Latest / Happy Hour with Deb / Karissa Ella Shares Her Journey, Fan Moments & Big Plans for 2026 Ep106

Transcript

Karissa Ella Shares Her Journey, Fan Moments & Big Plans for 2026 Ep106 · Happy Hour with Deb

0:00
SPEAKER_00: You were the first person I met that somebody had their lyrics tattooed on them.
0:04
SPEAKER_01: It's crazy.
0:05
SPEAKER_01: That's a little it it's so it's so wild in the best way.
0:21
SPEAKER_00: Hey, it's Deb.
0:22
SPEAKER_00: It's Happy Hour Deb.
0:24
SPEAKER_00: I have this new kick-ass badass bestie standing next to me.
0:28
SPEAKER_00: Uh Krissa Ella, welcome to Happy Hour.
0:30
SPEAKER_00: Thanks for having me, Deb.
0:31
SPEAKER_00: Alright, can I just tell you everybody that's is watching is gonna be like, well, she's just so damn pretty.
0:36
SPEAKER_01: Oh my gosh, stop it.
0:38
SPEAKER_01: They're talking about you, that's for sure.
0:40
SPEAKER_01: Oh my gosh.
0:41
SPEAKER_00: We are so thrilled to have you here today.
0:43
SPEAKER_00: We're so excited.
0:45
SPEAKER_00: I was reading your bio and I heard that some really people magazine.
0:50
SPEAKER_00: People magazine.
0:51
SPEAKER_00: Tell me what that's like.
0:52
SPEAKER_00: What's it like to see your name as an artist in like people magazine?
0:57
SPEAKER_00: Unless you're Blake Shelton.
0:58
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, right?
0:58
SPEAKER_01: It's probably normal for them.
1:00
SPEAKER_01: No, it's not normal for someone like me.
1:01
SPEAKER_01: Um I think my family was freaking out.
1:03
SPEAKER_01: I was freaking out.
1:04
SPEAKER_01: It's just so cool.
1:05
SPEAKER_01: It's it tells you that your hard work's paying off.
1:07
SPEAKER_01: People are noticing.
1:09
SPEAKER_01: We got a um a little feature in a little thing in Billboard too that this year.
1:14
SPEAKER_01: That was so cool, which is amazing.
1:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and CMT.
1:16
SPEAKER_01: So all that stuff is always so exciting and just keeps pushing me to keep working hard.
1:20
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
1:21
SPEAKER_01: Tell me how you got started.
1:22
SPEAKER_01: So I know you're from Ohio.
1:24
SPEAKER_00: You're not you're now you're you're a Tennessee, you're a Nashville girl.
1:27
SPEAKER_01: Yep, I'm a Nashville girl now, but born and raised, Ohio.
1:31
SPEAKER_01: I'm an Ohio State Buckeyes fan.
1:32
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but um, I just grew up loving.
1:36
SPEAKER_01: I mean, Ohio State lost the other day.
1:37
SPEAKER_01: I know.
1:37
SPEAKER_01: Tough loss.
1:38
SPEAKER_01: Gotta they were like 12 and oh.
1:40
SPEAKER_01: I know.
1:41
SPEAKER_01: How do you lose that game?
1:42
SPEAKER_01: It's really, it was really tough.
1:44
SPEAKER_01: It was really horrible.
1:45
SPEAKER_00: But I'm gonna tell you, you got the bold play.
1:47
SPEAKER_00: I mean, they were so good.
1:48
SPEAKER_00: I know.
1:49
SPEAKER_01: They they've been good.
1:50
SPEAKER_01: I think we're still gonna pull out the wind.
1:51
SPEAKER_01: It's fine.
1:52
SPEAKER_01: I'm not gonna pull out the wind.
1:54
SPEAKER_00: I'm I'm rooting.
1:55
SPEAKER_00: You got me on your side.
1:56
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
1:56
SPEAKER_01: I appreciate it.
1:57
SPEAKER_01: No worries, no worries.
1:58
SPEAKER_01: So, how'd you get started?
1:59
SPEAKER_01: So, growing up in Ohio, I just always loved music so much.
2:03
SPEAKER_01: Um, and I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life.
2:06
SPEAKER_01: I was afraid to say that I wanted to chase this crazy dream because I didn't know what people would think.
2:11
SPEAKER_01: Um, they're like, she's crazy, she could never do that.
2:13
SPEAKER_01: And I started believing those, like, you know, tales.
2:16
SPEAKER_00: And totally what's pumped into your head is what yes, exactly.
2:20
SPEAKER_00: Dream big, right?
2:22
SPEAKER_00: I tell every one of my clients every I'm like dr the sky is the limit, dream big.
2:26
SPEAKER_00: And it's scary, yeah, but it's so true.
2:29
SPEAKER_00: So true.
2:30
SPEAKER_00: If you're not scared, you're not doing something right.
2:32
SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
2:33
SPEAKER_00: That absolutely, that's something I live by.
2:35
SPEAKER_00: It's so true.
2:36
SPEAKER_01: And everyone should.
2:37
SPEAKER_01: Everybody.
2:38
SPEAKER_01: What's the worst that could happen?
2:39
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
2:40
SPEAKER_01: I say that all the time.
2:41
SPEAKER_01: What do I do?
2:42
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, what are you afraid of?
2:43
SPEAKER_00: The booking is on the other side of failure.
2:44
SPEAKER_00: Who cares?
2:45
SPEAKER_01: No, you're if anything, you're gonna grow from it.
2:47
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
2:48
SPEAKER_01: And that's you know, so rewarding.
2:50
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
2:50
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I agree.
2:51
SPEAKER_01: So when did you start?
2:52
SPEAKER_01: I moved to Nat well, I started doing music.
2:55
SPEAKER_01: Um, I started taking voice lessons when I was little, and then did school musicals, and then started writing my own stuff, and eventually I moved down to Belmont here in Nashville University.
3:06
SPEAKER_00: Yes, quite honestly, the greatest thing that has happened to country music.
3:11
SPEAKER_01: A lot of really talented people.
3:13
SPEAKER_00: A lot of talent, but I mean, you need to learn the industry.
3:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, this is like everything else, this is a job, this is a career, and and there's a a large business side that fans never say to this.
3:24
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
3:25
SPEAKER_01: It's very important the networking.
3:27
SPEAKER_01: I mean, so many of my peers from Belmont are working in the industry today, and I get to see them all the time.
3:32
SPEAKER_01: And we had so many great times in college, but you know, it's all about networking and who you know.
3:36
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
3:37
SPEAKER_01: Being just in this city already for four years, you've got to be in the game to win.
3:41
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
3:41
SPEAKER_00: You have to be in the game to win.
3:43
SPEAKER_00: And you know, it's very I think people don't understand the power of connection with other people.
3:49
SPEAKER_00: Like, you don't know who you're sitting next to, you don't know who you're gonna meet that's gonna be your next ticket to something else.
3:56
SPEAKER_00: And so how's that?
3:58
SPEAKER_00: What do you do?
3:59
SPEAKER_00: Right, exactly.
3:59
SPEAKER_01: Like, I I always love thinking about that or thinking back on that and being like, wow, if I wouldn't have gone to that event, or if I wouldn't have played that one show, I wouldn't have gotten these opportunities and stuff like that.
4:12
SPEAKER_01: That's why I always say you kind of gotta say yes, and you gotta chase the no's.
4:16
SPEAKER_01: Like, what do you got to lose?
4:17
SPEAKER_01: That's one of my favorite sayings, too.
4:18
SPEAKER_00: That's beautiful advice.
4:19
SPEAKER_01: Chase the nose.
4:20
SPEAKER_01: See where you're gonna do it.
4:21
SPEAKER_00: It might be no for now, but it might not be no forever.
4:23
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, you're gonna learn something from that no.
4:25
SPEAKER_01: You're become a better person, a better artist, a better songwriter, whatever it may be.
4:29
SPEAKER_01: And then when the time is right, which it's always about timing.
4:34
SPEAKER_00: Life is about timing.
4:36
SPEAKER_00: Truly, it's about timing.
4:37
SPEAKER_00: It's also about like having the courage to be in that room.
4:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
4:41
SPEAKER_00: You know, so many people are like, I would never do it, I can't do it.
4:44
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, you we can do anything.
4:45
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
4:46
SPEAKER_00: Having the courage, having the patience.
4:48
SPEAKER_00: Patience is you know, that's a very good thing.
4:49
SPEAKER_00: Because if you pull in a door, it's not that there's a door for you.
4:52
SPEAKER_00: It's just not that door that's for you.
