twenties, early thirties, fortyto fifty sixty seventies, we've all been
there where we thought that was itbut it was not. And I just
(14:13):
wish more people yeah, knew that. And losing two friends to suicide.
I wish those people knew knew thatand really believed that what they were going
through wasn't gonna last forever. Yeah, I just gotta find the right help,
find the right community, read somebooks, list find the yeah,
and find find a calling. Ido think we all have at least one
yeah, and some people don't believethat they do. I've met people who
(14:37):
were like, oh, I don'tI don't have a hobby, Like I
don't have a gift, Like,no, yes, you do, you
do. You're doing it's floor around. I promise you do. There's something
that there's a purpose for you andyour one percent. And I feel like,
kind of what you said, howit's just so finite, right,
like your blinders are on, You'relike, this is all I see.
Yeah, it feels big, itfeels unimaginable, and that feeling could be
(14:58):
so isolate for so many people.And I think that social media kind of
plays into it so much more nowbecause you see all of this perfect,
amazing stuff on social media and allof us forget sometimes that it is just
that it is a highlight reel,you know. And I feel like that's
something that is like a broken record. People say it all the time,
(15:20):
but it's so important to remember thatthat is just that people are going through,
you know, high highs, they'regoing through low lows, they're going
through kind of the like in between. But you see some of these like
influencers or even you know, celebritiesthat are posting all these fun, cool
things, but you don't know whatthey're dealing with on the inside. And
like you said, like it's notpermanent. The feeling is is it's a
(15:41):
value that you're going to get through. Yeah, you know, yes,
I love that imagery of the valueso true. And even it's funny because
I've never even said this online,but my user name a Measure of Atlanta
is actually a statement of that.Like it's a music pun, you know,
poke at music. But it's alsothis is just a measure of me,
(16:02):
Like Instagram is just a measure ofthe whole song. This is not
the whole song, is not allof me, like my family, my
mom and my dad, my husband, my best friend, like they know
the full thing, right, youknow. But it's a good reminder from
me just when I use Instagram,like I don't have to put a lot
of pressure into this, like thisis the measure that I'm choosing to share
today, totally even being intentional.Last fall, when I hurt myself,
(16:23):
I pulled pulled my back. Itwas so weird. I was like,
am I thirty or fifty right now? But I like I couldn't walk for
a week. And this was amonth before my wedding, and my husband
took great care of me, mynow husband. But I wrote about that.
I was like, I'm gonna behonest right now, like I'm having
a hard time. I can't evenwalk right now, I'm gonna be fine.
Yeah, but this is what's happening, and this is what's getting me
(16:45):
through. And I was hoping thatposting something like that would encourage the people
who are getting online and all theysee is the highlight reel and all they
see is everybody's success and effortless perfection. Have you heard that before? Effortless
perfection? This took no effort,But I just one first place, like,
yeah, those things that you see, it's like, hey, guys,
by the way, I can't walkthis week, but I'll be fine.
But that was just my way ofjust you know, and it's even
(17:08):
hard for the content creator did postthat because like, will people be less
you know, appealed to my pageif if it's not all sunshine and rain,
right, or will they think thatI'm complaining about something so like small,
you know? And it's just likeI posted something yesterday just even about
like I was just in a mood. I was in this hole. I
was like, woe is me?My husband has to travel for work and
(17:30):
it's hard, and you know,having a toddlers hard and trying to do
everything on top of that. Andthen it's just like get it out.
Yeah, and then so many peoplelike respond with so much love, and
you're like, okay, I wasn'tasking for that, but people like me
too, sis like I'm going throughthe same thing. You're not alone,
and even just hearing that, you'rejust like, okay, we're all in
this together. Quite literally, I'msure that really encouraged a lot of people.
(17:52):
I want to go read that.I haven't seen that one yet,
and I follow you said I gonnago check that out. Yeah, girl,
it was it was a day.I love it. I love it.
But we're here, we're making it. Yes, we're crushing it.
Yes, Oh my goodness, Ifeel like you and I have so much
in common when it comes to justlike our faith and you know, who
we are as people. I kindof want to dive into that side of
things because I feel like in themusic industry it's hard as a Christian or
(18:15):
as a believer of any sort tojust kind of be that if you will,
you know, and and be proudof that and not you know,
you you want fans, right,you want fans of all different types of
people. But I feel like itcan be a divisive topic for so many
artists, and I feel like,is that is that a hard thing for
(18:37):
you to like talk about it andlike, you know, be proud of
when it comes to, you know, being a musician. Yeah, that's
a good question. It gets diceysometimes, especially because country music specifically is
so split up. You've got peoplewho are really loud about their faith,
and you've got people who are reallyloud about not having that faith. Yea,
And so yeah, you do runthat risk of someone kind of canceling
(18:59):
you, like, oh, don'twant to listen to her music. She
believes in God, you know.But for me, it's so real to
me speaking of being real in general, and online. It's so real.
It's a part of my everyday life. It's what's gotten me through my life.
It's I leaned on that through morethan anything on the Voice, Like,
just like I've prayed and journaled andsaid, God, if if this
is my time with this show,I promised to put your voice at the
(19:22):
top of all the other voices,all you know, judges, coaches,
and so for me it would feelit would probably just like boil up inside
of me and feel so weird tonot share that. Even like on the
show I sang a Carrie Underwood's songsomething in the Water. I was like,
y'all, please let me sing onesong about my faith because it's so
important to me. And so I'vebeen really intentional to do that. And
(19:45):
I would say the biggest, thebiggest crossroads moment I had was asking myself,
do I want to be a Christianartist or a country artist? Yeah,
I'm sure You've talked about this witha handful of people. I've been
there, but similar to you withyour podcasts, like I didn't want to
limit who my listeners were, andI can always sing about God and country,
(20:07):
but you can't always sing about otherlife situations. And Christians musistics,
so I wanted to be able toreach more people that girl. I love
that. It was a hard choicedecision at one point, is about three
years ago, I was like,which one do? What do I do?
And it's cool too, because Ifeel like country music and Christian music
are kind of like doing this,like yeah kind of thing right now,
and there's so many collaborations. Iknow, Chris Tomlin did a whole album
(20:30):
with like country musicians, and it'slike so many features on other like you
know, gospel songs or Christian songs, and I think it's just such a
cool thing because it always has beenkind of one and the same, yeah,
you know. And I think that'sone of the reasons that I loved
country music so much is because Istarted in top forty radio and then all
of a sudden, it was justlike this poll on my heart string that
(20:52):
was like, quit this job.There's something else out there, do it.
And I quit my dream job makingmore money than I had ever remained
my entire life. And then Imoved to the middle of nowhere, and
then I landed a job with likeiHeart and doing country music and not like
that people in top forty music weren'tlike like minded, but I just like
(21:14):
found my people, you know whatI mean. Country music people are just
like it's we're all family. Everybodygenuinely cares about each other. Mostly.
You feel that in this town too, Yes, yes, totally. I
love that. I love that youwalked away from a better paying job just
took that faith. So many thingsin my life have been full on leaps
of faith where I was like,I do not know what's coming next,
(21:36):
but I'm gonna follow this pool andI at least know my next step.
It's like readcrumbs, and so I'mgoing to take this step. And then
you if you hadn't done that,you wouldn't have found what she found.
