Kree Harrison

me this week. I'm obsessed with Creed. I've loved her for like ten years. I've known her and Nashville for over a decade. She's an angel on earth. She has the best voice I've ever heard in my life. I really mean that. She's so good and her story is incredible.

She got second place on American Idol in the midst of a lot of other amazing things she's done, which she just released new music too, called This Old Thing and it is so good and I got to hear the whole ep, and I'm telling you the whole album. She made a whole album. It is knock your socks off good. So get excited, world, because Cree Harrison is here and I cannot wait for you to hear everything she has going on. Welcome Cree. Okay, Cree Harrison, Hi,

sitting here with a fabulous create. We must know this is round two. Yes, it is, which is exciting because I just like hanging out with you. I appreciate that. I love hanging out with you. I know you're so busy, though, and I have to tell everybody what happened. Cree is a badass, and I was like, Cree, can I interview you? And she's like yes, and she's all this stuff going on. She's releasing her new album. She's like so incredible. We did this interview was so fun. It was, and then

I didn't record it. I just think that we were having too much fun, and that lead to not realizing that we were recording anything, which is fine with me. Until you're cool though, I mean, like so many people will be like, hell, no, I'm not doing another interview with you. Get out my hair. No, I don't care. Get in there, get in all of the hairs, get in you. I wish you do use dry shampoo. Yes, literally, just put some of my hair and you have I do.

I'm sure some of it looks like which hair. No. I think dirty hair is the only way to go is get that body. Curls better, stays better, do curler hair. I do a little bit. Yeah, it looks really nice. Your hair looks really nice. I curled it for you. I'm trying to do on myself up a little more this time. I was like, I'm gonna pull my hair. You always have good hair. Yes, I know, round too. And look it's recording. I see numbers happening. Your microphone's rolling.

It is. You have a quieter voice to me as I do. Okay, so I'm this is cool. I just I'm holding this People magazine right now and it's called the Best of American Idol. And oh wait, I'm gonna open and up there you are a creed because wait, oh yeah, you were runner freaking up on American Idol. I was. It's it's funny because when people they'll see me out. It was actually yesterday somebody was like, where

are you on the Voice or American Idol? And I always say Dancing with the Stars And they're like, what, like, yeah, I lost Dancing with the Stars. Hang it. They don't they goes right over their head, like you were in my living room. I just don't know why, but you were there. You were there. I remember what you did do some dancing on American Idol. Did you have to learn those moves? Yeah? Do you do a lot of spirit fingers, jazz hands, jazz hands? Do they call him

jazz hands? Do? No? I know you know, Kelly, but we were, Yes, we were um back for the finale and they made us line dance, which was hilarious. Everyone we did like a country medley. Well, I watched the finale and we all wear white and you come out and it's like amazing, all the people who have been affected by American Idol. Yeah, like the Idol family. It was really it was honestly like a high school reunion.

It really is an Idol family, it is. I know, you keep up with your cast, yeah, um, I mean you spend so much time with these people. You become really really close to him. I mean adore everyone that was you know, my top ten. After the show ends, you go on tour together. You know, how's the Idol Tour. It's the only one top five females, right, Yeah, Yes, we made Idol history. It was awesome. It was genuinely like at estrod Infest, there's so much did Joss periods

all link up? Probably? Yeah? Actually yeah for sure. On tour, yeah we did. How was that it was fun? I mean it was, um, you know, fast paced. I mean I feel like that in the show. I had to like center myself and rather than be tired and um, you know, I had to like take every minute in because it was just so fast. Were you conscious of

taking it in? Yeah? I was. I think being here in Nashville for so long, I realized that, like you know, ship happens so quickly, comes and goes, and the good or bad ways, and if you so, if you like, you have to just stay in a moment being here. Yeah, being here for as long as I did, I think that helped with my So you start at the beginning. You grew up in Texas. I did, And you always knew you wanted to sing. Yes, starting from like ten years old, you were doing competitions, You went on the