4:54
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, truly, you learn all those lessons when you're, I guess, maybe in a in the entertainment industry, I guess, as a whole.
4:59
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
5:00
SPEAKER_01: It's it's tough, but you they're really important lessons that you can take throughout life, I think, throughout everything.
5:05
SPEAKER_01: So absolutely.
5:06
SPEAKER_00: And uh, these are life skills.
5:08
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, these aren't just m artist skills, these are life skills, you know.
5:12
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, life is about getting it at the biggest table you can get to.
5:16
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely, and seeing uh how you get there, and we all get there differently.
5:19
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
5:19
SPEAKER_01: So that's the same.
5:20
SPEAKER_00: So when you first moved here, you came by yourself.
5:22
SPEAKER_00: Yep, how old were you?
5:24
SPEAKER_00: We were Belmont, so we were young.
5:25
SPEAKER_00: Like 18?
5:26
SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh.
5:30
SPEAKER_01: I toured it my junior year of high school.
5:32
SPEAKER_01: I applied to one school and one school only, and it was Belmont.
5:35
SPEAKER_01: And I said, if I don't get in, it's not meant to be, but I just felt this pool, this draw.
5:39
SPEAKER_01: I don't know how to explain it.
5:40
SPEAKER_01: I I feel it with a lot of different things in my life, and it just I knew that's where I was meant to be.
5:46
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, your gut'll tell you, right?
5:47
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, 100%.
5:49
SPEAKER_00: And how was your family?
5:50
SPEAKER_00: Because, like, you know, I have children, but like at 18, you're like sending them to Tennessee.
5:56
SPEAKER_00: Like, that's like a little scary.
5:58
SPEAKER_01: Scary.
5:59
SPEAKER_01: So scary.
5:59
SPEAKER_01: My family, luckily, was so supportive.
6:01
SPEAKER_01: They are my biggest support system.
6:03
SPEAKER_01: I would not be here if it was not for them.
6:05
SPEAKER_01: So I'm so grateful that I have that because a lot of people don't have that.
6:08
SPEAKER_01: No, and I feel very lucky and fortunate to have that.
6:11
SPEAKER_01: And so they're a huge reason why I'm here.
6:13
SPEAKER_00: That's incredible.
6:14
SPEAKER_00: You know, what I found about this industry is it's not cutthroat.
6:18
SPEAKER_00: We help the next one in line, we root for each other.
6:22
SPEAKER_00: And to work in an industry like this is to me, it's just unbelievable.
6:28
SPEAKER_00: We they cheer, they they'll do whatever to help each other.
6:31
SPEAKER_00: And that's such a beautiful that's not real life if no one told you.
6:36
SPEAKER_00: Normally, I'll think so.
6:37
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, exactly.
6:38
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I was I thought it was gonna be like that when I moved here, you know, especially being coming from Belmont.
6:43
SPEAKER_01: Like there's so many talented artists, songwriters, musicians.
6:46
SPEAKER_01: I mean, the people who weren't even in music were so talented.
6:49
SPEAKER_01: I was like, whoa, this is very intimidating, but also I finally felt accepted.
6:53
SPEAKER_01: I finally felt like I was surrounded by like-minded people and that I could be open about my dreams.
6:58
SPEAKER_01: And so that's why I love Nashville, is because you can be unapologetically you and find the people and they they embrace that.
7:08
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
7:08
SPEAKER_00: I love this city because they love a good stuff, country music, they love a good story.
7:13
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, they totally do.
7:14
SPEAKER_01: They accept everyone, and I think that's really cool.
7:16
SPEAKER_00: It's such an amazing, you know.
7:18
SPEAKER_00: When I started working down here, I was like, this city is infectious.
7:22
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
7:22
SPEAKER_00: Very good.
7:23
SPEAKER_00: But like from the time I land on the plane and they're like, welcome to Nashville, it's the vibe here is amazing.
7:30
SPEAKER_01: I still get butterflies when I come come back.
7:32
SPEAKER_01: And that's how I know I'm still supposed to be here.
7:34
SPEAKER_01: You know, my time's not up yet.
7:37
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
7:37
SPEAKER_01: My time's not up yet.
7:38
SPEAKER_01: People get the itch, and I'm like, I get it.
7:40
SPEAKER_01: I just I don't get it though, because I don't have that feeling.
7:43
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
7:43
SPEAKER_01: This is my home, it's been my home for crazy.
7:45
SPEAKER_00: I don't know anybody that moved here like moved out.
7:48
SPEAKER_01: Really?
7:48
SPEAKER_01: See, well, I guess it's different.
7:49
SPEAKER_01: I went to college, so I knew I know a lot of people who have, you know, went on to different things and different fields of work.
7:55
SPEAKER_01: Um, so I get it.
7:57
SPEAKER_01: But I have a lot of friends that moved away, and it stays in the world.
8:00
SPEAKER_00: I'm sure it does.
8:01
SPEAKER_01: I just haven't had that feeling yet, and I I really hope I don't ever get that feeling.
8:05
SPEAKER_00: I see you at the grand old Aubrey next to Dolly Park.
8:08
SPEAKER_00: Oh my god.
8:09
SPEAKER_01: I'm not going anywhere until that happens.
8:11
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna let's get that worked out by Christmas.
8:14
SPEAKER_00: Reach out to Dolly somebody.
8:15
SPEAKER_00: We want that happening by the way.
8:17
SPEAKER_01: Please, my dream.
8:18
SPEAKER_01: But that's also, you know, why I haven't stopped doing music yet either is because I have a lot of things to gotta check off my list, stuff like that, you know.
8:25
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
8:26
SPEAKER_00: I tell people it's not a bucket list, it's a running list.
8:29
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
8:29
SPEAKER_00: Like if it's in a bucket, you're gonna forget it, you're gonna forget about it and maybe get to it.
8:32
SPEAKER_00: Maybe I'm like, it's a running list.
8:34
SPEAKER_01: It never ends.
8:35
SPEAKER_01: You keep adding to it, you cross something off, something else takes it.
8:38
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
8:38
SPEAKER_00: And prioritize.
8:39
SPEAKER_00: Like some days it has to be this, and some days it has to be something else.
8:42
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, that's amazing.
8:43
SPEAKER_00: Who was your biggest influence in country music?
8:47
SPEAKER_01: I really need to get better with this question because so many people have influenced me.
8:52
SPEAKER_01: But I will say, I I remember a specific moment where an artist, country artist, changed my life.
8:58
SPEAKER_01: And it was when I heard um Gretchen Wilson, I was little, probably in middle school, and I heard like Redneck Woman and Here for the Party, and I just remember thinking, wow, she's here for the party to stand best.
9:11
SPEAKER_01: It is, it's my opener half the time.
9:13
SPEAKER_01: It's just so good.
9:13
SPEAKER_01: Just because I love it.
9:14
SPEAKER_01: You just want to get up and dance and just feel good.
9:16
SPEAKER_01: And I like I change my persona.
9:19
SPEAKER_01: Like I become a cool girl because I'm not a cool girl.
9:22
SPEAKER_00: Girl, you're a cool girl.
9:23
SPEAKER_01: I'm a wannabe cool girl.
9:24
SPEAKER_01: There's a side in me.
9:26
SPEAKER_00: We'll work together.
9:27
SPEAKER_00: Perfect.
9:27
SPEAKER_00: I'll have you cool by Friday.
9:29
SPEAKER_00: Great.
9:29
SPEAKER_01: I need to learn from you, from the best.
9:31
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
9:32
SPEAKER_01: I appreciate it.
9:32
SPEAKER_01: I need all the tips.
9:34
SPEAKER_00: I teach courses on how to activate your inner badass.
9:37
SPEAKER_00: I love that.
9:38
SPEAKER_00: Because I believe everybody has a badass.
9:39
SPEAKER_00: Oh, absolutely, yeah.
9:41
SPEAKER_00: And everywhere I travel, people are like, Deb's a badass.
9:44
SPEAKER_00: I want to be like Deb.
9:45
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, you can't show you.
9:47
SPEAKER_00: I can show you how to do it.
9:48
SPEAKER_00: And the first thing is putting the priority on yourself.
9:51
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
9:51
SPEAKER_00: And stop caring what other people think.
9:54
SPEAKER_01: Which is so much harder than you think.
9:55
SPEAKER_00: But it's so girl.
9:57
SPEAKER_00: I'm sure it is.
9:58
SPEAKER_00: I'm still.
9:58
SPEAKER_00: I mean, listen.
9:59
SPEAKER_00: I'm 29, I'm a little older than you, but like it took me, it took me a long time to realize that I have no control over what other people think, and it should not stifle or change or anything else what I'm doing.
