ANNOUNCER: This program is brought to you in part by the City of Danville's Office of Economic Development and Tourism.

And by Santa Cruz Guitars and Santa Cruz Guitar Strings.

Additional support provided by these sponsors.

Hello, and welcome to The Life of a Musician, recorded live in the beautiful city of Danville, Virginia.

Tonight's episode is recorded from the W.F.

Patton House.

Let's step inside and listen.

-♪ That diamond ring upon her hand ♪ ♪ Is kind of small and modest ♪ ♪ She may not be a glamor queen ♪ ♪ Her life is full of simple dreams ♪ ♪ Yet she is his everything ♪ ♪ His hillbilly Goddess ♪ ♪ To her a day of shopping's ♪ ♪ Not a blessing it's a curse ♪ ♪ Instead of Dolce & Gabbana ♪ ♪ Smith & Wesson's in her purse ♪ ♪ She don't like no fancy restaurants ♪ ♪ The girl knows how to cook ♪ ♪ The only use she's got for sushi's ♪ ♪ Baiting up a hook ♪ ♪ To him she looks like Venus ♪ ♪ In her camouflage pajamas ♪ ♪ He thinks she deserves a monument ♪ ♪ In Athens, Alabama ♪ ♪ Brad's got Angelina ♪ ♪ But to him he's got the hottest ♪ ♪ This country girl's no glamor queen ♪ ♪ Her life is full of simple dreams ♪ ♪ To him she is his everything ♪ ♪ His hillbilly Goddess ♪ ♪ This country girl's no glamor queen ♪ ♪ Her life is full of simple dreams ♪ ♪ She is his everything ♪ ♪ His hillbilly Goddess ♪ -Thank you very much for doing Hillbilly Goddess for us.

-It's my pleasure.

Thanks for asking.

-And I'd like to welcome everybody back home to The Life of a Musician , and introduce my guest, singer-songwriter extraordinaire, Miss Alecia Nugent, all the way from Nashville, Tennessee.

-Hi.

Thanks for having me, Brandon.

Thank you.

-Thank you for coming.

-Yes, absolutely.

Glad to be here.

Thank you so much, Brandon.

And thank you for that introduction.

That was very kind.

-Well, you're most welcome.

This is what we call an unscripted show.

So, yes, not a 100 percent sure what we're going to talk about, but we'll talk about something.

-Yikes.

-It's kind of like on Sunday when you go to Grandpa's house.

-Okay, all right.

-So, I guess the first thing I wanted to ask you was, you know, how was the trip from Nashville?

It's kind of a haul.

-It was a long haul.

Yes, about eight hours.

You know, it wasn't too bad.

I'm glad though, that you gave me that little tip to try to route my GPS to Greensboro, then here, because I think I would have gotten to a whole lot, a lot more traffic, you know, around Roanoke.

-Yes.

We were discussing what apps to use, either the iPhone app or the Waze.

-The Waze app.

-And we, I think we went with the Waze.

-I did, yes, of course.

That's also because I have a heavy foot, you know, and the Waze app tells me where the popos are.

-Oh, I've got a heavy foot too.

But that's, you know, we're glad you got here.

And here's Danville, Virginia, by the way, folks, if you didn't already know, from the show intro.

We're here with Miss Alecia Nugent, and she's been singing up a storm and doing some amazing things.

And so many things I'd like to ask, so many things like we're listening to your music and, you know, Louisiana, Nashville, Tennessee - did you ever see that in your wildest dreams as something that was going to happen?

-Well, yes, I guess I did.

Because, you know, I grew up, you know, wanting to be in the light of music, you know.

My dad played in a bluegrass band and I was also that little girl who sat in front of the TV during the CMA ACM Awards, you know, and said, "That's going to be me on that stage one day, you know."

So, I always knew that I wanted to be in Nashville.

In fact, I think my senior book, I signed, there was a page on there, you know, that said something about, where will you be in ten years, and I said, in Nashville, you know, so.

-And you actually made that happen?

-I did.

Although, you know, as you know, life sometimes throws a curveball and we, I mean, I did get married right out of high school and started having kids, you know, so I have three daughters.

And it wasn't until my divorce that I moved to Nashville in '02.

It wasn't easy, but at the same time, I mean, things kind of fell into place for me, you know, and I think all of that is just a Godsend, you know.

I mean, I think God creates things in His time, you know, to make things happen.

And I really can't take the credit, and I think that because people came into my life, you know, God put people in my path, you know, that allowed me to record a solo project that then Rounder picked up, you know.