ROSEO Donald Show. Yeah, well, I I sang at every freaking local event in Texas that you can possibly imagine, from like churches to rodeos to festivals, operis um and then a friend sent in a videotape of me opening for Percy Sledge or Wayne Tubes one of those um and rose O'donald was like, hey, we want you to be a part of you know, our Talented Kids segments that in. Yeah, and then she like scooped you up. Yeah. I came home from school and my mom was like,

so you're gonna be on Roseo Donald. We got a peck or stuff and I was like, what what do you mean Donald? You kind of feel like, okay, cool? Oh yeah, I was fucking pumped. You were ready? Yeah, absolutely, Yeah, Okay, so you did the Roseo Donald show and then you also I thought it was cool you played the Apollo thing I did, yes for you? What was that? It was fun? How old were you like that age? No, I was eight then that was before I know, it's dumb. I was an infant. Uh you could already sing when

you're that young. I mean literally, it's the only thing that I know how to do. Right, That's not true. I know, I know, I know, like my hair like you're here. No, uh no, seriously, though I've known forever. I mean we were talking about this last time, like the first interview, which no, I mean how crazy it is. I mean, you've known for your whole life that you wanted to be in entertaining and I didn't know singing

like you knew and mine is not singing. Now I've realized you're singing, it's hosting, but you knew yours was singing. I feel like when you, while we have that in common, whenever you grow up and you're just like wanting to be creative in every way. Um, you know, I didn't start writing till I was fourteen, and that was another outlet for me. I think that you just realized that

once you get older. But you had always stemmed from me performing for sure, And we were talking in the first interview, but I think this is such a great point that we talked about. When you know your passion, like when you are born, knowing why you're waking up and knowing what you're meant to do on this earth, Like that's a really amazing thing, because some people kind

of wander and they never figure it out. I know, I know, I always I feel for that because I could I could not imagine not knowing and then also not being able to pursue music like I love. Yeah, I live eve and breathe music. I feel like some people think like chasing passions is exhausting, like, oh gosh, I could never do that. That's so time would be

more exhausting too, not that. Yeah, that's more draining to me because at least you know what you're chasing and why you're chasing it, and every little thing is it's a little step forward. Totally. No, I agree. I agree. Okay, so you got to Nashville, you had a you had Rosie o'donald so that kind of like got you into the public eye, which got you noticed by Lyric Street Records when you were ten. Yeah, and that's like a label that Rascale Flats got started on Daisy and then

they signed you at ten. So talk about that as a ten year old now working with a major label record deal, that's a big deal and kind of overwhelming, but probably not for you, know. I mean, I was just like, where do I sing? Where do you put me somewhere? And whether it be the city or on the stage, there was so great with me. I mean for working with a child, I thought, um, I mean even though I was never like one of those little annoying kids, running around. I've literally been this same adult,

chill person my whole life. But because you're only twenty five, but you feel so wise. You do. You have a just a constant, calm wisdom about you that I did not have a tent and I probably don't have that. You're really so chill and calm and like you just embrace things. Yeah you have to. How do you know that so young? Um, convincing myself that I don't know anything? That that works, I think like pretending that you know everything is not in your favor. So me admitting saying

I'm going to learn something every day. I don't know. Shit, that's mom and Dolly. But how do you get that? I don't know. I think my my parents probably, Yeah, my mom was very wise. Well, yeah, I'm a humble person. Speaking of that humble and kind an we talking about that. For your song, I just se hard. But every time it's the sweetest thing I've ever heard. I want. I mean, whenever you think about this is where my head went.