10:13
SPEAKER_00: It's amazing.
10:14
SPEAKER_00: You know, it's important because your dream is your dream.
10:18
SPEAKER_00: And it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks.
10:20
SPEAKER_00: But in being in the spotlight, have you ever gotten some like negative feedback on social media?
10:26
SPEAKER_00: A little bit.
10:27
SPEAKER_00: They're trolls, by the way.
10:28
SPEAKER_01: You know, man, but you know, when you get that negative feedback, I always just no, it's not about me.
10:35
SPEAKER_01: It's about them.
10:36
SPEAKER_00: It's not about you.
10:37
SPEAKER_01: You know, so I feel like I've been able to handle it.
10:40
SPEAKER_00: That is such a mate.
10:42
SPEAKER_00: Because it feels so personal.
10:44
SPEAKER_01: It does sometimes.
10:45
SPEAKER_01: They really get you, and you're like, but at the end of the day, I have to take a step back.
10:50
SPEAKER_01: And no, that's just not about me.
10:52
SPEAKER_01: And I can't take it.
10:53
SPEAKER_01: It's not about me.
10:54
SPEAKER_01: And I can't give my energy to that person that knows nothing about me.
10:57
SPEAKER_00: Who's never even lived a day in your life?
10:59
SPEAKER_00: No, I'm excuse me.
11:02
SPEAKER_00: I am a firm believer that in you're not even a rock star until you have some haters.
11:06
SPEAKER_01: They say, hey, what is it?
11:08
SPEAKER_01: What is that saying?
11:09
SPEAKER_01: Like higher levels, more devils, all press is good for the biggest.
11:12
SPEAKER_01: Oh, that's good.
11:13
SPEAKER_00: Higher levels, more devils.
11:15
SPEAKER_00: I never heard that before.
11:17
SPEAKER_01: So you're right.
11:18
SPEAKER_01: I think it's a sign of growth.
11:19
SPEAKER_01: It's a sign people are paying attention.
11:21
SPEAKER_00: It's not fun, but can I tell you my crazy um social media story?
11:26
SPEAKER_00: Yes, please.
11:27
SPEAKER_00: I'm sure you have a bunch of.
11:28
SPEAKER_00: Okay, I do.
11:29
SPEAKER_00: I do.
11:30
SPEAKER_00: I have a full media team, and my assistant kind of handles it because I'm the girl that would get the Jaya Coke and be doing this.
11:36
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
11:37
SPEAKER_00: Through all day.
11:37
SPEAKER_00: And I can't.
11:38
SPEAKER_00: You know, you can't.
11:39
SPEAKER_00: That's when you start creeping into what uh caring what other people think.
11:42
SPEAKER_00: Like, you've got to put that out of your head.
11:44
SPEAKER_00: So I think it was last week, or maybe it was the week before.
11:48
SPEAKER_00: Someone called me a Karen, which goes to show you know nothing about me.
11:52
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely not.
11:53
SPEAKER_00: Like, I'm a lot of things, I'm totally not a Karen.
11:56
SPEAKER_00: And he's like, you dumb Karen, whatever.
11:59
SPEAKER_00: And my husband's like, do not engage.
12:01
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, oh, I'm 100% engaging.
12:03
SPEAKER_00: That's ridiculous.
12:04
SPEAKER_00: Don't be ridiculous.
12:05
SPEAKER_01: So rude.
12:06
SPEAKER_00: Right, but I mean, like, that just goes to show you know nothing about it.
12:10
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
12:10
SPEAKER_00: And then he said something about the show, something about the show.
12:15
SPEAKER_00: And um, I said, Well, thanks for watching.
12:18
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
12:18
SPEAKER_00: Like, I appreciate you watching.
12:20
SPEAKER_00: And and then he was like, said something about you're not on my algorithm.
12:24
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, So I don't want to be.
12:27
SPEAKER_00: Go crawl into whatever rock you came out from.
12:29
SPEAKER_00: And sorry you woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
12:32
SPEAKER_00: Probably a perpetual working up on the wrong side of the bed.
12:35
SPEAKER_00: But it's almost like how terrible do you feel about yourself?
12:39
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
12:40
SPEAKER_00: That you are trying to make another person feel.
12:43
SPEAKER_00: And I feel so bad for them.
12:44
SPEAKER_01: I feel like controls.
12:46
SPEAKER_01: I want the best for them.
12:47
SPEAKER_01: I want them to wake up and not be so negative and have this perspective.
12:52
SPEAKER_01: Like they lack, what is that?
12:54
SPEAKER_01: You lack, they have perception, right, you know, of the rest of the world.
12:58
SPEAKER_00: We all have the same choice in the morning.
13:00
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
13:00
SPEAKER_00: You can choose to be an asshole or you can choose to be positive.
13:03
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
13:04
SPEAKER_00: One's easier than the other.
13:05
SPEAKER_00: I can tell you.
13:06
SPEAKER_00: I just I never I'm like, are you sitting on your phone in front of like a Game Boy or PS5, whatever the hell it was, and like Xbox?
13:16
SPEAKER_00: Get a life.
13:17
SPEAKER_00: Seriously.
13:19
SPEAKER_00: It is.
13:20
SPEAKER_00: It's terrible.
13:21
SPEAKER_00: I know.
13:21
SPEAKER_00: I you should never get anything.
13:22
SPEAKER_00: You send it my way.
13:23
SPEAKER_00: I'm from Philly.
13:24
SPEAKER_00: I'll take care of it.
13:25
SPEAKER_00: There we go.
13:26
SPEAKER_00: I got you.
13:27
SPEAKER_00: I'm from Philly.
13:27
SPEAKER_00: Like, people expect a different standard of people from Philly.
13:30
SPEAKER_00: Like, you know, they're like, where they are, a little tough city.
13:33
SPEAKER_00: You know, say gill.
13:34
SPEAKER_00: What's the best compliment on your music you've ever received?
13:39
SPEAKER_01: Oh my gosh.
13:40
SPEAKER_01: That's such a beautiful question.
13:42
SPEAKER_01: I think the best compliment is when someone goes out of their way and they they message me and tell me how much a song that I wrote mean something to them.
13:56
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
13:57
SPEAKER_01: Stuff like that.
13:57
SPEAKER_01: And um I know it takes some courage and guts for some people to message an artist and tell them how that really made them feel or come up to me at a show and stuff like that.
14:07
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I've had people tattoo some of my song lyrics onto that.
14:10
SPEAKER_01: That creates rock star status.
14:13
SPEAKER_01: I mean, that's crazy.
14:14
SPEAKER_00: That is so beautiful.
14:15
SPEAKER_01: It is so beautiful.
14:16
SPEAKER_01: And um I wrote out like that one girl had me write out Growing Wings, and then she got this beautiful butterfly.
14:22
SPEAKER_01: We're now friends, which is really, really amazing as well.
14:24
SPEAKER_01: Because I love connecting with my fans like that.
14:27
SPEAKER_01: And so, and it's stunning.
14:29
SPEAKER_01: And I'm just like, You did that?
14:31
SPEAKER_01: You did that.
14:32
SPEAKER_00: That goes to show how much music country music too.
14:36
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it just moves people.
14:37
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, I I have a song when I'm happy, here for the party, love it.
14:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and then I have a song when you know country music is just it uh fills your emotions.
14:47
SPEAKER_01: It does, it's so healing.
14:48
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I that's how I use music, and it's uh really, really rewarding when it finally clicks in you that oh, other people are using your music in that way too.
14:57
SPEAKER_01: Because it's so easy to think no one cares, it's no one's listening.
15:02
SPEAKER_01: And then I have those moments where of I just I call them like pu those magic moments where they bring me back to life, they ignite that spark, and I'm like, man, thank you so much.
15:10
SPEAKER_01: Like you have no idea what that meant to me.
15:11
SPEAKER_00: Every artist I've ever had on the show has told me that their fans are their driving force.
15:16
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, 100%.
15:18
SPEAKER_00: Like, you can't let them down because if they're investing money to see you and buying swag and like you're a big part of their lives.
15:25
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
15:26
SPEAKER_00: Like, if you have the song that they would tattoo on them.
15:29
SPEAKER_00: And I'm grateful.
15:30
SPEAKER_00: Let's go later and get happy hour deb tattoos.
15:32
SPEAKER_00: Yes, you admit.
15:33
SPEAKER_00: I'm dying.
15:33
SPEAKER_00: Yes, let's do it.
15:35
SPEAKER_00: Let's get it.
15:36
SPEAKER_00: Full sleep.
