Jump Ropes. The metal ends of seatbelts. Hairbrushes. All microphones to me. Pre-internet in small town Kentucky, the biggest dream I had was to be in a show at Opryland in Nashville. I got a big NO three times. Then - by fluke - I got hired as a last minute replacement.
I was in HEAVEN. Rip-away costumes, four shows a day - yes please. I was Mae West. I was Edith Bunker. I was HOOKED.
If I had been born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I would have turned that spoon into a microphone.
Pronto.
1970ish - 1990ish
SO, NOW WHAT?
THE EPIC CAREER MASH-UP
KINDERGARTEN. SAY WHAT??
LIVING THE DREAM
THE EARLY YEARS
I had no idea people got paid to write songs. I mean, I had performed at my high school’s Mardi Gras night with an original song to get my boyfriend back, (it worked by the way - but the date I was with wasn’t too pleased), but people can do this for a JOB? Yep. And before traditional publishing deals went the way of the dinosaur, I was lucky enough to hold four of them. As I was writing I fell into session and background singing, got courted for a record deal, and sat in the room with the likes of Eric Church and Chris Stapleton, and sang the demo for “Before He Cheats." I was even a backup singer for Gwenyth Paltrow in the movie “Country Strong.”Not bad for a girl who just wanted a rip-away sequin costume at Opryland.
Wait. I get paid to do this. Seriously. This is a thing?
Early 2000s
SO, NOW WHAT?
THE EPIC CAREER MASH-UP
KINDERGARTEN. SAY WHAT??
LIVING THE DREAM
THE EARLY YEARS
Pre-music row, I had been a camp counselor, a full-time nanny, and prided myself on being SuperAunt. (I had also been a wedding consultant, a census worker for 2000, a ‘coat specialist’ at Dillards, but that’s not the point) The point is I LOVE kids. I AM a kid. But I had no kids of my own. I lost my dad to cancer when I was in college. In his honor I had written a children’s music program for elementary schools called, “Colors Say” - based off a song I’d written with my friend, Candy Cameron. That sparked something in my heart. One curiosity class at Lipscomb university led to my masters. That led to “just a year in the classroom for a change of pace.” Somehow eight years flew by and I got Teacher of the Year in 2020. Got whiplash?
I warned ya.
Ya'll, fasten your seat belts. We're about to pop a wheelie on a hairpin turn.
2012+
SO, NOW WHAT?
THE EPIC CAREER MASH-UP
KINDERGARTEN. SAY WHAT??
LIVING THE DREAM
THE EARLY YEARS
My pal, Nathan Meckel called me up one afternoon and asked if I had a second. I did. He launched into a persuasive monologue about his boutique record label thinking about adding artists to the roster for children's music.
“I know country music is your bread & butter…” (In my head I silently yelled, “YES, BUT....”)
“It might not work, but you could give it a ….” (Still in my head I cheered, “NO-BRAINER!”)
“Maybe you could think it over and just…” (About to erupt from my mouth, “SIGN ME UP.”)
We wrote, recorded and released, “Dare To Be Me” in August of 2020. It went to #1 on the Sirius XM Kids Place Live countdown! Say WHAT? In 2021 we had 2 more top 5 singles and a Christmas song!
Country Music Career + Kindergarten Teacher = THIS.
Whatever THIS is - It’s AWESOME.
Like Jif & Jelly.
Like Salt & Peppah.
Like French's & Heinz 57.
2020-21
SO, NOW WHAT?
THE EPIC CAREER MASH-UP
KINDERGARTEN. SAY WHAT?
LIVING THE DREAM
THE EARLY YEARS
First off, I'd like to thank Paula Abdul, MC Hammer, and Shakespeare for the extra inspiration. 2022 had me all two, to, too! I even took a leap of faith and launched this website on 2-2-2022. We had THREE more singles in the top 5 on Kids Place Live Sirius XM. I was nominated to be Educator of the Week for News Channel 2 in Tennessee. So....what now in 2023?
New singles ready to drop? CHECK
New videos in the works? CHECK
And something SO exciting to my kindergarten teacher heart. I won't let the cat out of the bag YET....but it rhymes with 'hook.'
COMING IN THE FALL OF 2023!
Two steps forward.
Too legit to quit.
To be or not to be.
2022 & 2023
SO, NOW WHAT?
THE EPIC CAREER MASH-UP
KINDERGARTEN. SAY WHAT??
LIVING THE DREAM
THE EARLY YEARS