Like eventually, even like playing the song for my niece or something, my it's I'm just They're gonna come out and I'm just gonna continuously play them that song everything. It's the perfect lyric. It's perfect La McKenna, everyone, Lori McKenna, humble and kind timmercrossing in it, and it is the best. I think it's the best song I've ever heard. Yeah. But yeah, so that mentality my parents definitely like embedded at that in my head. My whole family, Like my

sister is, you know, lazy, she's amazing, she's the same way. Yeah. Yeah, mother of the Year, the years, the years. So you had to record that lyric street and at that point your family uprooted from Texas and they said, hey, we're gonna move with you to Nashville. Yeah. Well, the day we got the development deal offer, um, it was kind of it was just kind of emotional, Like me and my mom both were crying. It was like, I don't this last time, like our Judd's moment, Like we're literally

like making fun of each other about um. So it was because we like she didn't sing or anything, but we were definitely a dream team. Like she she supported you all the way, all the way. She took me everywhere, Um, you know, made sure that I still wanted to do it every day. She wasn't a stage mom. She just was supporting your dream. Yeah for sure. How cool. Yeah

it was awesome, So would happened. It's just like overall, so the family is I just think it's so cool that you had a family that was like all about your passion, like that believed in that stuff. Because some people would be like, oh, we're going to just stay here and you can go do stuff maybe when you're going, yeah, when you turn eighteen, do what you want. Yeah, no

they I mean I feel like too. It brought us closer together, if anything, like our family, um, and also you know, took us out of you know, a smaller town and um and in the best of ways. You know, my brother got to see snow and big tall buildings and uh, we got to travel together. And yeah, it was it was a good opportunity for everyone. I think.

So you have the older sister and an older brother and a little brother and there's four of y'all, yes at the third or four, which makes so much sense because because I'm like the what's the word, not the I don't know, the calm one like the referee is think, I don't know. I think that that's the reason why I am the way I am, Like I'm very calm and will defuse any sort of situation because I've had I've been in the middle of both sides, like you need to calm down, you need to sit down. So

never you're never causing the I definitely have. But yeah, no, most of the time not. I love my siblings. You know, Lazy Lacey is awesome, She's amazing. Yes, so she moved here with us. It was just you and Lazy and your parents and my little brother brother. Everyone else stayed in Texas. Um, which is your one older brother. I guess right, Okay, so he stayed. Uh and you know she what is she doing with this? Lacey fell in love with Nashville. She did, Yeah, she did. She had

a baby fourteen years ago. That's crazy than like help not right, I guess raise Yeah, yeah for sure. Oh no, well it's basically yeah, so your record I fell through it did well, I basically, I mean we butted heads for a while. Um, even then I knew that I didn't want to do like pop country or yeah, and not in a bad way, just as a I don't. I wasn't going to do that, Like I was very stubborn, and um, you know, they got it. I mean they

respected it, if anything. And um, shortly after we lost my dad, um, which was you know, sudden and tragic. So it was a year after I got the deal. So I just I needed to go home. I think we all just needed to like regroup and recharge and do some soul searching because I was not in the state of mind to like try and figure out who I was as an artist at eleven after you know, having a tragedy. So we went home. We moved back and lost my deal, which was for the best. Um,

So how did you when you were home? I mean, just spending time with family, honestly, Like it's it's very easy to recharge and think in an environment that we were raised in because there's literally it's a dear lease, it's it's there's nothing in that town, which is my favorite part. So you go there and you just, you know, that's how you sold search. I think we're removing yourself from like a rat race or a fast paced city.

For me, anyway, it's just like getting in tune with your self yep, for sure, and spending time with family. It was good for us at the time. Um. And then I was like thirteen and I started. I mean I kind of like stopped music for a second. Uh. I went to school and was like super normal. Yeah, I know, what a weirdo being normal? Creet, that's not

a good idea. UM, and my mom and I would you know, we're talking, and I was unhappy because I wasn't seen, because I wasn't being creative and realizing that that that's what I needed to do to to heal and grieve. Um, I like started writing songs and felt like I had something mistake because I was thirteen. Oh no, for sure, you already lived a big life at thirteen. Yeah, well yeah a little bit. So my sister still living in Nashville, we all thought it was a good idea