15:36
SPEAKER_00: Happy hour dab.
15:38
SPEAKER_00: So in.
15:38
SPEAKER_00: I know, we'll do it.
15:39
SPEAKER_00: We we're only shooting.
15:40
SPEAKER_00: We have an industry party to go to tonight.
15:42
SPEAKER_00: Perfect.
15:43
SPEAKER_00: I'm sorry.
15:44
SPEAKER_00: I am plain dusty from being on the playbook.
15:47
SPEAKER_01: It's so dry here too, Nashville.
15:48
SPEAKER_01: I mean, we haven't seen the sun in the four weeks, I feel like.
15:51
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so it's not just you, it's fine.
15:53
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
15:53
SPEAKER_00: So what what tell me what the dream is.
15:55
SPEAKER_00: If I was like a fairy godmother and I could be like, bang, we got this tomorrow.
15:59
SPEAKER_00: Wave.
15:59
SPEAKER_00: What would you want to do?
16:02
SPEAKER_01: That's so hard.
16:03
SPEAKER_01: You know, I've like I said, that list keeps growing, but I think more about the legacy I want to leave behind.
16:10
SPEAKER_01: I think it's, you know, I want to play all these big stages and I want to experience.
16:13
SPEAKER_01: I'm all about experiencing things.
16:15
SPEAKER_01: That's beautiful.
16:16
SPEAKER_01: So I want to know what it's like to be, you know, in a movie.
16:19
SPEAKER_01: I want to know what it's like to sing on these stages at these um, you know, iconic music festivals that I've grew up going to and dreaming of.
16:26
SPEAKER_01: I know.
16:27
SPEAKER_01: You've done a lot of amazing work.
16:29
SPEAKER_01: It's been uh we had a really cool year this year, and I hope you know, it just keeps, you know, going on and keep rocking and rolling.
16:35
SPEAKER_00: What was the coolest part of that of 2025?
16:37
SPEAKER_01: The coolest part was I played this show in my kind of my hometown.
16:42
SPEAKER_01: I grew up going to it.
16:43
SPEAKER_01: Last time I went to it was I was like, I think new to college, like 18, and I went to see Dirk Spentley, and he was just taking off.
16:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, five one, five.
16:53
SPEAKER_01: Right.
16:54
SPEAKER_00: I'm not even kidding.
16:54
SPEAKER_00: Like, I think getting drunk on a plane should be a theme song.
16:57
SPEAKER_00: It is absolutely amazing.
16:58
SPEAKER_01: Everyone knows that song.
16:59
SPEAKER_01: Love it.
17:00
SPEAKER_00: Love it.
17:01
SPEAKER_01: But I got asked to play Country Fest this year, that's what it's called.
17:04
SPEAKER_01: Um, Country Fest.
17:06
SPEAKER_01: And out of, you know, it's a dream that I've had for a long time, and again, it goes back to timing.
17:11
SPEAKER_01: You could want it to happen any year anytime, but when timing is so amazing and it finally happens and you're patient with it, I got asked to play.
17:19
SPEAKER_00: Being patient is absolutely the greatest advice ever.
17:21
SPEAKER_00: 100% for everybody, not just for artists, but for like it'll get there.
17:26
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, exactly.
17:26
SPEAKER_00: Let the universe get on in there because then it creates that magic.
17:30
SPEAKER_01: And I got asked to play Country Fest on the same day as Dirk Spenley.
17:35
SPEAKER_01: So I manifested that moment.
17:36
SPEAKER_01: How cool is it?
17:37
SPEAKER_01: But I manifested Country Fest, but I manifested, I remember being at Country Fest being like, watching Dirk's being like, this is so unbelievably cool.
17:43
SPEAKER_01: I wish I could be up there.
17:44
SPEAKER_01: I hope I get to be up there one day.
17:46
SPEAKER_01: And then flash forward 2025, here we are.
17:49
SPEAKER_01: I'm up there, but also with Dirk Spenley.
17:51
SPEAKER_01: Sharing the stage with it.
17:52
SPEAKER_01: So amazing.
17:53
SPEAKER_00: It was so incredible.
17:55
SPEAKER_00: It was I saw in the Crash My Playa.
17:57
SPEAKER_00: Um we have a little connection, so we're backstage.
17:59
SPEAKER_00: Super nice guy.
18:00
SPEAKER_00: Super duper nice guy.
18:02
SPEAKER_01: Great show, great crew.
18:03
SPEAKER_00: Great show, great crew.
18:04
SPEAKER_00: You know, the entire every festival we've been to, they're just like you.
18:08
SPEAKER_00: Everybody is fantastic.
18:10
SPEAKER_00: Like, and when it's over, you're like, we're gonna why I want to do that again tomorrow.
18:14
SPEAKER_00: I know.
18:14
SPEAKER_01: Like it's such a good idea.
18:15
SPEAKER_01: I feel like everyone just wants to have fun.
18:17
SPEAKER_01: I feel like you have to enjoy doing this career, or you're not gonna make it.
18:22
SPEAKER_01: It's not fun.
18:22
SPEAKER_01: I've learned I only want to work with people who love what they do.
18:25
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
18:26
SPEAKER_01: And that's musicians, that's producing, that's that's every you, everyone.
18:30
SPEAKER_01: Because then that it's fulfilling for me.
18:32
SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
18:33
SPEAKER_00: Like, I I tell people like you have to love what you do.
18:35
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
18:36
SPEAKER_00: You have to, because then it's not even just a paycheck, it's your dream, it's your, you know, it's your legacy piece.
18:42
SPEAKER_00: So even you and I were talking earlier about the importance of family.
18:45
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
18:46
SPEAKER_00: And you have a niece, and she's only four, and my shout out to Sadie, my girl.
18:51
SPEAKER_00: She's my niece, and you know, it's so important for me because she's a young woman seeing positive influences and dreaming big, and you know, she knows you can do anything.
19:05
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, don't let anybody ever limit you.
19:08
SPEAKER_00: But I get it.
19:09
SPEAKER_01: It's probably because you've paved that way for her.
19:11
SPEAKER_01: Oh, gosh, so amazing.
19:13
SPEAKER_00: I'll tell you, when you know, my kids are older, but my brother's kids are younger.
19:17
SPEAKER_00: And when he had kids, it was like me getting to have kids over again.
19:20
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
19:21
SPEAKER_00: It was so amazing, you know.
19:22
SPEAKER_00: It was just it's it's everything to watch them grow up.
19:26
SPEAKER_00: And you're so incredibly proud.
19:28
SPEAKER_00: This four-year-old is gonna bring you more joy than you'll ever know.
19:33
SPEAKER_01: Oh, she is my world.
19:34
SPEAKER_01: What's her name?
19:35
SPEAKER_01: Ella.
19:35
SPEAKER_01: Ella.
19:36
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, so we share a name.
19:38
SPEAKER_01: That's I'm Carissa Ella.
19:39
SPEAKER_00: Beautiful.
19:40
SPEAKER_01: And we're both named after our my great grandma, her great-great-grandma, my great grandma Ella, who's one of the strongest women I ever.
19:47
SPEAKER_00: She has to be.
19:47
SPEAKER_00: She's carrying some rock stars names.
19:49
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so she has to be the coolest person.
19:51
SPEAKER_01: Very special name in our family.
19:52
SPEAKER_01: So that's beautiful.
19:53
SPEAKER_01: So she's my like my grandma's.
19:56
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
19:57
SPEAKER_01: I used to be, well, my grandma Ella's name is Minnie, too.
19:59
SPEAKER_01: That's funny you said that.
20:00
SPEAKER_01: That's funny.
20:00
SPEAKER_01: So I used to be little Ella and she was Big Ella, and now I'm Big Ella and she's little Ella.
20:04
SPEAKER_00: I can't believe it.
20:05
SPEAKER_00: Do you see having kids in your future?
20:07
SPEAKER_01: One day, if I'm lucky, absolutely.
20:10
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I do feel like I was meant to do a lot of things on this earth.
20:14
SPEAKER_01: One of them was be a mom.
20:15
SPEAKER_01: I had such an amazing mother.
20:17
SPEAKER_01: She is my rocks, my heart's everything.
20:19
SPEAKER_01: And I don't know.
20:20
SPEAKER_01: Shout out to your mom.
20:21
SPEAKER_01: Shout out to the mamas.
20:22
SPEAKER_01: They're superheroes.
20:24
SPEAKER_01: The best.
20:25
SPEAKER_01: They do.
20:26
SPEAKER_00: It's they are superheroes.
20:28
SPEAKER_00: And they're selfless.