And yeah, I love that.That's so cool. Isn't it so funny
too? When you hear or youyou have those crossroads in your life where
you're like you could be walking througha valley right and then three years later
you're just like, oh, Okay, that's why that happened or that's what
(22:00):
happened there, and like God willkind of give you those like we talked
about a second ago. Godwinks likelittle little godwinks, that's just like I
got you, sis, don't worry. I have a good godwink. My
mom introduced that term to me whenI was younger. She's like, anytime
there's that serendipitous moment that you know, was like a point zero zero zeros
or nine eight six seven percent chancethat that would ever happen, but it
(22:23):
happened in the timing of it,Like it's not just for nothing, yea
coincidence? Yes, truly is away of reinstating that you took that leap
of faith and it was right,you know, these these breadcrumbs totally.
Yeah, well, I gotta bringup the voice. Obviously, this was
such a big moment in your careerand kind of like where you are now
being on a show that I feellike is so very critical, right,
(22:45):
Like there's always just like eyes onyou, there's always some somebody's always done
something to say, ye David,Yeah, Yes, was that a hard
season for you? I mean,obviously, I'm sure it was so much
fun. Yeah, but going through, you know, a moment in your
career where you're just like, okay, criticism, criticism, criticism, but
constructive criticism too. But you knowwhat I mean, Yeah, it was
(23:07):
it was a lot of pressure.Yes, a lot of a lot of
dynamics. Like, there's the funof it. There's a social aspect and
all the friends you're making. There'sthe thrill of being doing what you love
live in front of millions of people. Yeah, you know that you can't
even see in the room, butyou see that red button and you know
that it's happening and there's the countdown. So it was thrilling. It was
really fun, and it was alsochallenging for sure. I mean you're getting
(23:30):
you know, told left and rightlike you're my favorite, or but that's
my favorite, she should still behere, and you know, I'm voting
for you. And so I wasexperiencing a different level of fans than I
had had before in my life.People were sending me the sweetest messages,
leaving me comments and reaching out tome, emailing me and stuff. So
that was really fulfilling. And thenalso getting you know, seeing other comments
(23:52):
that you know, we're more what'sthe word, I guess, hateful mean
me? Yeah, yeah, Imean. And it really took me back
to what I said earlier, wherewhen I was praying about this, I
had audition for the show six times, six times. The charm. That's
the time it worked out. Yeah, And I truly told the Lord in
(24:14):
my own heart, like, ifthis happens, I'm going to listen to
you of anything else above all thenoise. So there were moments where that
was put to the test where Ihad to look within and ask myself,
is there truth in what's being said? Can I learn from that? Because
you always got to start there,and if there's not, then like be
confident, like this is my calling. And then to see that every single
person on the show, even thecoaches, also have mean you know Collins,
(24:40):
Like nobody's immune to that. Thepeople that I'm like, they're perfect.
How could someone not like them?So I think just choosing using discernment,
choosing what to listen to and howto move forward. But I can
honestly say that it was an aspectof it, but it wasn't my like
full experience. I was totally likefocused and thriving and loving every moment of
it for the most part. Totally. It's like a real life Instagram.
(25:03):
I feel like, like, Okay, who likes this, Like like like
yeah, yeah, I mean you'relike you're literally like seeing it all,
like you're like live comments, livelikes, live dislikes. Yeah, that's
it's such a crazy thing to watch. Yeah, But then I'm like always
kind of like going there in theback of my mind, I'm like,
how is she feeling? Is shenervous? Are they doing okay? Like
what do they like this song?Yeah? I mean, and knowing how
(25:25):
it actually feels, and when yougo into the inn ears and just the
even the technical aspect of things,I'm always quick toly little nice comments on
the seasons now because I know whatthey're going through, what it feels like,
and just have to remember no matterwhat you do as an artist,
that people and the crowd is fickle. Like one week they're gonna be like,
my favorite you know left and I'mmad about it, And the next
(25:47):
week they're like, she was thebest performance of the semi finals. You
know. It's like that's why youjust I think it's so important to know
who you are and able to standon something beyond comments with no face behind
it. Her name one hundred percentYes, and you just made a very
big announcement. You get to openup for one of your friends from the
boys girl named Time. I'm soexcited about this for you, and then
(26:08):
you're also doing some shows with rayLynn as well. I know. It's
so crazy, so excited about bothin different ways. Girl named Tom there
are some of my absolute best friends. We became close during the blind audition,
so all the way through the liveshows we stayed really close friends.
We all moved to Nashville right afterthe show, so we're spending birthdays and
holidays together, like we're doing lifetogether. So and they asked me.
(26:32):
We just got together at their houseand made the announcement post together this morning,
and I think there's gonna be abouta thousand people in this beautiful theater
on Thursday, and can't wait todo it with my friends and then with
ray Lynn. I've been a fanof hers for over a decade, and
so many of her songs have beena soundtrack to things I've gone through,
whether it's divorced, falling in love, all of it, and just what
(26:52):
it means to be country. Ijust so resonate with her, So I
feel like I'm gonna be a littlestarstruck me ray Lyn, Like, Hello,
oh my gosh, you guys aregonna love each other. Ray is
honestly one of the best human beingson the planet. Everybody says that too,
so I'm excited. She is afirecracker too, So get ready to
have some fun because I love it. I love it. She'll bring out
that side of me too, becauseI got that too. Heck, yes,
(27:15):
well, this year, I alwayslike to talk about kind of like
a vision board or like things thatyou're that are on your vision board,
things that you're like, you know, praying into existence, things that you
want to happen this year. Whatare some of the things that are on
your vision board for the rest oftwenty twenty three. I love that question.
That's so fun. I want tostart asking my friends that question.
Should It's such a good conversation becauseyou're, like, you know, you
don't ever nobody asked their friends likewhat are you dreaming of right now?
(27:37):
Like what do you want? Likehow can I pray that into your life?
You know what I mean? Yeah, totally so good. I will
say I'm very, very excited thatI'm really seeing my first album this fall.
I've been working really hard on itand I really believe in it,
and I've been writing with some ofthe best writers. And I'm maybe I'm
biased, but some of the bestwriters in town like Kylie exactly, Billy
(28:00):
Montana, like people who have writtenfor like Shelton and Leanne Rhymes and Sam
Hunt, like they're writing these songswith me, and I'm just loving it.
And I feel like I've found areally good team of people that I
have good chemistry with and I justcan't wait to tell these stories and from
people to hear these songs that I'vebeen just fostering and taking care of.
So that's coming out on the fall, and that's been, you know,
(28:22):
on the life vision board for along time. It's very surreal to be
like in a few months and thensome more singles along the way, and
honestly just opening for these artists thatI really admire and feel honored to be
affiliated with on a concert stage.That's a vision board thing that I can't
wait to experience starting this week.So I'm very very thankful. I feel
very blessed. And I will tellyou I've never worked harder in my life
(28:45):
than I have in the last coupleof years. And I've worked very hard
for the last ten years, butit's been it's been a lot of work,
but so worth it. It's awesomewhen you get to those moments in
your career where you're like, Okay, I know I've been working, but
whoa, I'm working right now.Yeah, you know what I mean.
And and you're getting closer and closerto the finish line, and it's like,
yeah, sprint, You're like,I'm almost there, are totally.
And being an independent artist too,I'm doing so much on my own with
(29:07):
my own you know, handmade team, and we're making it work, like
figuring out the right person for thisand this so that I can delegate a
little and focus more on the writingand the singing. But I've had to
wear a lot of hats and I'mgrateful for that because I know, moving
forward, as I'm building a team, I can really fully appreciate these people
because I've done the job that they'renow doing. So really thankful for that.
(29:30):
Well, I love that you kindof mentioned you know, you're not
just singing the songs, You're notjust writing the songs. There's so much
that I feel like a lot ofpeople who might listen to your music don't
see or know that happens behind thescenes. Yeah, it comes to putting
together an album, I mean,putting together shows or you know, things
like that. Some of those likebehind the scenes moments. Yeah, like
(29:52):
specifically, say like booking shows andthings like that, like all that stuff.