for me to move with her. Um at that time, your mom she was just gonna stay back in Texas, right to uproot him again, was you know, just not a good idea. So I went back and forth. Me and my sister basically raised each other. She's the best mom in the world. And how old was she? She had Rayley, who was like two or so one or two years old. So I played house, you know, I would go and write songs and do whatever during the day and then go home and play house and she

would go to work you know nights. Yeah, no, she's literally I'll always think that lazys ng the mood. Yeah, for sure, she's just awesome. Yeah. Why is she's such an awesome mom? Um? Because she's selfless. She's still fun. She's really got that spunk you know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, No, for sure, she's she's just self worry she was. I mean, she's got a million purposes in life that I'm sure she'll tackle all but um, one of them was how maternal she is. Like she was she always did that

with us. You know, I was like her baby doll growing up. She was eight when I was born, so she literally played house with me. You know, it's full circle anyway. And then with amazing that I know, I love that kids, and it was so was it kind of fun though when y'all were just two sisters in your thirteen now, so I mean, yeah, you could get into a lot of trouble if you wanted to. Absolutely

we got into some trouble together. And then when it came to the time, she would be like, all right, sit your auk down, this is then she would like play a mom. You know, she's amazing. But um yeah, so I wrote for a while and um, Trey Bruce actually was the first one that got me into writing. He's a big hit songwriter and producer. He's written Whisper My Name to You Can't Lose Me by Faith Hill, Yes,

Faith Everything she is. Um yeah, and introduced me to like the writing unity, and I just you know, befriended like basically everyone that was over at Chris Slis where we all signed, Like King Billy was your first publishing. It was King Billy and Chris Jansen and Lucy Sylva's who are all Osborne or brothers Osborne met Lucy was through because I remember that day. Now they're married, which

is my favorite couple. Lucy Sylvias if you don't know her, she's from England and she's a songbird amazing, She's incredible. She's married to John Oswinne from Brothers Osborne Cree hangs with a cool group of people. Somehow they let me because you're a I'm just kidding, umall, and like yeah, Chris Jansen and King Billy they were like the biggest

band in town in Nashville firm. Yeah, we were like, you know, I was the female artist and Chris Jansen was the Mill and then they had their band King Billy. So I don't know what, just kind of felt like college for me, you know what I mean, Like I was taught a lot by um Given John. Oh. You know, I've listened to great music growing up, from Otiss Ready to Role Haggard, but he taught me like who Patty Griffin was and Darrell Scott and um you know all those guys. We learned a lot from my friends at

the time. I mean, I still do. But there was inspiring to like get in the writing world of things, not knowing that growing up, you know, which is also cool because on American Idol you're saying when a Patty Griffin song, and it was like I did bring the house down. That was It was fun. It was I mean, that whole experience was freaking nuts up on a mountain, up to the mountain, up to the mountain, and then

full circle. Since I know that since Arity interviewed you, yes, and then Emily Harris happens to watch American Idol, she loves it and she loves you. Yeah, well it's freaking mutual. That woman's an angel. But the fact that Emily Harris watched American Idol. I know a Patty Griffin song, and then she tell me what she invited you to do well is like unbelievable. It is full circle. It's can't actually handle it. Tell that whole story because people are

going to die. She and I've become pretty good friends. You've become pretty good friends, Emily Harritt, like you have her cell phone? I do. I know, it's freaking weird. Manad my dog gave me love after her you did so. I didn't know that. God, I mean, she would actually love that. She don't. She's obsessed with dogs. The first time I met her, I sing at her or for her pet what's it called? She has that pet? Adoption?

Apt you or I saying at that little benefit concert or whatever that she asked me to do, and she was, you know, so lovely, and we've just befriended each other. Went over to your house like a month ago. I played on my record just because I was like so auntie and anxious to know what she thought because I respect her so much. She freaking loved it, which is like, Okay, I don't have to go play in traffic now. And then that was the ultimate litmus test. Good, yeah, it was.