And once Rounder signed me, you know, it was much easier to say, okay, I'm making that trip to Nashville and I'm making that move to Nashville, you know, even as a single mom, you know, with three kids.

And that was still a constant battle, you know, trying to balance home life and being a musician on the road, you know.

So, there was a lot of trips back and forth from Nashville to Louisiana.

So, it wasn't easy but, you know.

-I do get what you're saying, you know.

For everything that we want in life, there's a path to get it, and are you willing to overcome those things?

And have that drive, you know, to do that and to get there?

-It takes sacrifice.

-Absolutely.

-Most, definitely, yes.

-Well, another thing that, you know, you're an amazing singer.

You know, you're a wonderful singer.

That's the whole reason I said, you know, when I'm doing this show, I want to get Alecia Nugent on my show because I love her voice.

But you're also, you know, an amazing songwriter, and a pretty nice person who remembers names very easily, you know.

-I try.

-You have a lot of skills that wouldn't be, you know, so apparent that - small skills like remembering names and faces, and you're probably really good with addresses because you got here.

-No, that was only because that was in my email, you know, but the remembering names thing, I think that comes from probably being a car salesman back in the day.

-You were a car salesman?

-Sales person.

Should I say sales person?

-You know, say whatever comes to mind.

-Yes, when I moved back to Louisiana in '09, for three years, I sold cars.

I sold BMWs and Mercedes, and I had to make it a point to remember people's names because I wasn't very good at that, before that.

But that's something that you just work on, and you try to make a point to remember.

When someone states their name, you remember it.

-There's this amazing, beautiful song on one of your albums, beautiful song called They Don't Make Them Like My Daddy Anymore .

-Thank you.

-Can you tell me a little bit about the song?

-Yes, so I actually had the chance to co-write that with my good friend, Carl Jackson.

Obviously a tribute to my dad.

It's very specific about my dad, you know.

I lost my dad back in 2013 to lung cancer.

And, you know, I moved home in '09, was not planning to completely come off the road and leave the music business.

But I was getting ready to do my fourth album.

And then, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer, and I just decided I needed to just spend time with family.

So, anyway, my dad, you know, like I said earlier, he had a bluegrass band when I was growing up, and played the upright bass.

And he's the reason I love music so much.

You know, I mean, my mom played piano in church, you know, so I can't give it all to my dad, but I had music from both sides, but my dad absolutely loved Bluegrass, gospel, country music, you know, and he was the one that was always turning the dial, you know, on the radio.

And it was just as much a dream of his as it was mine to be able to play the Opry someday.

And so, when I finally had that opportunity back in '04, I asked my dad to come out and sing harmony with me on the Grand Ole Opry.

So, when I told Carl that I wanted to write a song about my dad to pay tribute, I wanted to make sure that there was something in that song about my experience of being out on the stage with my dad at the Grand Ole Opry, you know, because that was a very special moment, and I couldn't have picked a better person to write that song with me.

-I think songs like that have a life of their own.

- I do, too.

-Yes, that alas passed.

-Well, and you know, even though I was worried that this song would be so specific to my dad's life, you know, that other people wouldn't be able to relate to it because it is so specific, you know, and I was worried because... music is therapy for all of us.

You know, people usually like a song if they can relate to it somehow, and I've been so surprised because so many people have reached out to me after hearing that song and just-- they would name a line in the song, you know, and say that sounds just like my dad and I feel the same way about my dad, you know?

So, it still stands true, and I like the fact that people can relate to it.

-I do, too, and how about we play a little bit of that for him?

-Please.