Like there's a lot of what's theword I'm like for, it's like
housekeeping work, Yeah, labor.It's like it's all behind the scenes.
Like it's like the housekeeping stuff thatyou're like literally having to like schedule in
Penzila and things like that. Yeah, there's a lot that goes on behind
the scenes. Yeah. Have youseen that diagram? That's a triangle and
it's like what you don't see andthe tip of it, there's a little
(30:15):
line, the tip of the icebergis like what you see. Yep,
there's so much. I haven't talkeda lot about this yet, but I
will soon. But I co produceall my songs, so I'm in the
studio. I'm coming up with theharmonies and the drumbeat, and I've got
you know, I'm picking the peoplewho were playing. I just had this
amazing viola player in La good friendof mine just played viola for a couple
(30:37):
of the album's songs, and mybest friend Zoe played keys. She's my
maid of honor. It's like thisis being created with a family and a
lot of intention, even directing myfirst music video cast wardrobe, like finding
the location, making the calls,like so much, and so when things
actually come up to the surface andyou even just when one person, the
first person's like, wow, thisreally impacted me, I'm like, ah,
(31:00):
okay, it worked. It's worthit. It's worth Yes, you're
crushing a queen. You are literallytrying wearing all the hats and stuff.
I feel like it's going to beone of those things where you look down
kind of how we talked earlier,You look back three years from now and
you're like, man, I'm gladI did all that work. Yeah.
Yeah, I do feel really fulfilledwith it. It's it's tiring, but
(31:21):
I'm tired from the best stuff,oh totally. And also prioritizing rest has
been really big and I'm getting alot better at that, so I'm very
happy about that. So it's mygirl, you are you need to rest.
You're preaching out and preaching to thechoir over here over here, Like
I need to learn to say no. That's my biggest yes is like I'm
such a people pleaser and I willtake on so much that will wear me
(31:41):
so thin, and then all ofa sudden, it's like you hit a
brick wall and you're just like,okay, yeah, I need to learn
to say boundaries and knowing that theright people who are really meant to do
life with you will respect that andit will be okay. It's not going
to be a deal breaker or afriendship breaker. You can't show up to
that thing after a long day ofwork, m So I feel you with
that. We can work on thattogether. We're trying to break the pattern.
(32:06):
Yes, I saw this meme theother day that was talking about how
you know a true friend won't getmad if you cancel plans last minute because
you're exhausted. They won't be madif you don't text them back for three
days. They won't be mad ifyou missed their call and forget to call
them back and things like that.And it's just like so grateful that I
specifically have that community of people becauseI do. In the past have had
(32:27):
friends that are like, why aren'tyou calling me back? Why aren't you
why can't you come to this,And I'm like, dude, I'm freaking
exhausted, Okay, right, youjust need a second and I'm with you.
I'm very grateful too. I've alsogot that community where I can be
real and say, like, let'splanning on doing this, but this is
honestly a lot for me, andI think I really need to prioritize them
mental health and rest and and it'sboth ways. Like you have to also
(32:49):
be okay when that is said toyou and give and take. But it's
hard adult ting. It's hard work, girl. Yes, it is grace,
I mean grace for each other.Yes, you have a coffee sitting
in front of you. What isyour coffee order? There's such a random
question, but it just looks reallygood. I've got a rose latte.
I like putting a little rose inthere sometimes, but I mix it up.
I also love dirty chies, okay, and uh honey, lavenders.
(33:15):
Those are good to listen. She'smaybe fancy queen. I'm like, I
don't know what I'm going to ordertonight. Depends if I am I in
a bloody marry mood or am Ia martini mood of a US latte?
All right, I'm gonna rose syrupin there, yea. So it's refreshing,
especially in the summer. I wasjust gonna say I used to rose
latte in the summertime. Man,that sounds good. Yes, it's so
(33:37):
good. Okay, So there's thislittle thing that I like to do to
uh, to end the podcast,there's a little gumball machine to your left.
There are random questions in the gumballmachine. So right there on the
front you'll see the one waiting foryou. Let's see the random question of
the day. I can open it. Oh, it's so hard to get
(33:57):
open. If you need to,just toss it to me and I'll help
you. Boom. Let's see.This is so fun. I love this,
so creative. Ooh, are youas swifty? Yeah? Are we
at? Taylor Swifty? I loveTaylor Swifts. When I got my driver's
license, her album, the WhiteHorse Album came out Fearless, I mean,
(34:17):
and I played that on repeat.I feel like that era of hers,
and then the next couple albums afterthat were my favorite. Those were
my sweet spot. But I willalways love her and champion her. And
I love an artist that's not afraidto evolve and branch into different genres.
So I respect her, love her. She's such a hard worker. And
(34:37):
also I think my favorite song Idid on the voice was Wildish Dreams by
Taylor Swift. So that was thatwas my favorite. Again, such a
well written song. What a serendipitousmoment. I know, I thought of
Wildest Dreams right away. That isso funny, you know what. I
forget who I was talking to youabout this, But I was never So
I was a Taylor Swift fan rightlike I was not a Swifty. I
(34:58):
love like a fan of her rightAnd I remember my very first radio job
December was the first song of hersthat I played on the radio. So
like I've always I've been there forthe errors right down around wherever. And
so her Heiress tour came to Nashvilleand one of my girlfriends is obsessed with
Taylor Swift. Like when I tellyou obsessed, she is obsessed with her.
(35:21):
So she was like, I'm comingto Nashville. We're going to the
show. So she did the wholelike standing, got all the tickets,
whatever, she got everything, andI went, holy cow, does that
girl perform a show? Yeah?Like I was like, okay, I
like her music, She's fine,Like I wouldn't go to the show.
But then my friend was like youhave to go, and like man like
when it comes to an artist andjust completely just crushing your crafty. Taylor
(35:45):
Swift's doing it, man, Yes, she is doing it. And I
was just like, I don't knowhow you perform over forty songs in one
night, night after night after night. But hopefully that girl gets in the
day. I know, I can'tbelieve I'm saying this, but I haven't
seen her yet live, and Iwas gonna go to the Aerostore, but
I was out of town visiting thefamily member who wasn't doing well, and
(36:06):
I was like, dang it,I've all totally been there, but one
day. It's a dream of mine. And even I'm doing the Bluebird Cafe
in September for the second time,so excited, and it's like I can't
go there without thinking Taylor Swift washere. Yeah, Taylor Swift was like,
here're singing her songs and look ather now. So she definitely set
probably the highest bar any singer songwritercould ever have to just aspire to.
(36:30):
Yeah. I really respect her alot. But what a cool thing too
to know that, Like, likeyou said, like Taylor Swift was here,
right, Yeah, she's doing thethings that you're doing, Like you're
you're came through this, right,you're walking those footsteps and like who knows,
Yeah, you know, who knowseight eight years from now if you're
you know, selling out arenas backto back nights, like just crushing it
(36:52):
open hands, right, I wouldlove that, But I'm just like really
working hard and it's starting to feelmore and more nap Troll recently, to
hold everything with open hands like Ihave the dreams, have the vision the
vision board, like you said,but don't not to be like desperately clinging
to it, but just to knowthis is what I'm working toward and what's
(37:13):
meant to be will be. Andlike not to sound too cliche, but
I remember on the Voice when CarsonDaley is like, how do you deal
with this pressure? It was oneof my it was my turn to answer
one of those live show elimination nightquestions, and it just came out of
my mouth. I had never heardor said this before, but I was
like, I just do my bestand surrender the rest. And so I've
made that my motto. I haven'twritten a song called that yet, but
(37:34):
it will be. It needs tohappen, It's gonna happen. But I
try to live by that because that'swhat that's that's the only way, Yes,
do my best, surrender the rest. Girlfriend, we gotta go out
with that. That's seriously, soso good, y'all land a spot her
new song Permanent. You gotta getit. It's for a great cause.