20:29
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
20:30
SPEAKER_01: And what a tough job.
20:31
SPEAKER_01: Now that I'm older, realizing it, you know, really seeing it firsthand, seeing your friends all have.
20:36
SPEAKER_01: Toughest job you'll ever love, like the army.
20:37
SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh, yeah.
20:38
SPEAKER_00: Toughest job you'll ever love.
20:40
SPEAKER_00: They must be your family must be incredibly proud of you.
20:43
SPEAKER_01: They love music.
20:44
SPEAKER_01: They are so proud of me.
20:45
SPEAKER_01: Again, I'm so lucky.
20:46
SPEAKER_01: They love going on the road.
20:48
SPEAKER_01: They want to be my roadies.
20:49
SPEAKER_01: Uh they try to come to every show that they can, but now they are grandma and grandpa, and they can't always make every show.
20:55
SPEAKER_01: My parents do have other kids.
20:56
SPEAKER_01: Right.
20:57
SPEAKER_01: But I think, you know, I do something pretty cool.
21:01
SPEAKER_00: Every t-shirt, I feel like Team Ella.
21:03
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
21:03
SPEAKER_01: Carissa Bright.
21:04
SPEAKER_01: They got their Carissa Ella merch.
21:06
SPEAKER_01: They always have something, you know, we had um last year in 2024, we opened for Martina McBride on Independence Day.
21:13
SPEAKER_01: Unbelievable.
21:14
SPEAKER_01: Wow.
21:14
SPEAKER_01: So Independence Day.
21:16
SPEAKER_01: It was so cool.
21:16
SPEAKER_01: And they made country shirts.
21:19
SPEAKER_00: They belong together.
21:20
SPEAKER_01: They do.
21:20
SPEAKER_01: They're hand-in-hogs.
21:21
SPEAKER_00: Hot dogs, cold beer.
21:22
SPEAKER_01: Country music in summertime.
21:24
SPEAKER_01: I mean it is.
21:24
SPEAKER_01: It's Kenny Chesney.
21:26
SPEAKER_00: It's very funny that people don't know that, unless you're in this business, that essentially from now till about March, this shuts down.
21:34
SPEAKER_00: It shuts down.
21:35
SPEAKER_00: You know, like, and I get it.
21:36
SPEAKER_00: You guys need to rest and you need to write and you need to, you know, but it's so funny.
21:40
SPEAKER_00: People always ask me, they're like, what time, what's the best time to go to national?
21:43
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, now.
21:44
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, right now.
21:44
SPEAKER_00: Everyone's right now.
21:46
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
21:46
SPEAKER_00: It's not, I mean, it's not crazy.
21:48
SPEAKER_00: It's not right.
21:49
SPEAKER_00: It's a little cold, but you can get in everywhere.
21:52
SPEAKER_01: And we were just talking about that.
21:53
SPEAKER_01: We were trying to get dinner, and I was like, Oh, we're not fighting for spots.
21:57
SPEAKER_01: I forgot.
21:57
SPEAKER_01: No, you know, it's everyone's chilling.
22:00
SPEAKER_01: Everyone's going home, everyone's relaxing, or you know, just indoors.
22:03
SPEAKER_01: We're still working.
22:04
SPEAKER_01: I know.
22:04
SPEAKER_00: Because it gets hot here.
22:05
SPEAKER_00: I've shot the CMA fan fest.
22:07
SPEAKER_00: It gets a little hot here in the summer.
22:09
SPEAKER_00: But the vibe is so good.
22:11
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, CMA Fest is so much fun.
22:12
SPEAKER_01: It's crazy.
22:13
SPEAKER_01: It is totally the greatest thing ever.
22:16
SPEAKER_00: And that that CRS, I can tell you too, is just a huge four-day festival.
22:21
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, this huge radio festival thing.
22:24
SPEAKER_00: Convention, these are the people that pump your music to the world.
22:27
SPEAKER_00: So what a better what to be locked in for four days and celebrate them.
22:31
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I want to meet everyone I can.
22:32
SPEAKER_01: Totally.
22:33
SPEAKER_01: Please.
22:35
SPEAKER_01: It's been a minute.
22:36
SPEAKER_01: I didn't go last year.
22:37
SPEAKER_01: I went the year before.
22:38
SPEAKER_01: I think I think I was on the road for some shows, but it's crazy, right?
22:41
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's crazy.
22:42
SPEAKER_00: I told you I was in the restroom and a publicist is sliding the thing.
22:46
SPEAKER_00: And I want I want to give coverage to every person I can get my hands on.
22:50
SPEAKER_00: Like to me, if you have the courage to do what you do and you're and you're living your dream, and all of you are such amazing examples on go for it.
23:00
SPEAKER_00: Thank you, yeah.
23:00
SPEAKER_00: Especially for women, you know, we care too much what people think.
23:03
SPEAKER_00: And when strong, beautiful artists come on like you, it's so inspiring for them to be like, I can do she can do it, I can do it.
23:12
SPEAKER_01: Well, there's women that paved the way for us.
23:15
SPEAKER_00: Pioneers that have that brought you into country.
23:19
SPEAKER_01: That have yeah, absolutely paved the way for all of us.
23:22
SPEAKER_00: What is your favorite family tradition?
23:25
SPEAKER_01: I am huge on family.
23:27
SPEAKER_01: I love traditions.
23:28
SPEAKER_01: I um hate that I'm getting older and that some traditions have to go away.
23:33
SPEAKER_01: It stinks or, you know, need to be modified.
23:36
SPEAKER_01: Right.
23:36
SPEAKER_01: Um, but I man, we have so many that I know I'm gonna pick one and be like, I should have said this one, but because it's Christmas time right now, you know, I'm thinking a lot about that, and we always um pick new ornaments or go buy a different new ornament.
23:53
SPEAKER_01: We do Secret Santa stuff.
23:54
SPEAKER_01: We're always bringing out the old recipes and stuff like that.
23:58
SPEAKER_01: Um, but you gotta still put out the milk and cookies for Santa Cruz.
24:01
SPEAKER_00: Hey, I told you pre-shooting going on the all Christmas cookie diet when we get back to Philadelphia.
24:07
SPEAKER_00: It's my personal favorite diet.
24:08
SPEAKER_00: I think I've earned it.
24:09
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, me too.
24:10
SPEAKER_00: Um, like, you know, you're flipping through Instagram, and all I'm seeing is all these cookie recipes.
24:14
SPEAKER_00: So now my algorithm is country music and cookie recipes.
24:18
SPEAKER_01: I love your algorithm.
24:19
SPEAKER_01: I know.
24:20
SPEAKER_01: It's really all you need in life.
24:21
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's happiness right there.
24:22
SPEAKER_01: It's total happiness.
24:24
SPEAKER_01: Buzzing that in a diet code.
24:26
SPEAKER_00: I know.
24:26
SPEAKER_00: I'm I'm I know they're not our sponsor, but we would love you, Coke.
24:30
SPEAKER_00: Oh, I'm sorry, I don't even want to grow a tail from I'm a freedom brew, that's all we need.
24:35
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, let's talk about Freedom Brew.
24:37
SPEAKER_00: So they're helping us out the show.
24:39
SPEAKER_00: They are veteran-owned, veteran operated, and um, we were talking about me working with PTSD and trauma, and they give a percentage back to veterans, strictly, you know, to them.
24:52
SPEAKER_00: And for the Patriots for Paws, for the service animals, and it's people helping people.
24:58
SPEAKER_00: It's amazing.
24:59
SPEAKER_00: It's amazing, truly that's incredible.
25:02
SPEAKER_00: It is.
25:02
SPEAKER_00: There, um, if it was nine, we'd be drinking them, Alan.
25:05
SPEAKER_00: Alan's my contact there.
25:06
SPEAKER_00: Um, but yeah, and I'm he's just great, and he loves country music, and he's he's growing this.
25:12
SPEAKER_00: He we had another job and decided he was gonna be an entrepreneur and he was gonna give it back.
25:17
SPEAKER_00: Um and for his service, right?
25:19
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
25:19
SPEAKER_00: Thank every when my daughter was young, anybody in a uniform, I'm like, go up and say thank you for your service.
25:25
SPEAKER_00: Thank you, absolutely.
25:26
SPEAKER_00: What a sign of respect, yeah.
25:27
SPEAKER_00: I mean, through college, she was like, Thanks for keeping my mom and I safe.
25:32
SPEAKER_01: They always appreciate it, I'm sure it's the least we can do, right?
25:35
SPEAKER_00: And to take care of your own.
25:37
SPEAKER_00: Take care of your own.