-One, two, three, and... [mellow guitar notes] -♪ Born in Pollock, Louisana in 1945 ♪ ♪ He was just a teenage schoolboy ♪ ♪ When his poppa up and died ♪ ♪ So, at 18, joined the army, served America with pride ♪ ♪ Three years down the road he took my momma for his bride ♪ ♪ Raised me and my three brothers ♪ ♪ And couldn't save a dime ♪ ♪ Strangers to the high life ♪ ♪ But well acquainted with hard times ♪ ♪ I guess love was all we needed ♪ ♪ 'Cause we never really felt like we were poor ♪ ♪ And I ain't afraid to say it ♪ ♪ They don't make them like my daddy anymore ♪ ♪ Only a high school education but in the Bible he was versed ♪ ♪ No professor in the classroom, but a deacon in the church ♪ ♪ Loved Jesus Sunday morning and his Bluegrass Friday night ♪ ♪ Made sense to play the upright ♪ ♪ That's the way he lived his life ♪ ♪ Though he rarely said I love you ♪ ♪ I could feel it loud and clear ♪ ♪ Every time he hugged me tightly ♪ ♪ His eyes would fill with tears ♪ ♪ Even after heels and makeup ♪ ♪ He only saw the little girl that he adored ♪ ♪ There's one thing for certain ♪ ♪ They don't make them like my daddy anymore ♪ ♪ He filled my heart with music ♪ ♪ He's the reason that I sing ♪ ♪ From the time that I was 4 years old ♪ ♪ The reason that I dreamed of playing on the Opry ♪ ♪ Him standing by my side ♪ ♪ Thank God it really happened a few years before he died ♪ ♪ I'm sure when he crossed over Jordan ♪ ♪ Stood at the pearly gates ♪ ♪ The only time he'd been more nervous ♪ ♪ Was on that Grand Ole stage ♪ ♪ Likely said this feels familiar ♪ ♪ Played the Opry with my baby girl before ♪ ♪ Saint Peter probably chuckled ♪ ♪ We don't make them like her daddy anymore ♪ ♪ No, there ain't no doubt about it ♪ ♪ They don't make them like my daddy anymore ♪ I love you, Daddy.

-That was beautiful.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much for doing that.

-Well done.

Thanks so much.

-That was a little bit trickier than the average bird.

-Well, you know, that's Carl Jackson for you.

-That's Carl, absolutely.

-That is Carl.

-I think we were talking on the phone, and I said, "Whenever I hear something was produced by Carl, I know when I look at the chart, there's going to be at least six curveballs."

-That's so true, so true.

-There's a lot of learning on that.

What's it like for you to get to work with folks like that, you know?

-I mean, it's an honor, it's a blessing, you know, I mean, I certainly don't take it for granted, or at least I try not to, you know.

I mean, I know, so many people out there would love the opportunity to work with people like Carl, you know.

And, in my last record, you know, I got to work with Keith Stegall, who produced all of Alan Jackson's records, you know.

Those guys are just, they're just top notch, you know, in what they do, and it's just, it's so much fun, you know.

But I certainly am grateful for those opportunities, you know, and hope I get to keep doing it.

-Well, I think you will.

I hope you will.

Is there anything that you can say, you know, any particular lesson you can say you've learned from all of these processes?

I know, as an artist, you know, I'm always learning something from those people who know more than I do.

What are some things that you feel like you've picked up along the way since way back when you started?

-Oh, well, we, I mean, we definitely learn something different, you know, from every person that we work with in the studio.

With Carl, I mean, he's such a perfectionist, you know.

I mean, I could name so many things, but vocals, you know, are just so important to him.

You know, harmony, having that car horn sound, as he calls it, he actually calls it that that car horn sound.

You know, when the harmony is just right, because that's normally on like an acapella gospel song, you know, where it's a little elevated, you know, but still, you know, the importance of people blending together.

And Carl taught me so much about, you know, phrasing and blending with other voices, you know, and it's... -It's paid off.

-Well, thank you.

Thank you.

I mean, my dad taught me a lot of that, you know, before I had the chance to go in the studio with Carl, you know, but Carl is so meticulous with the way harmonies are, the way your vocals blend with someone else, you know.

-Yes, it's kind of like a master class, like you thought you knew something and then... -Yes, actually.

It's called the Jackson torture chamber, you know.

People who know Carl well, and I've worked with him, they call it the Carl Jackson torture chamber, you know.

And it's really not torture, but to some people, I can see where it would be, you know.

For me, it's fun.

-Right, exactly.

Well, and that's, you know, that's what keeps us going.

And that's what keeps us coming back for more of that is, we love it.

-And I want somebody to challenge me, you know.

I mean, that's how I am in the studio, you know.

If I'm singing it one way and there can be something better, you know, then please, show me, you know, and Carl's very good at that.

-Yes.

That's really awesome.

So, if you yourself, like if you, Alecia right now, could look back and see Alecia way back then, what advice would you give her?

-Probably to stand my ground a little more, you know, and not be so passive with... because I respect the people that I work with in the studio, you know, a lot of times I've felt like, I couldn't speak up and say, that key is really not comfortable for me.

And I wish I would have said, hey, can we lower this, you know, to where it feels more comfortable, you know, and I don't sound like I'm screaming?

I know Bluegrass likes that high lonesome sound, you know, but tempos and keys and things like that, you know, that would be my advice is to go back and say, have a little more backbone in the studio to say, you're going to do it in the key you want to do it in, and you're going to... Not that I was forced to do it otherwise, but I would have been more vocal, I guess, you know.

-Yes, I've been exactly there, like my first project, like I wish I would have looked at this person I've admired my entire life and said what I was really thinking.