To thank you for being here.I appreciate, but I feel like you're
(37:58):
at like a long lost brand thatI knew in another life or something.
Well here where you're your This isyour first time on backstage with Broke.
You're gonna be back. I knowit for sure. Sack on backstage.
That's on my vision board. Now, all right, girl, is so
good to see you.
All right, you ready to rock? Yeah, here we go backstage.
Welcome to the backstage with Brook.You're all access past to music City where
nothing is off limits. Grab adrink, let's go backstage. Hanging out
Atlanta, Scott y'all. Welcome tothe show, Queen. Thanks for having
me. Oh my gosh, youare so welcome. I'm so happy to
(00:21):
finally meet you in person. Metoo. I feel like I'm fan girling
right now because I love your podcast. I'm looking around the room. It's
so vivying here. I love it. It's so funny because when you reached
out to me, I was justlike, shut up because I watched the
Voice. I looks like one ofmy favorite shows, and it's like one
of my guilty pleasures that I willrecord it so that way, like when
I'm just hanging out, I wantto put my kid to sleep. Yeah,
that's the one I watched, soI remember you on the season and
(00:45):
I just it's just so funny,like how worlds collide and yes, Well
it meant a lot to me whenyou wrote me back and said yes so
quickly, I was like, wow, okay, awesome, that means a
lot. But it's so It's sofunny when people are afraid to ask questions
right, and you're just like,what is like literally the worst thing that
someone could say is no, andlike I'm not gonna say no. So
I feel like that's my life.Slogan for the last year is like it
(01:07):
doesn't hurt to ask. So manythings are are working out right now because
I just asked, and I don'twant to live with that what if for
regret? If I don't, youknow, like you said, the worst
that can happen is nothing exactly,And then if you don't, then you
have those like little tidbits in yourmind where you're like, well, what
if I did ask? Like Iwonder what they want? Upset? So
thank you for reaching out. I'mso worded to have you on the shild
(01:29):
hey even, but thanks for havingme. We got to catch up on
life because somebody got married recently,Yes, somebody did. We were just
talking before the mics were on,obviously talking about how you and your husband
met, and so I want totake a big rewind step back, tell
me the details, get us intothe nitty gritty how did you guys meet?
We actually met through music? Iwas singing back up for a good
(01:51):
friend of mine because I'm all aboutsinging, whether I'm the lead or singing
behind someone else. I believe in. This was, you know, five
years ago too, but I saidyes to help in my friend out,
and I'm again just glad I saidyes because I met him there and we
always tease it. The first thingwe noticed about each other was each other's
voices. We're at this church cafeand I was journaling and he walked in
(02:12):
the room and I just heard thesweetest, warmest, most sincere presence,
like, Hey, how's it going? Oh? How can I help you?
It's so great to see you.And I'm like, who is this
person? And I turned around andhis face just matched his sweet to me,
and he noticed my voice just singingbackground vocals came up to me and
we connected through music, which laterturned on into friendship, which turned into
(02:34):
the first date and then you knowhow it goes. Yeah, yeah,
that is so sweet that you guysyou said you met at church that church.
My husband and I met at churchtoo, Did you really? Oh
my gosh, I love it.It's like twenty twenty three and I'm like,
you just never hear that anymore?And I'm like, whenever I hear
somebody who met their husband at church, I'm like, yes, girl,
yes, where the good ones are? Yeah, the good one that's right
(02:57):
girl. Well congratulations, I amso excited for you. I know,
marriage, I feel like is oneof those things where it's like butterflies ringing
bows, this, you know,it's just always like so like high highs.
But marriage is like hard, yes, yeah, like full send.
It is hard. And they say, you know, you want to find
(03:19):
someone that you love, who youlove having fun with, who has the
same interest as you, But theydon't really say find the one you want
to struggle with because life is hard. And I learned at a certain point
in our dating life that I'm like, this is the guy that I want
to go through it all in.It's not gonna be easy, but there's
no one I'd rather have a badday with or grieve, you know,
future losses with. I mean,just has it loans. That's so good
(03:43):
that I love that you said thatsomebody that you want to struggle with,
because it really is true because whenyou think about love and you see movies
and everything, you know, it'slike they don't really show the ugly of
like marriage and like the difficult decisionsyou have to make and then the fights.
And some great advice that I gotbefore was like, you just you
have to learn to fight because you'regoing to. It's inevitable. You don't
(04:03):
like everybody every single wagon of theday. So that's so true someone you
want to struggle with. I lovethat. My big thing that has saved
me and Sean for sure is communicationwithout blame, Like how it And that
sounds like, oh, what's that, or of course I do that,
but anytime you start a sentence whenyou're in a conflict with you made me
feel blank. Even if you're superjustified, it's still you're blaming them and
(04:25):
they're automatically going to be put onthe defense. And once we started really
practicing that, like I feel thiswhen this happens, it's so much easier
to come towards your partner and say, oh, I don't want you to
feel that way. Yeah, itseems so simple, but it's such a
It helps so much, right,and it's such a difficult thing. I
remember that was one of the thingsthat we learned when we did pre marital
counseling, which I feel like alot of people don't do and I think
(04:46):
it didn't. It's so it's sohelpful in some aspects where you're like,
it gives you those tools where you'relike, Okay, I'm not going to
need to use that, but you'relike, okay, I feel like this,
and then they're like, oh yeah, why do you feel that way?
Right? And then it like,like you said, the communication without
blame thing is hard, but itis so helpful. Yeah, yeah,
(05:08):
the vulnerable rail is the better rail. That's harder, but but it is.
Look at us going on a freakingmarriage therapy a way. I love
it where I think we're just bothpassionate about marriage. I'm guessing like I
just got married. I'll be celebratinga year in November. But I'm like,
man, I'm so I talk aboutit at every show. He's next
to me playing guitar most of thetime, and I just say, it
(05:29):
feels so good to have a differentpurpose in my life that's bigger than myself
now, to be responsible for morethan just me, and it's it's truly
like a privilege, and I'm passionateof that. I'm trying to make marriage
cool again. Well you know itis, because like we were saying,
like, you know, it's twentytwenty three, and it's such a thing
where I feel like there's such aneasy way out for people all the time,
or like when it gets hard,it's easy to just be like,
(05:51):
well I'm I'm out, but likeit's harder to work through it. Yeah,
and like, but there's always somuch more on the other side of
like the work through, you know, and like you said, some of
that you want to go through allof that with and you want to be
on the other side. Not Listen, there are things that happen in people's
marriages that weren't certain things. Butyeah, if it's just like a fight
(06:12):
about who's laundry is on the floor, and this is not being done,
Like come on, guys, Okay, we're not We're not canceling our marriage
because of that. Okay, allright, we don't even mention I mean,
we're only when you're in, granted, but we're like we're not even
gonna mention that word, like theD word, Like that's not even Yeah,
I've had a friend like joke like, oh, you're getting divorced because
I made like I said, like, oh today I felt that it out
to a friend and I was like, oh, I know you're kidding,
but like, I don't even wantto play around like that because my parents
(06:34):
got divorced and my only child grewup in a broken family. Love my
parents both very very much. Theynever stopped being a great mom and dad
to me, so I'm very thankful. But after experiencing that, I very
much decided I don't want this.Like I don't judge my parents, but
I'm like, I want to.I want to see it through when I
have kids and kind of give mykids what I didn't have. Yeah,
(06:56):
totally. I was talking to mysister about that the other day of how
you're goal as a like a parentis to give your kids a better life
than you had, and we wouldlike, you know, you talk about
how you're past and hard things thatyou dealt with growing up. There's six
kids in my family, so there'sa lot of us. I love it.