25:38
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
25:39
SPEAKER_00: It is the least we can do.
25:41
SPEAKER_00: I love, I love, love, love.
25:42
SPEAKER_00: Oh, I know.
25:42
SPEAKER_00: We'll pack you up a couple.
25:43
SPEAKER_00: Yes, free to go.
25:44
SPEAKER_00: We'll pack you up.
25:45
SPEAKER_00: So whenever you try it, you just call me and be like, Deb, it's the best beer ever.
25:49
SPEAKER_00: I yes, I can't wait.
25:50
SPEAKER_00: It is really good.
25:50
SPEAKER_01: So let's talk about 2026.
25:53
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, 2026.
25:54
SPEAKER_01: Well, 2025 we released an EP called Growing Wings, and we're still rocking it.
25:58
SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much.
25:59
SPEAKER_01: I love it.
26:00
SPEAKER_00: It's beautiful.
26:00
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
26:01
SPEAKER_01: But we got more music coming in 2026, and I can't wait.
26:04
SPEAKER_01: So it's gonna be a little bit different.
26:06
SPEAKER_01: Um hopefully you guys like it.
26:08
SPEAKER_01: I'm excited.
26:09
SPEAKER_01: I love it.
26:10
SPEAKER_01: Stop it.
26:10
SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
26:12
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, it's been cool.
26:13
SPEAKER_01: But we've been writing for more projects.
26:15
SPEAKER_01: Um, I, you know, the goal is just to put as much music out there as I can uh for my fans, for my listeners, and play as many shows.
26:23
SPEAKER_00: Is it like I just like saw something on TV or like I just had a feeling, or this Nat's gonna hang out with me this entire show?
26:31
SPEAKER_00: I think this Nat's from Philadelphia, to be honest.
26:33
SPEAKER_00: It's like, hey, I think it was on the plane with me.
26:34
SPEAKER_00: I'm not sure.
26:35
SPEAKER_00: Probably opened my suitcase and they all flew out.
26:38
SPEAKER_01: Um my greatest inspiration, I you know, I feel like it's different in every season of life.
26:43
SPEAKER_01: But lately it's just really been coming from uh, you know, doing that deep dive on your psyche and what you're going through, what you have gone through, what's on your heart, you know, and telling that tale.
26:53
SPEAKER_01: And some of those sometimes those aren't the songs that you cut, but they're songs that you still gotta get out and you still gotta write.
26:59
SPEAKER_00: And you know, that's the beauty of that because it's on your heart, it's on somebody else's, yeah.
27:04
SPEAKER_00: You know, and that's the reason why.
27:06
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I you were the first person I met that somebody had their lyrics tattooed on them.
27:11
SPEAKER_00: It's crazy.
27:12
SPEAKER_00: That's I love it.
27:13
SPEAKER_01: It's so it's so wild in the best way.
27:16
SPEAKER_01: Beautiful.
27:17
SPEAKER_00: Like, can you imagine as a little child ever thinking you'd be sharing a stage with rock stars and going to Dirk Spentley and going to the CMA fan test?
27:28
SPEAKER_01: And I got to um one of the coolest things I ever got to do that I still is like I would say a pinch me moment, like all these things, is I got to sing a Randy Travis song for Randy Travis.
27:37
SPEAKER_01: And that's just a the one of the craziest things.
27:40
SPEAKER_01: So when I feel down, such an honor.
27:42
SPEAKER_01: Uh but when I feel down in the dumps and you know, ready to wave that flag, I'm like, no, I can't.
27:47
SPEAKER_01: What are you talking about?
27:48
SPEAKER_01: I got people who are listening who do care.
27:51
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
27:51
SPEAKER_01: And you know, those are the my reminders to get me back in the game because it's so easy to compare your stories.
27:57
SPEAKER_00: It is totally, and everybody has a fan base.
28:01
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
28:01
SPEAKER_00: And that's the reason you do it.
28:03
SPEAKER_00: You do it for the people who stand in line and pay money and and go out of their way.
28:07
SPEAKER_00: And I think that's such an amazing, what a great gift the universe has given you.
28:13
SPEAKER_00: Not only incredible talent, but like the way you can move a human being.
28:18
SPEAKER_00: It's a cool job.
28:19
SPEAKER_00: It's the oh it's a cool job.
28:20
SPEAKER_00: No, I'm and I take it seriously.
28:23
SPEAKER_00: Oh, I know.
28:24
SPEAKER_00: I mean, everybody does, and the courage to come here with a dream and be here after you graduated college.
28:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that is incredible.
28:34
SPEAKER_01: Keep going, and I you know, I this is a 10-year town.
28:38
SPEAKER_01: That's what I hear.
28:38
SPEAKER_01: It's a 10-year town.
28:39
SPEAKER_01: 10-year town.
28:40
SPEAKER_01: Music-wise, I'm like, I've been here 10 years, but music full-time about like year six, seven.
28:44
SPEAKER_01: So um, we'll see.
28:46
SPEAKER_01: But I think it's, you know, whoever hangs in there the longest, and I I don't really think that's a bad thing.
28:52
SPEAKER_01: I think that's a good thing because every year I'm writing better and better songs.
28:55
SPEAKER_01: I'm meeting people who are um being so influential on my career and really wanting to help me grow and take me to the next level.
29:04
SPEAKER_01: And so I think that's why you need to hang in there as long as you can.
29:07
SPEAKER_00: Well, we don't give up on dreams.
29:09
SPEAKER_01: Well, that's the that's that's the other thing.
29:11
SPEAKER_01: I don't give up on a lot of things.
29:12
SPEAKER_00: We don't raise quitters.
29:13
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, there we go.
29:14
SPEAKER_00: Like my poor niece was like three years old, and we wanted her to jump in a pool and she's like, I'm scared.
29:18
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, Sadie, we don't raise quitters.
29:19
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, get in there, like get in there, kid.
29:21
SPEAKER_00: We don't raise quitters, and you never know to the level of of what you're gonna be if you don't try.
29:26
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, again, what do you got to lose?
29:28
SPEAKER_00: You amen.
29:29
SPEAKER_00: Nobody ever goes to prison for trying unless you're trying to rob a kid.
29:33
SPEAKER_01: And we're not doing rocket science here.
29:34
SPEAKER_01: We're not doing it.
29:35
SPEAKER_01: No, we're not saving lives or maybe helping a human being.
29:37
SPEAKER_00: We are saving lives.
29:38
SPEAKER_00: In a sense, absolutely something.
29:40
SPEAKER_00: Somebody has heard your song and it has changed their perspective on their outcome.
29:44
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, which is their lives.
29:46
SPEAKER_00: I can't even imagine.
29:47
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
29:48
SPEAKER_00: I want Jared, I want someone to be that big a fan of me.
29:50
SPEAKER_00: I'm sure your podcast does the same thing.
29:51
SPEAKER_00: We literally like get in touch, be like, I need you to be Deb's biggest fan.
29:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I'm your biggest fan.
29:56
SPEAKER_01: I can tell you that right now.
29:58
SPEAKER_01: I know.
29:58
SPEAKER_00: As soon as I saw you walk to the lobby, I'm like, I think we're gonna be besties.
30:01
SPEAKER_00: We are besties.
30:02
SPEAKER_00: I think we're gonna be besties.
30:03
SPEAKER_01: What'd you what do you got?
30:04
SPEAKER_01: Were you going home for the holidays?
30:05
SPEAKER_01: What's going on?
30:06
SPEAKER_01: I am going home for the holidays.
30:08
SPEAKER_01: Again, I'm a big I'm all about family time.
30:10
SPEAKER_01: Totally.
30:10
SPEAKER_00: But it's the most wonderful time for tradition.
30:12
SPEAKER_01: I love it.
30:13
SPEAKER_01: Um, I just got married, so it's our first Christmas.
30:15
SPEAKER_01: Congratulations! When did you get married?
30:18
SPEAKER_01: In October.
30:19
SPEAKER_01: You're a new person.
30:20
SPEAKER_01: I need to lucky dude.
30:22
SPEAKER_01: Uh, I'm lucky too.
30:24
SPEAKER_01: So is he in the industry?
30:25
SPEAKER_01: What's he doing?
30:26
SPEAKER_01: Nope, he's in he's an accountant, he's in finance, so it's really nice that, and I know nothing about Batworld.
30:31
SPEAKER_01: Right.
30:32
SPEAKER_01: Math world.
30:32
SPEAKER_01: And thank God for that.
30:33
SPEAKER_01: I only know girl math, I know.
30:34
SPEAKER_00: I know, me too.