But then, you know, I'm glad I didn't.

-It's always good to be respectful.

-It's always good to be respectful, but I totally agree with you there.

-But an artist, and that's what I was trying to get to was, an artist still has to be their own artist, you know.

So, I think, sometimes, we can get in the studio with someone who tries to make a record more their style versus something that that artist would do on their own, you know.

So, I mean, you learn so much from those people, but then at the same time, I think it's great for you to still be the artist, right, and kind of put your stamp on it.

-And that's, you know, that's what's making you you, that's what, you know, gets you those Award nominations, you know.

It's that I sound like Alecia Nugent, and nobody else does.

-Well, and you know, it's funny, I'm thinking back on the last session that I did with someone where I was singing harmony with another female vocalist.

And I remember doing the harmony part and then stopping the producer saying, wait, sorry, I wasn't blending very well there.

I sounded more like Alecia Nugent.

And he said, no, that's why you're here because we want you to sound like Alecia, and I was just trying to match her vocal, you know, really be that blending harmony, you know, and kind of taken away.

But he said, no, it's those little nuances, those little things that you do with your voice is the reason we asked you to be here.

So, you just have to find that balance.

-Yes.

Well, that's really awesome, and I think you're doing an amazing job with it.

You know, what are some things that you think of when you say, okay, in the future, this is what I plan to do, or what are some things you're looking forward to doing, or accomplishing along the way?

-Well, I mean, I do hope to get back on the stage of Grand Ole Opry.

You know, that was always a feeling of accomplishment certainly, you know, to stand in that circle.

You know, I just want to make great music, you know, that's my only goal from here on out, you know.

Whether it's... call it Bluegrass, call it Country, you know, or whatever I do, I just want to put out great songs and great music and allow people to hear it, you know, and hope that more people will hear it.

-Yes, you just cast your bread on many waters.

-That's it.

-And see what comes back.

-That's it.

-That's really beautiful.

So, I think if you talk to artists, that's kind of the purity of it is we're looking to just to create.

And I think that's something that more people should focus on.

-Yes, I mean, I definitely want to get to songwriting more and more.

You know, I don't have as many opportunities these days.

I'm a little busy with grandkids, you know, but I love songwriting, and to be able to create more would be my goal, you know.

-No, I mean, I think it's going to happen.

-I hope so.

-I think if you decide you're going to do it, you'll actually do it.

-Well, I've been known to.

I'm pretty stubborn like that.

-Well, I think if that's one thing folks who maybe don't know you, can take away from just our conversation here is the fact that, you know, here's somebody who actually stuck to it and actually is accomplishing something.

-Well, thank you.

-I think that's pretty wonderful.

And my hat's off to you on that.

-Thank you very much.

I appreciate that.

♪ Did I hear you say you're from the lone star state ♪ ♪ I've got some real good memories of that place ♪ ♪ I left a real fine cowboy there when I rode away ♪ ♪ So please do me a favor when you get back out that way ♪ ♪ Tell Fort Worth I said hello ♪ ♪ Say you met someone in Tennessee ♪ ♪ A girl he used to know ♪ ♪ That town and him those times back when ♪ ♪ Just won't let me go ♪ ♪ So when you get back to Texas ♪ ♪ Tell Fort Worth I said hello ♪ ♪ Well I sure do miss those nights in old Cowtown ♪ ♪ Someday that's where I'd love to settle down ♪ ♪ He won't be all that hard to find ♪ ♪ If you just ask around ♪ ♪ I'm sure that he's still playing ♪ ♪ In that same ole Texas lounge ♪ ♪ Tell Fort Worth I said hello ♪ ♪ Say you met someone in Tennessee ♪ ♪ A girl he used to know ♪ ♪ That town and him those times back when ♪ ♪ Just won't let me go ♪ ♪ So when you get back to Texas ♪ ♪ Tell Fort Worth I said hello ♪ ♪ That town and him those times back when ♪ ♪ Just won't let me go ♪ ♪ So when you get back to Texas ♪ ♪ Tell Fort Worth I said hello ♪ -Thank you very much, Alecia for being on the show.

Thank you for... -Thank you for having me.

-And thank you, everybody, for tuning in to The Life of a Musician , and we'll see you next time.

ANNOUNCER: Thank you for being a part of our show.

We look forward to seeing you on the next episode of The Life of a Musician .

This program is brought to you in part by the City of Danville's Office of Economic Development and Tourism.

And by Santa Cruz Guitars and Santa Cruz Guitar Strings.

Additional support provided by these sponsors.