So we were, you know,their money struggles and things like that
financially, and I was just like, mom and dad did their best.
(07:17):
They gave us a better life thanthey had and that's literally all you can
ask for. I love that.That's so gracious of you too. Yeah,
because you could be like, yeah, we didn't have that. You're
right, we didn't. But justto be the bigger person to be like
our parents did their best, guys, they really did. They were better
than what they had. And thennow our job for our kids is to
give them a better life than wehad. And so far, so good.
Yeah. So my mom always says, everybody does the best with the
(07:40):
cards they're dealt. You have toremember that, Like, not everyone's dealt
the same cards or have the sameexperiences to know better and whatnot. But
I'm gratefully to carry that with me. A lot of times I was,
this is the cards they're dealt,this is their best, and I'm gonna
have grace and remember that I'm gonnaneed it too, probably tomorrow literally,
girl. I was just thinking aboutgrace and word and how difficult it truly
(08:01):
is to be a graceful human beingand not like graceful as in like not
tripping, but like having grace forsomeone to say like all right, I
know you're slipping up right now,but yeah, you're better than this,
or having grace for a situation inyour life. Like grace is such a
heavy, big word to like carryaround but what a like great attribute to
(08:22):
have. I love that what yousaid about letting someone know, hey,
you're better than that. Yeah,because I've been thinking a lot lately about
the difference between nice and kind,and they say, you know, kind
is really being truthful, Yeah,within grace, but being truthful being that
friend that's not afraid to say like, hey, like you got some spinach
in your teeth, but much deeperthan that, Yeah, like the one
(08:43):
that can tell you, hey,I don't I see you kind of veering
off course right now? Are yousure you are good? Versus the nice
thing, which is just to alwaysbe cheer leading no matter what, like
you go, you go, yougo, even if you know it's not
the right direction. Yea. Myfriend, I have a really good friend.
Her name is Demi, And Iremember this once specific time where I
was like, hey girl, thisis what's going on today, Andrew,
my husband is driving me nuts.This is what's happening. And I was
(09:05):
just kind of like inventing about it. Yeah, and she like looks at
me and she does this thing whereshe goes like she's like, you're being
a naggy wife, and I wasjust like I am, And she's just
like, yeah, you're kind ofbeing a naggy wife. And I picture
this in my head, just likeI don't want to tell you this,
but I need to tell you it. She's like, you're being naggy and
I was just like it, justlike full stops you and You're like,
(09:28):
oh, I am being a naggywife. No wonder he's in that mood,
you know. And you're like,but it's so true. You know.
Friends, you're like, wait asecond, I am. And good
for you for stopping and actually thinkingmaybe this is true. Some people would
be like no, I'm not,no, not, you know, and
it's so easy to be that way. Anyway, we got a fun like
that was a good therapy session.I believe I'm gonna go home and hug
(09:50):
and kiss my husband. Yes,girl, all right, we gotta talk
about you. I'm backstage with Brooke. I really like to kind of dive
into the behind the scene, andwe were going to talk about your new
single and all the amazing things that'sgoing on with that here in a second,
but I want to talk about Lannain the very beginning, when was
music like planted in your heart.Tell me, like your story about how
(10:11):
you fell in love with music.Yeah, well I don't have anybody in
my family who ever took that musicpath, so I don't really know where
it came from other than I justalways love to sing, and I would
just I would watch Barney as akid, like a three year old,
and my parents bought me this tinylittle pie or that had like twelve keys,
and I would just slam on itand singing all these home videos.
(10:31):
So I was singing since I couldtalk. And I still remember of this
vision in my head of being inI guess kindergarten or first grade, where
we're learning how to write and youto finish the sentences. When I grow
up, I want to beat andI was like singer and I would draw
a little stick figure with the microphoneand so how cute. I'm often just
thinking of my inner child, likeI'm doing this for you, girl,
(10:52):
because this career is not always easy, but yeah, I love it.
I wouldn't have it any way,but it's fun to think, you know,
I saw that dream through because sooften we can't, and I've been
tempted to in twenty twenty, forexample, too, like is this the
right thing for me? Should Igive up? And do something else.
But it's always been the dream.Yeah, the whole thing about like wanting
(11:13):
to give up and just those thoselike intrusive just doubtful yea, not true
thoughts that start to creep in,right, those that doubt in that fear.
I feel like it's such a realthing, especially in the music industry,
because especially being in music city.You're in Nashville, Like, I
mean, everybody's doing this dream,right, so many women. Yeah,
(11:35):
and like staying motivated and not listeningto those thoughts, how do you overcome
those just intrusive just like thoughts ofthe enemy. Yeah, they're just coming
in I think, recognizing that theyare thoughts of the enemy. Because I
have this calling, I've spent alot of time asking myself, what's my
why, who's my who? Like, why am I singing? Who am
I singing for? What's the missionbehind? Just the hobby, you know?
(11:58):
And and knowing you know, Ihope. I love when anybody's impacted
by my music. I've had grownmen come up to me crying like that
song really touched me, and thatis a huge win to me too.
But I have such a heart foryouth, and I've always felt like God
put this in my heart so thatI could be just a singer who writes
songs that can more often than notencourage people and leave them feeling motivated or
(12:22):
excited to be alive or want totake that chance today. And not every
song can have that perfect silver lining, but just those relatable where there's a
little bit of hope and fuse becauseI see music as a responsibility and there's
so powerful. I mean, musicaffects us. Music has totally gotten me
through things, and it's also madecertain things harder. And I think just
(12:43):
knowing again, like all people,but especially youth, are so impacted by
the music they hear. So I'mjust trying to be someone who can put
a little more love and hope outthere for people and need it like me
because I need it all. Iwas just gonna say, I feel like
we all need it. But thatwas like a perfect segue to your new
song when we this the message behindthis song and just I mean, you're
(13:11):
doing amazing things with it. Iknow that you've partnered with the American Foundation
for Suicide Prevention with this song.Yeah, and what a time for a
song like this? Oh thanks,you know, so it felt right.
It felt like the right time withschool almost being out at you know,
like this came out in May,and I'm gonna do another reboot of the
video and fall just because if yousee the video, a lot of it
(13:31):
takes place in a school building anda girl struggling through middle school. But
it could be high school, itcould be college, it could be you
know, whatever it is for theperson watching. But I think it's really
easy. And I've been there beforewhere the thing you're going through, the
problem a struggle, feels finites likethis is it Like whether you're young and
you're like, I'm never gonna fallin well again because he broke up with
(13:52):
you, or you're like I don'tknow where to go to college and like
this one said no to me,what am I gonna do? Like things
can just feel so like I said, finite, and this song is a
message that what you're going through aneight permanent. It feels like it is.
But trust me, like all ofus, you know, in our
late twenties, early thirties, fortyto fifty sixty seventies, we've all been
there where we thought that was itbut it was not. And I just
(14:13):
wish more people yeah, knew that. And losing two friends to suicide.
I wish those people knew knew thatand really believed that what they were going
through wasn't gonna last forever. Yeah, I just gotta find the right help,
find the right community, read somebooks, list find the yeah,
and find find a calling. Ido think we all have at least one
yeah, and some people don't believethat they do. I've met people who
(14:37):
were like, oh, I don'tI don't have a hobby, Like I
don't have a gift, Like,no, yes, you do, you
do. You're doing it's floor around. I promise you do. There's something
that there's a purpose for you andyour one percent. And I feel like,
kind of what you said, howit's just so finite, right,
like your blinders are on, You'relike, this is all I see.
