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Jo Dee Messina Talks Being An Artist In The '90s And Collaborating With Tim McGraw

Jo Dee Messina provides valuable advice to budding musicians seeking success in country music.

In January, country music icon Jo Dee Messina will be celebrating the 27th birthday of the smash hit "Heads Carolina, Tails California." The 1996 classic was Messina's debut to the world and served as the lead single from her self-titled album, co-produced by Tim McGraw and Byron Gallimore.

From day one, McGraw advocated for Messina's music and became a frequent collaborator. The powerhouse vocalist recently (Oct. 26) caught up with Trailblazers Radio with Fancy Hagood to discuss what it was like working closely with the "7500 OBO" singer, breaking into the genre in the '90s, and the legacy she would like to leave

Messina told Hagood that stepping into the music industry at the time was challenging because the genre was experiencing a significant shift and slowly welcoming female musicians.

"It was coming out of the male-dominated format, which ebbs and flows. When I was looking for a record deal – it was, 'Well, they already have a female.' It was like, 'Oh, what about this label? Well, they already have a female,'" said Messina. "So, it was very male-dominated at that time. And then, you had people just kind of... little by little, one girl, one female would come out, and then another, and another, and another."

She vividly recalls when women became more prominent in the genre. While Messina witnessed the evolution of country music firsthand, she believes Dolly Parton would agree that it has never been easy to satisfy listeners or executives.

"I remember it being, 'It's such a female-dominated industry.' You know what I mean? I was like, 'Well, don't go back,'" she shared. "If you sit with someone like Dolly Parton, she'll be like, 'First, you say it's too country, then it's too pop, then it's too country, then it's too pop, then it's too male, then it's too female, and then it's too.' So, it goes through phases and seasons. I've, unfortunately, lived long enough in my 27 years that I've seen it all."

Long before Messina inked a contract with Curb Records, the label only wanted to record three or four songs. However, McGraw recognized Messina's potential and pushed for a full-length collection. Following the chart-topping project, they went on to work closely together.

"He [Tim McGraw] produced my first record," she explained. "He produced 'I'm Alright.' And he produced the 'Burn' record."

She declared that it was McGraw's idea to release a cover of Dottie West's timeless tune "A Lesson In Leavin'." Messina said that the label instantly turned down McGraw's request and refused to put a rendition on a debut album.

"McGraw, actually came up with that, and we had seen a story about her, and he's like, 'Oh, man. That song, 'A Lesson In Leavin',' sounds like you. You got to record that.' That was kind of his brainchild," she shared. "I think it was for the first record, and they're like, 'No, we're not going to cover anything for the first record. You don't do any cover songs.'  But when the second record came around, he was like, 'Okay, now, we get the cut.' So, that was, yeah, McGraw's brainchild."

The chilling cover now lives on her sophomore record, "I'm Alright." While creating magic in the studio, the two did not realize that they were positively impacting the country music space and leaving a legacy.

"I don't know that it's something that I did on purpose. I was just trying to stay on the chart and stay relevant. And if you look back at my career, there's certain things I never sang about," she uttered. "I never sang about drinking, and I never sang about cheating. And so, those were the things... I wanted songs that I could relate to. I don't know that it was a conscious thing."

Messina declared that it was tough when the label encouraged her to sing about specific topics that she couldn't resonate with.

"I had a really hard time when the record label would ask me to record things that I didn't feel. I was like, 'Nobody's going to believe it.' I was so much wearing my heart on my sleeve. So, if I didn't relate to the song, people would be like, 'That's not her…,'" expressed the songstress. "I was in a happy space. I love making music, and I love singing, and that comes through."

The icon would like to see aspiring musicians or fast-rising stars navigating the country genre today to stay true to themselves.

"Advice to anyone coming up, I would probably say, don't sell out who you are just to be famous. Don't sacrifice all your moral values and things like that just because you want to be famous for the moment," stressed Messina. "When it's all said done, you're left with the aftermath, and it's not always pretty. I'm an example of that… It's kind of like, I burnt my hand on the stove. Don't do that. Don't do that. Don't touch the stove. And I never said, 'No.' I didn't know how to say 'No.' And so, my life wasn't my own. I mean, I was gone constantly." 

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