30:35
SPEAKER_00: Like, how can I get my Diet Coke and the cute belt at Target?
30:39
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, exactly.
30:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's the math I know how to do.
30:41
SPEAKER_01: I know me too.
30:42
SPEAKER_01: It's nice that we get we have that balance of like he can come home and talk about work, and I can come home and talk about work, or I don't have to, because I don't need to.
30:50
SPEAKER_01: Like, you know, he he is a lover of country music.
30:53
SPEAKER_01: He's my biggest support system, too.
30:55
SPEAKER_00: I'm sure he is your biggest fan.
30:57
SPEAKER_01: Um, it's nice that we kind of are we're so different that it works, and that's what I love.
31:01
SPEAKER_00: I am very, very different than my husband.
31:03
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, same.
31:03
SPEAKER_00: I am buddy the elf.
31:04
SPEAKER_00: Susie talks a lot, and he's yeah, everything's in a row, you know.
31:11
SPEAKER_00: Like he's the greatest, funnest, and most incredible human being, but like he's got his shit together.
31:16
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
31:17
SPEAKER_01: And you learn.
31:18
SPEAKER_01: That's what you know.
31:18
SPEAKER_01: I I think I soften him and he gives me strength, and that's so you know, just that giving that yin and yang.
31:24
SPEAKER_01: So yeah.
31:24
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
31:25
SPEAKER_00: So it's gonna be an amazing mom when you have kids.
31:27
SPEAKER_00: You're so sweet.
31:28
SPEAKER_00: You're gonna be an incredible mom.
31:31
SPEAKER_01: I I can't I can't wait for that day, but I I can't wait for that day because it's a good thing.
31:35
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, I know, because it's really hard.
31:37
SPEAKER_00: I mean, a woman in this industry to to take time off to start a family is is a lot.
31:43
SPEAKER_00: It's just sacrifice.
31:44
SPEAKER_01: I mean, everyone around at that age where everyone's having babies and buying houses and having kids and starting that uh, you know, that life.
31:50
SPEAKER_01: No pressure.
31:50
SPEAKER_01: But it truly I know, I know.
31:52
SPEAKER_01: We had a own path.
31:54
SPEAKER_01: You you do.
31:55
SPEAKER_01: And we had a talk early on before we got married of like we both have you know, career goals that we want to accomplish before we start that, and it's important to us and that we're on the same page, and we are on the same page, and I'm gonna, you know, try to do this for as long as I can and see where it is for like.
32:10
SPEAKER_01: Hopefully it all happens naturally.
32:13
SPEAKER_01: Who is so incredible?
32:14
SPEAKER_01: Can we talk about it?
32:15
SPEAKER_00: I've never met her in person.
32:17
SPEAKER_01: I can just the aura just who she is.
32:19
SPEAKER_01: She talks about a legacy, a legacy who you want to be.
32:23
SPEAKER_01: You want to leave that impression, that imprint on the world.
32:26
SPEAKER_00: I think she's one of the most incredible people.
32:28
SPEAKER_00: I've never had the privilege of meeting her.
32:30
SPEAKER_00: But I mean, when you think of Nashville and you think of women in country music and you think of strong women who have who have endeared it all, you think of Dolly Partner.
32:38
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
32:39
SPEAKER_01: I mean, the only reason I ever want to make any money is so that I can give it back and make a difference in the world, and she's that prime example of that.
32:45
SPEAKER_00: We're totally the same people, you know?
32:47
SPEAKER_00: We're totally the same people.
32:48
SPEAKER_00: Like I I literally, um, I literally I just I just want people to be better.
32:55
SPEAKER_00: I just want them to know that there's uh there's an option to suffering.
32:59
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
33:00
SPEAKER_00: I want everybody to literally step into the best season of their life.
33:04
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, totally.
33:05
SPEAKER_00: And um it's it's an incredible job that I get to work with people and show, teach them the tools.
33:11
SPEAKER_01: That's so cool.
33:12
SPEAKER_01: It's a we we need those tools, oh girl.
33:14
SPEAKER_01: I had the tools.
33:16
SPEAKER_01: I wasn't born with the tools.
33:18
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
33:19
SPEAKER_01: Everyone needs them.
33:20
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they do.
33:21
SPEAKER_00: And it's it's really when you see people, especially artists who I just love to death, step into the best version of them.
33:28
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it is such and it's so inspiring for me that you guys have the courage and the stamina.
33:35
SPEAKER_00: This is a if you're in this, you're working.
33:38
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and you're constantly battling these demons of imposter syndrome, imperfectionism, and people pleasing, and you know, trying to get yourself to that level, you know, and think, God, we have you, someone like you to help us get there.
33:53
SPEAKER_01: My goodness.
33:54
SPEAKER_01: But it's hard.
33:55
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's so hard.
33:56
SPEAKER_00: You know, it's a it's a total I think the one of the biggest things I work with people on is mindset.
34:00
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, because we have this script going on in our head, and it's really just about interrupting that pattern and putting new things.
34:08
SPEAKER_00: We're we're limitless.
34:09
SPEAKER_00: We can do anything we want to do, and I think it comes a lot from childhood, it comes a lot from really the biggest problem in the world is people giving a shit what other people think.
34:22
SPEAKER_00: Isn't that crazy?
34:23
SPEAKER_00: It is so crazy.
34:25
SPEAKER_00: Why?
34:26
SPEAKER_00: It took me on to tell you, like, I didn't get like this, but like I'm like five years into this, but it doesn't because we live in a media world.
34:34
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, I don't think it was as prevalent when before social media and before I mean you didn't know people you didn't connect through.
34:43
SPEAKER_00: And I think it's really you're so authentic.
34:46
SPEAKER_00: I have to tell you, you're such an authentic person.
34:49
SPEAKER_00: You really are, and you can hear it in your music.
34:51
SPEAKER_00: And when you meet people like that, though surround yourself with those people.
34:55
SPEAKER_00: The people that will be there when you need them, but will also be your biggest cheerleader.
34:59
SPEAKER_00: I think we just we care too much what people think.
35:03
SPEAKER_00: And I really I worry about young girls.
35:06
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so like I don't want you to live in a world where you're not being authentic because you don't think it's cool.
35:12
SPEAKER_00: Yeah or you don't think people are gonna like it.
35:14
SPEAKER_00: Like it's horrible.
35:15
SPEAKER_00: Everybody's gonna have their their group.
35:18
SPEAKER_00: We all find the people that are our people.
35:20
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you gotta surround yourself with people that bring you up, not bring you down.
35:23
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, absolutely.
35:25
SPEAKER_01: That's something that I learned moving to Nashville.
35:27
SPEAKER_00: Totally.
35:29
SPEAKER_01: And I think thank those people for those lessons that I learned.
35:32
SPEAKER_00: No, listen, I'm and you know what else I started to?
35:34
SPEAKER_00: I have a zero tolerance for bullshit policy.
35:38
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
35:38
SPEAKER_00: Don't put your shit on me.
35:40
SPEAKER_00: No, I'm carrying my own shit.
35:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I would help anybody in a heartbeat, but like it is a choice.
35:45
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, in the morning, say what you're grateful for, put your feet on the floor, and let's go.
35:51
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you can choose to be positive.
35:53
SPEAKER_00: Rock and roll.
35:54
SPEAKER_00: Rock and roll and it's it literally shaped the crowds that's around you, and it shaped the human that you become.
36:01
SPEAKER_00: You know, um, huge on gratitude.
36:04
SPEAKER_00: And um, my niece is here with me today, and um her mom and I, she I we started a gratitude practice like before I even get out of bed.
36:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
36:14
SPEAKER_00: I just I'm so grateful for this.
36:16
SPEAKER_00: I'm so grateful.
36:17
SPEAKER_00: And it could be the dumbest things, like the dog didn't wake me up for it totally does, and it humbles you.
36:23
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and you we understand that we're all human and we're all just trying to run this race.
36:28
SPEAKER_01: We're all in it together.
36:29
SPEAKER_01: We're all doing the same thing.
36:31
SPEAKER_00: I know it doesn't feel like that all the time, but you know, in social media, mask.
36:35
SPEAKER_00: You're dabbling in cooking?
36:37
SPEAKER_01: I'm dabbling, you know.
36:38
SPEAKER_00: Love it.
36:39
SPEAKER_00: Well, you want the food network with Dolphins.
36:41
SPEAKER_01: Please, Carissa's Kitchen.
36:42
SPEAKER_01: Hey, Carissa's Kitchen, we love that.
36:45
SPEAKER_01: I just burn everything and overcook everything.
36:49
SPEAKER_00: I can just tell by looking at it.