Yeah, it feels big, itfeels unimaginable, and that feeling could be
(14:58):
so isolate for so many people.And I think that social media kind of
plays into it so much more nowbecause you see all of this perfect,
amazing stuff on social media and allof us forget sometimes that it is just
that it is a highlight reel,you know. And I feel like that's
something that is like a broken record. People say it all the time,
(15:20):
but it's so important to remember thatthat is just that people are going through,
you know, high highs, they'regoing through low lows, they're going
through kind of the like in between. But you see some of these like
influencers or even you know, celebritiesthat are posting all these fun, cool
things, but you don't know whatthey're dealing with on the inside. And
like you said, like it's notpermanent. The feeling is is it's a
(15:41):
value that you're going to get through. Yeah, you know, yes,
I love that imagery of the valueso true. And even it's funny because
I've never even said this online,but my user name a Measure of Atlanta
is actually a statement of that.Like it's a music pun, you know,
poke at music. But it's alsothis is just a measure of me,
(16:02):
Like Instagram is just a measure ofthe whole song. This is not
the whole song, is not allof me, like my family, my
mom and my dad, my husband, my best friend, like they know
the full thing, right, youknow. But it's a good reminder from
me just when I use Instagram,like I don't have to put a lot
of pressure into this, like thisis the measure that I'm choosing to share
today, totally even being intentional.Last fall, when I hurt myself,
(16:23):
I pulled pulled my back. Itwas so weird. I was like,
am I thirty or fifty right now? But I like I couldn't walk for
a week. And this was amonth before my wedding, and my husband
took great care of me, mynow husband. But I wrote about that.
I was like, I'm gonna behonest right now, like I'm having
a hard time. I can't evenwalk right now, I'm gonna be fine.
Yeah, but this is what's happening, and this is what's getting me
(16:45):
through. And I was hoping thatposting something like that would encourage the people
who are getting online and all theysee is the highlight reel and all they
see is everybody's success and effortless perfection. Have you heard that before? Effortless
perfection? This took no effort,But I just one first place, like,
yeah, those things that you see, it's like, hey, guys,
by the way, I can't walkthis week, but I'll be fine.
But that was just my way ofjust you know, and it's even
(17:08):
hard for the content creator did postthat because like, will people be less
you know, appealed to my pageif if it's not all sunshine and rain,
right, or will they think thatI'm complaining about something so like small,
you know? And it's just likeI posted something yesterday just even about
like I was just in a mood. I was in this hole. I
was like, woe is me?My husband has to travel for work and
(17:30):
it's hard, and you know,having a toddlers hard and trying to do
everything on top of that. Andthen it's just like get it out.
Yeah, and then so many peoplelike respond with so much love, and
you're like, okay, I wasn'tasking for that, but people like me
too, sis like I'm going throughthe same thing. You're not alone,
and even just hearing that, you'rejust like, okay, we're all in
this together. Quite literally, I'msure that really encouraged a lot of people.
(17:52):
I want to go read that.I haven't seen that one yet,
and I follow you said I gonnago check that out. Yeah, girl,
it was it was a day.I love it. I love it.
But we're here, we're making it. Yes, we're crushing it.
Yes, Oh my goodness, Ifeel like you and I have so much
in common when it comes to justlike our faith and you know, who
we are as people. I kindof want to dive into that side of
things because I feel like in themusic industry it's hard as a Christian or
(18:15):
as a believer of any sort tojust kind of be that if you will,
you know, and and be proudof that and not you know,
you you want fans, right,you want fans of all different types of
people. But I feel like itcan be a divisive topic for so many
artists, and I feel like,is that is that a hard thing for
(18:37):
you to like talk about it andlike, you know, be proud of
when it comes to, you know, being a musician. Yeah, that's
a good question. It gets diceysometimes, especially because country music specifically is
so split up. You've got peoplewho are really loud about their faith,
and you've got people who are reallyloud about not having that faith. Yea,
And so yeah, you do runthat risk of someone kind of canceling
(18:59):
you, like, oh, don'twant to listen to her music. She
believes in God, you know.But for me, it's so real to
me speaking of being real in general, and online. It's so real.
It's a part of my everyday life. It's what's gotten me through my life.
It's I leaned on that through morethan anything on the Voice, Like,
just like I've prayed and journaled andsaid, God, if if this
is my time with this show,I promised to put your voice at the
(19:22):
top of all the other voices,all you know, judges, coaches,
and so for me it would feelit would probably just like boil up inside
of me and feel so weird tonot share that. Even like on the
show I sang a Carrie Underwood's songsomething in the Water. I was like,
y'all, please let me sing onesong about my faith because it's so
important to me. And so I'vebeen really intentional to do that. And
(19:45):
I would say the biggest, thebiggest crossroads moment I had was asking myself,
do I want to be a Christianartist or a country artist? Yeah,
I'm sure You've talked about this witha handful of people. I've been
there, but similar to you withyour podcasts, like I didn't want to
limit who my listeners were, andI can always sing about God and country,
(20:07):
but you can't always sing about otherlife situations. And Christians musistics,
so I wanted to be able toreach more people that girl. I love
that. It was a hard choicedecision at one point, is about three
years ago, I was like,which one do? What do I do?
And it's cool too, because Ifeel like country music and Christian music
are kind of like doing this,like yeah kind of thing right now,
and there's so many collaborations. Iknow, Chris Tomlin did a whole album
(20:30):
with like country musicians, and it'slike so many features on other like you
know, gospel songs or Christian songs, and I think it's just such a
cool thing because it always has beenkind of one and the same, yeah,
you know. And I think that'sone of the reasons that I loved
country music so much is because Istarted in top forty radio and then all
of a sudden, it was justlike this poll on my heart string that
(20:52):
was like, quit this job.There's something else out there, do it.
And I quit my dream job makingmore money than I had ever remained
my entire life. And then Imoved to the middle of nowhere, and
then I landed a job with likeiHeart and doing country music and not like
that people in top forty music weren'tlike like minded, but I just like
(21:14):
found my people, you know whatI mean. Country music people are just
like it's we're all family. Everybodygenuinely cares about each other. Mostly.
You feel that in this town too, Yes, yes, totally. I
love that. I love that youwalked away from a better paying job just
took that faith. So many thingsin my life have been full on leaps
of faith where I was like,I do not know what's coming next,
(21:36):
but I'm gonna follow this pool andI at least know my next step.
It's like readcrumbs, and so I'mgoing to take this step. And then
you if you hadn't done that,you wouldn't have found what she found.
And yeah, I love that.That's so cool. Isn't it so funny
too? When you hear or youyou have those crossroads in your life where
you're like you could be walking througha valley right and then three years later
you're just like, oh, Okay, that's why that happened or that's what
(22:00):
happened there, and like God willkind of give you those like we talked
about a second ago. Godwinks likelittle little godwinks, that's just like I
got you, sis, don't worry. I have a good godwink. My
mom introduced that term to me whenI was younger. She's like, anytime
there's that serendipitous moment that you know, was like a point zero zero zeros
or nine eight six seven percent chancethat that would ever happen, but it
(22:23):
happened in the timing of it,Like it's not just for nothing, yea
coincidence? Yes, truly is away of reinstating that you took that leap
of faith and it was right,you know, these these breadcrumbs totally.