36:51
SPEAKER_01: I call it experimenting, you know.
36:52
SPEAKER_00: I love to cook it's part of my love language, yeah, to be honest.
36:58
SPEAKER_00: And um, it comes with the service, you know, country music, or they they want to please, they want to serve, and I think that's southern hospitality.
37:05
SPEAKER_01: That Texas, I'm from Texas, I get it.
37:07
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, what's your favorite dish to make?
37:09
SPEAKER_01: I love making lasagna because I feel like it's pretty easy and I think I do a good job.
37:13
SPEAKER_01: Fabulous.
37:14
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Alex, my husband loves my lasagna.
37:17
SPEAKER_01: I got that recipe from my mama, so it always makes me think of her.
37:21
SPEAKER_01: Um, and yes, I still do have to call her and be like, what am I supposed to do?
37:24
SPEAKER_00: I know, I know.
37:25
SPEAKER_01: You know, um, but uh that's my favorite dish to make.
37:28
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, like I said, I'm experimenting.
37:30
SPEAKER_01: We're trying new things, we're trying to be healthier, we're trying to um do healthier recipes.
37:34
SPEAKER_00: We'll work on that on January 1st.
37:36
SPEAKER_00: You and I are paying me all Christmas cookies.
37:38
SPEAKER_01: We are about to, yeah, which I'll be.
37:39
SPEAKER_00: Tomorrow, I'm gonna be like sugar, peanut butter.
37:42
SPEAKER_01: Eat that gingerbread cookie.
37:44
SPEAKER_01: Right.
37:45
SPEAKER_00: I asked my husband the other day if we could build a gingerbread house.
37:47
SPEAKER_01: It's fun, yeah.
37:48
SPEAKER_01: Release that inner children.
37:50
SPEAKER_00: It's like absolutely.
37:51
SPEAKER_00: He is such a like, if it live your life.
37:54
SPEAKER_00: It's make it makes your heart happy.
37:56
SPEAKER_01: Are you competitive?
37:57
SPEAKER_01: Because I feel like I'm like, if I'm gonna build one of these, yeah, I gotta, I gotta build it with my family, and then I'm like, okay, who's got the better gingerbread house?
38:05
SPEAKER_00: And so I think I'm more about like, can we pour some Chardonnay and eat the gingerbread?
38:10
SPEAKER_00: There might be a bite off the hat.
38:11
SPEAKER_01: That sounds a little bit more fun.
38:13
SPEAKER_00: I've lived to I've learned to live in the moment and for the day, and not to hold on to things.
38:20
SPEAKER_00: So I think I'd be the kind like the I'd have the frosting going, like it would be a mess.
38:25
SPEAKER_00: Put another pebble on the eating.
38:27
SPEAKER_00: And I told him because he was gonna go to Trader Joe's and by the kid, I'm like, that's not enough candy.
38:32
SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
38:32
SPEAKER_00: You need to get more icing, and we need to cover this sucker in candy.
38:36
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
38:37
SPEAKER_00: We need to make sure it's covered in candy.
38:39
SPEAKER_00: I love that.
38:39
SPEAKER_01: Do you have a favorite Christmas cookie?
38:41
SPEAKER_01: Alright.
38:43
SPEAKER_00: It's white chocolate Damien.
38:45
SPEAKER_00: It's like a chocolate chip cookie, but with white chocolate chunks, macadamia nuts, and crayon raisins.
38:51
SPEAKER_01: Everything but life changing there.
38:53
SPEAKER_01: That sounds amazing.
38:55
SPEAKER_00: I love when I love like I'm a sugar girl.
38:58
SPEAKER_00: So the more sprinkles and frosting and things you can get on, I love it.
39:03
SPEAKER_01: No, I am too.
39:04
SPEAKER_00: And I have zero self-control.
39:06
SPEAKER_00: Okay, I have zero self-control during that.
39:09
SPEAKER_00: No, all right.
39:10
SPEAKER_00: I have one more very important question to ask you.
39:13
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
39:13
SPEAKER_00: You'll come back and you'll hang out with us, and you'll keep us posted on your career.
39:18
SPEAKER_00: Yep.
39:19
SPEAKER_00: And you'll let us cheer you from the sidelines.
39:22
SPEAKER_00: You're so sweet.
39:22
SPEAKER_00: Because we would totally love to have you back.
39:24
SPEAKER_00: We would totally love to be back.
39:25
SPEAKER_00: I would love to come back.
39:26
SPEAKER_00: You're so fun.
39:27
SPEAKER_00: You make it so easy.
39:28
SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh, thank you so much.
39:30
SPEAKER_00: That's here's my problem.
39:31
SPEAKER_00: I'm too fun.
39:32
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
39:33
SPEAKER_00: Everyone wants to come back.
39:34
SPEAKER_00: Like, it's great.
39:35
SPEAKER_00: I'm so honored to have you.
39:36
SPEAKER_00: I'm so honored that you would take your time out to share with my audience.
39:41
SPEAKER_00: Oh gosh.
39:41
SPEAKER_00: You know, because I know that there's so many people watching you guys being like, I can do that.
39:46
SPEAKER_00: And every time I wrap up a show, I'm like, that person was fantastic.
39:51
SPEAKER_00: So we want to have you back.
39:52
SPEAKER_00: You attract good people.
39:53
SPEAKER_00: Oh God bless you.
39:55
SPEAKER_00: I knew we were gonna be besties.
39:57
SPEAKER_00: As soon as you walked in, I'm like, we're gonna be best friends.
39:59
SPEAKER_00: I can tell we're gonna be best friends.
40:00
SPEAKER_00: Thanks for having me.
40:01
SPEAKER_00: I appreciate it.
40:02
SPEAKER_00: It is our honor, and we want to have you back next year.
40:04
SPEAKER_00: We want to hear what you're doing, and we want to promote your stuff and keep you updated.
40:09
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
40:09
SPEAKER_00: And next time it won't be early, so we can actually have a beer.
40:12
SPEAKER_00: Okay, good.
40:13
SPEAKER_00: Well, because I mean the point of happy hour is to have something.
40:15
SPEAKER_01: Yes, anything.
40:17
SPEAKER_01: Anything specifically an American brew, though.
40:19
SPEAKER_00: It's my favorite time of the day.
40:21
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
40:22
SPEAKER_00: Like, it really is.
40:23
SPEAKER_01: No, I'm with you on that.
40:25
SPEAKER_01: We talked about that earlier.
40:26
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
40:28
SPEAKER_00: Like, as you guys know, I can't even imagine being you guys having to shuffle from place to place.
40:31
SPEAKER_00: But the week before a shoot is like a lot of work.
40:38
SPEAKER_00: It's a lot of work.
40:39
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I have an amazing assistant and I have the greatest media team in Nashville, but it's just so like it's mind expensive.
40:46
SPEAKER_00: The amount of taxes.
40:47
SPEAKER_00: Like on Friday, um, I just I just tapped out after that.
40:50
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, I'm tapping out.
40:51
SPEAKER_00: Yep.
40:52
SPEAKER_00: You got to.
40:53
SPEAKER_00: You have to.
40:54
SPEAKER_01: You gotta.
40:54
SPEAKER_00: You have to.
40:55
SPEAKER_01: And you have to delegate, and which sounds like you're great at it, which is important to be able to do that.
41:00
SPEAKER_00: I'm the best.
41:01
SPEAKER_01: I wear a lot of hats.
41:02
SPEAKER_01: Totally, totally.
41:03
SPEAKER_00: But it's not, you know, it's it's not, I'm not a one-man band.
41:06
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
41:07
SPEAKER_01: And you're not a one-man band.
41:08
SPEAKER_01: No, I have a great team.
41:08
SPEAKER_01: I'm very public for them.
41:10
SPEAKER_00: Fabulous.
41:11
SPEAKER_00: She's so cutie.
41:12
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it is.
41:13
SPEAKER_00: It's amazing.
41:13
SPEAKER_00: And you think about the the moving cogs and the wheels and just to get people like you and I through a deck.
41:19
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
41:20
SPEAKER_00: It takes a village, that's for sure.
41:22
SPEAKER_00: Totally takes a village.
41:23
SPEAKER_00: Girlfriend, it was an honor.
41:24
SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much.
41:25
SPEAKER_00: Merry Christmas to you.
41:26
SPEAKER_00: I hope you have the most blessed holiday season.
41:29
SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much.
41:30
SPEAKER_00: Merry Christmas to you.
41:31
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
41:31
SPEAKER_00: And I'll see you in 2026.
41:33
SPEAKER_00: See you in 2026.