Yeah, well, I gotta bringup the voice. Obviously, this was
such a big moment in your careerand kind of like where you are now
being on a show that I feellike is so very critical, right,
(22:45):
Like there's always just like eyes onyou, there's always some somebody's always done
something to say, ye David,Yeah, Yes, was that a hard
season for you? I mean,obviously, I'm sure it was so much
fun. Yeah, but going through, you know, a moment in your
career where you're just like, okay, criticism, criticism, criticism, but
constructive criticism too. But you knowwhat I mean, Yeah, it was
(23:07):
it was a lot of pressure.Yes, a lot of a lot of
dynamics. Like, there's the funof it. There's a social aspect and
all the friends you're making. There'sthe thrill of being doing what you love
live in front of millions of people. Yeah, you know that you can't
even see in the room, butyou see that red button and you know
that it's happening and there's the countdown. So it was thrilling. It was
really fun, and it was alsochallenging for sure. I mean you're getting
(23:30):
you know, told left and rightlike you're my favorite, or but that's
my favorite, she should still behere, and you know, I'm voting
for you. And so I wasexperiencing a different level of fans than I
had had before in my life.People were sending me the sweetest messages,
leaving me comments and reaching out tome, emailing me and stuff. So
that was really fulfilling. And thenalso getting you know, seeing other comments
(23:52):
that you know, we're more what'sthe word, I guess, hateful mean
me? Yeah, yeah, Imean. And it really took me back
to what I said earlier, wherewhen I was praying about this, I
had audition for the show six times, six times. The charm. That's
the time it worked out. Yeah, And I truly told the Lord in
(24:14):
my own heart, like, ifthis happens, I'm going to listen to
you of anything else above all thenoise. So there were moments where that
was put to the test where Ihad to look within and ask myself,
is there truth in what's being said? Can I learn from that? Because
you always got to start there,and if there's not, then like be
confident, like this is my calling. And then to see that every single
person on the show, even thecoaches, also have mean you know Collins,
(24:40):
Like nobody's immune to that. Thepeople that I'm like, they're perfect.
How could someone not like them?So I think just choosing using discernment,
choosing what to listen to and howto move forward. But I can
honestly say that it was an aspectof it, but it wasn't my like
full experience. I was totally likefocused and thriving and loving every moment of
it for the most part. Totally. It's like a real life Instagram.
(25:03):
I feel like, like, Okay, who likes this, Like like like
yeah, yeah, I mean you'relike you're literally like seeing it all,
like you're like live comments, livelikes, live dislikes. Yeah, that's
it's such a crazy thing to watch. Yeah, But then I'm like always
kind of like going there in theback of my mind, I'm like,
how is she feeling? Is shenervous? Are they doing okay? Like
what do they like this song?Yeah? I mean, and knowing how
(25:25):
it actually feels, and when yougo into the inn ears and just the
even the technical aspect of things,I'm always quick toly little nice comments on
the seasons now because I know whatthey're going through, what it feels like,
and just have to remember no matterwhat you do as an artist,
that people and the crowd is fickle. Like one week they're gonna be like,
my favorite you know left and I'mmad about it, And the next
(25:47):
week they're like, she was thebest performance of the semi finals. You
know. It's like that's why youjust I think it's so important to know
who you are and able to standon something beyond comments with no face behind
it. Her name one hundred percentYes, and you just made a very
big announcement. You get to openup for one of your friends from the
boys girl named Time. I'm soexcited about this for you, and then
(26:08):
you're also doing some shows with rayLynn as well. I know. It's
so crazy, so excited about bothin different ways. Girl named Tom there
are some of my absolute best friends. We became close during the blind audition,
so all the way through the liveshows we stayed really close friends.
We all moved to Nashville right afterthe show, so we're spending birthdays and
holidays together, like we're doing lifetogether. So and they asked me.
(26:32):
We just got together at their houseand made the announcement post together this morning,
and I think there's gonna be abouta thousand people in this beautiful theater
on Thursday, and can't wait todo it with my friends and then with
ray Lynn. I've been a fanof hers for over a decade, and
so many of her songs have beena soundtrack to things I've gone through,
whether it's divorced, falling in love, all of it, and just what
(26:52):
it means to be country. Ijust so resonate with her, So I
feel like I'm gonna be a littlestarstruck me ray Lyn, Like, Hello,
oh my gosh, you guys aregonna love each other. Ray is
honestly one of the best human beingson the planet. Everybody says that too,
so I'm excited. She is afirecracker too, So get ready to
have some fun because I love it. I love it. She'll bring out
that side of me too, becauseI got that too. Heck, yes,
(27:15):
well, this year, I alwayslike to talk about kind of like
a vision board or like things thatyou're that are on your vision board,
things that you're like, you know, praying into existence, things that you
want to happen this year. Whatare some of the things that are on
your vision board for the rest oftwenty twenty three. I love that question.
That's so fun. I want tostart asking my friends that question.
Should It's such a good conversation becauseyou're, like, you know, you
don't ever nobody asked their friends likewhat are you dreaming of right now?
(27:37):
Like what do you want? Likehow can I pray that into your life?
You know what I mean? Yeah, totally so good. I will
say I'm very, very excited thatI'm really seeing my first album this fall.
I've been working really hard on itand I really believe in it,
and I've been writing with some ofthe best writers. And I'm maybe I'm
biased, but some of the bestwriters in town like Kylie exactly, Billy
(28:00):
Montana, like people who have writtenfor like Shelton and Leanne Rhymes and Sam
Hunt, like they're writing these songswith me, and I'm just loving it.
And I feel like I've found areally good team of people that I
have good chemistry with and I justcan't wait to tell these stories and from
people to hear these songs that I'vebeen just fostering and taking care of.
So that's coming out on the fall, and that's been, you know,
(28:22):
on the life vision board for along time. It's very surreal to be
like in a few months and thensome more singles along the way, and
honestly just opening for these artists thatI really admire and feel honored to be
affiliated with on a concert stage.That's a vision board thing that I can't
wait to experience starting this week.So I'm very very thankful. I feel
very blessed. And I will tellyou I've never worked harder in my life
(28:45):
than I have in the last coupleof years. And I've worked very hard
for the last ten years, butit's been it's been a lot of work,
but so worth it. It's awesomewhen you get to those moments in
your career where you're like, Okay, I know I've been working, but
whoa, I'm working right now.Yeah, you know what I mean.
And and you're getting closer and closerto the finish line, and it's like,
yeah, sprint, You're like,I'm almost there, are totally.
And being an independent artist too,I'm doing so much on my own with
(29:07):
my own you know, handmade team, and we're making it work, like
figuring out the right person for thisand this so that I can delegate a
little and focus more on the writingand the singing. But I've had to
wear a lot of hats and I'mgrateful for that because I know, moving
forward, as I'm building a team, I can really fully appreciate these people
because I've done the job that they'renow doing. So really thankful for that.
(29:30):
Well, I love that you kindof mentioned you know, you're not
just singing the songs, You're notjust writing the songs. There's so much
that I feel like a lot ofpeople who might listen to your music don't
see or know that happens behind thescenes. Yeah, it comes to putting
together an album, I mean,putting together shows or you know, things
like that. Some of those likebehind the scenes moments. Yeah, like
(29:52):
specifically, say like booking shows andthings like that, like all that stuff.
Like there's a lot of what's theword I'm like for, it's like
housekeeping work, Yeah, labor.It's like it's all behind the scenes.
Like it's like the housekeeping stuff thatyou're like literally having to like schedule in
Penzila and things like that. Yeah, there's a lot that goes on behind
the scenes. Yeah. Have youseen that diagram? That's a triangle and
it's like what you don't see andthe tip of it, there's a little
(30:15):
line, the tip of the icebergis like what you see. Yep,
there's so much. I haven't talkeda lot about this yet, but I
will soon. But I co produceall my songs, so I'm in the
studio. I'm coming up with theharmonies and the drumbeat, and I've got
you know, I'm picking the peoplewho were playing. I just had this
amazing viola player in La good friendof mine just played viola for a couple
(30:37):
of the album's songs, and mybest friend Zoe played keys. She's my
maid of honor. It's like thisis being created with a family and a
lot of intention, even directing myfirst music video cast wardrobe, like finding
the location, making the calls,like so much, and so when things
actually come up to the surface andyou even just when one person, the
first person's like, wow, thisreally impacted me, I'm like, ah,
(31:00):
okay, it worked. It's worthit. It's worth Yes, you're
crushing a queen. You are literallytrying wearing all the hats and stuff.
I feel like it's going to beone of those things where you look down
kind of how we talked earlier,You look back three years from now and
you're like, man, I'm gladI did all that work. Yeah.
Yeah, I do feel really fulfilledwith it. It's it's tiring, but
(31:21):
I'm tired from the best stuff,oh totally. And also prioritizing rest has
been really big and I'm getting alot better at that, so I'm very
happy about that. So it's mygirl, you are you need to rest.
You're preaching out and preaching to thechoir over here over here, Like
I need to learn to say no. That's my biggest yes is like I'm
such a people pleaser and I willtake on so much that will wear me
(31:41):
so thin, and then all ofa sudden, it's like you hit a
brick wall and you're just like,okay, yeah, I need to learn
to say boundaries and knowing that theright people who are really meant to do
life with you will respect that andit will be okay. It's not going
to be a deal breaker or afriendship breaker. You can't show up to
that thing after a long day ofwork, m So I feel you with
that. We can work on thattogether. We're trying to break the pattern.
(32:06):
Yes, I saw this meme theother day that was talking about how
you know a true friend won't getmad if you cancel plans last minute because
you're exhausted. They won't be madif you don't text them back for three
days. They won't be mad ifyou missed their call and forget to call
them back and things like that.And it's just like so grateful that I
specifically have that community of people becauseI do. In the past have had
(32:27):
friends that are like, why aren'tyou calling me back? Why aren't you
why can't you come to this,And I'm like, dude, I'm freaking
exhausted, Okay, right, youjust need a second and I'm with you.
I'm very grateful too. I've alsogot that community where I can be
real and say, like, let'splanning on doing this, but this is
honestly a lot for me, andI think I really need to prioritize them
mental health and rest and and it'sboth ways. Like you have to also
(32:49):
be okay when that is said toyou and give and take. But it's
hard adult ting. It's hard work, girl. Yes, it is grace,
I mean grace for each other.Yes, you have a coffee sitting
in front of you. What isyour coffee order? There's such a random
question, but it just looks reallygood. I've got a rose latte.
I like putting a little rose inthere sometimes, but I mix it up.
I also love dirty chies, okay, and uh honey, lavenders.
(33:15):
Those are good to listen. She'smaybe fancy queen. I'm like, I
don't know what I'm going to ordertonight. Depends if I am I in
a bloody marry mood or am Ia martini mood of a US latte?
All right, I'm gonna rose syrupin there, yea. So it's refreshing,
especially in the summer. I wasjust gonna say I used to rose
latte in the summertime. Man,that sounds good. Yes, it's so
(33:37):
good. Okay, So there's thislittle thing that I like to do to
uh, to end the podcast,there's a little gumball machine to your left.
There are random questions in the gumballmachine. So right there on the
front you'll see the one waiting foryou. Let's see the random question of
the day. I can open it. Oh, it's so hard to get
(33:57):
open. If you need to,just toss it to me and I'll help
you. Boom. Let's see.This is so fun. I love this,
so creative. Ooh, are youas swifty? Yeah? Are we
at? Taylor Swifty? I loveTaylor Swifts. When I got my driver's
license, her album, the WhiteHorse Album came out Fearless, I mean,
(34:17):
and I played that on repeat.I feel like that era of hers,
and then the next couple albums afterthat were my favorite. Those were
my sweet spot. But I willalways love her and champion her. And
I love an artist that's not afraidto evolve and branch into different genres.
So I respect her, love her. She's such a hard worker. And
(34:37):
also I think my favorite song Idid on the voice was Wildish Dreams by
Taylor Swift. So that was thatwas my favorite. Again, such a
well written song. What a serendipitousmoment. I know, I thought of
Wildest Dreams right away. That isso funny, you know what. I
forget who I was talking to youabout this, But I was never So
I was a Taylor Swift fan rightlike I was not a Swifty. I
(34:58):
love like a fan of her rightAnd I remember my very first radio job
December was the first song of hersthat I played on the radio. So
like I've always I've been there forthe errors right down around wherever. And
so her Heiress tour came to Nashvilleand one of my girlfriends is obsessed with
Taylor Swift. Like when I tellyou obsessed, she is obsessed with her.
(35:21):
So she was like, I'm comingto Nashville. We're going to the
show. So she did the wholelike standing, got all the tickets,
whatever, she got everything, andI went, holy cow, does that
girl perform a show? Yeah?Like I was like, okay, I
like her music, She's fine,Like I wouldn't go to the show.
But then my friend was like youhave to go, and like man like
when it comes to an artist andjust completely just crushing your crafty. Taylor
(35:45):
Swift's doing it, man, Yes, she is doing it. And I
was just like, I don't knowhow you perform over forty songs in one
night, night after night after night. But hopefully that girl gets in the
day. I know, I can'tbelieve I'm saying this, but I haven't
seen her yet live, and Iwas gonna go to the Aerostore, but
I was out of town visiting thefamily member who wasn't doing well, and
(36:06):
I was like, dang it,I've all totally been there, but one
day. It's a dream of mine. And even I'm doing the Bluebird Cafe
in September for the second time,so excited, and it's like I can't
go there without thinking Taylor Swift washere. Yeah, Taylor Swift was like,
here're singing her songs and look ather now. So she definitely set
probably the highest bar any singer songwritercould ever have to just aspire to.
(36:30):
Yeah. I really respect her alot. But what a cool thing too
to know that, Like, likeyou said, like Taylor Swift was here,
right, Yeah, she's doing thethings that you're doing, Like you're
you're came through this, right,you're walking those footsteps and like who knows,
Yeah, you know, who knowseight eight years from now if you're
you know, selling out arenas backto back nights, like just crushing it
(36:52):
open hands, right, I wouldlove that, But I'm just like really
working hard and it's starting to feelmore and more nap Troll recently, to
hold everything with open hands like Ihave the dreams, have the vision the
vision board, like you said,but don't not to be like desperately clinging
to it, but just to knowthis is what I'm working toward and what's
(37:13):
meant to be will be. Andlike not to sound too cliche, but
I remember on the Voice when CarsonDaley is like, how do you deal
with this pressure? It was oneof my it was my turn to answer
one of those live show elimination nightquestions, and it just came out of
my mouth. I had never heardor said this before, but I was
like, I just do my bestand surrender the rest. And so I've
made that my motto. I haven'twritten a song called that yet, but
(37:34):
it will be. It needs tohappen, It's gonna happen. But I
try to live by that because that'swhat that's that's the only way, Yes,
do my best, surrender the rest. Girlfriend, we gotta go out
with that. That's seriously, soso good, y'all land a spot her
new song Permanent. You gotta getit. It's for a great cause.
To thank you for being here.I appreciate, but I feel like you're
(37:58):
at like a long lost brand thatI knew in another life or something.
Well here where you're your This isyour first time on backstage with Broke.
You're gonna be back. I knowit for sure. Sack on backstage.
That's on my vision board. Now, all right, girl, is so
good to see you.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com