It was so she called me, uh yeah, yeah. She called me a couple weeks ago and asked if um I would be their special guests for this around that her Petty Griffin and Buddy millerd are doing. It's crazy full circle. But I've I've obviously you know, known to me for a minute, and Buddy Miller, who I love as well. But I've never got to watch Petty live, much less hang out with her. So we're in around with her on a show. I'm playing a song. Yeah, I don't. I don't even know. Can you even believe

your life? I mean you were meant to sing? Yeah? No, I'm very very thankful for the people that I'm around to materialized dreams though, like okay, you go on American Idol, you get second place, like your voice is so good, but like to actually now have it be like notice on the level it should. And then Emmy Lou Harris, people that you respect what to do with my hands ever? Um, for the people that respect, you know, my stuff as much as I respect them, I don't know, It's just

a crazy thing. It's like I'm very very blessed. I think that's so freaking yeah. Okay, so you're in the writers I had a segue because we can't forget that story because it's just love. It's the best. So you're in the writing community. Now you're hanging out with the brothers Osborne, Chris Jansen, Licy Syliva's and your friends with Kasey Musgraves. And now like you're living with Marion Morris, who's like up and coming in country. Like you're just

in the scene. So a lot of record labels were really interested in you, and I remember I told you this, like you were like the darling of this town. You still are so sweet when you came to Nashville. When I came to Nashville, I think you've been here a little before me. I'm like a decade older than you, and you and you look younger. Could be your mother. God, actually you should raise me that you're much wider. I'm

like years behind. You'd be screwed, let's be honest. But yeah, what was it like being in Nashville with like all the record labels because so many people wanted to sign you, and then it's just I felt like it nothing quite came together all the way. No there was you know, uh, I would do showcases and there would be things on the table and then it just wouldn't make sense or

it didn't work out or um. I mean honestly, I didn't feel uh I realized that now that I was completely ready for any of that, Red, why weren't you ready yet? I mean I just wasn't exactly sure who I was as an artist. I mean I think that you you know constantly, Uh can what's the word I'm looking for? Evolve? As a thank you? I'm a dropout as well? Um not everyone needs school? Oh god, yeah, I actually disagree with you. Think I definitely need to

go back to school. I can't. I have to look up those words and the Children's Dictionary and then those words and then just kidding, um no, but I don't know. I just I just didn't think I was ready emotionally or um as an artist and which is sure of your talent, but just totally yeah, what what exactly what I wanted to say? And um my lane as far as you know being an artist anyway, So it worked

out for the best. I've never released anything, but um, I remember one time in particular, like we were signing, like paperwork was on the table. We had a fucking cake like we were celebrating still and it's official. Um And a week later, these two labels merged. It was John Grady and Mark Brown. It's so many and they emerged and I was like, oh ship, now what I said? Okay, so we're not going to do this because they weren't there. The people that were signing me were leaving. And that's

the thing too, that people don't realize. You don't. It's not like this record label. It's like this this this machine. It is a machine, but it's people to have your team that gets you, that believes in you. It's your advocate. So when you're they were amazing. Yeah right, you just don't know. But again, like I said, everything happens for a reason. I really do believe that it was a blow. But then honestly, I mean I don't know. I think that you just have to we were talking about earlier.

I think my parents just embedded that in my head, like having the whole life isn't fairs. Yeah, I mean, it's honestly just kind of annoying, Like I don't like being around it or putting it out, and it doesn't get you anywhere, because no one feels really sorry for a victim because truly, Also, it could be so much fucking worse, Like I could be starving in a fucking foreign country rather than going, oh they don't want to sign me anymore. That it's just silliness. But that's perspective,

and I don't feel that everyone has that. Now, you're right, but I mean those people are in my life, but that don't have that mentality because it's you know, life isn't fair, get over it. Yeah, it's true. And we're supposed to learn the lessons, and I think you don't learn all the lessons if you just have perfect all the time. Exactly, you have to have no the bitter before the sweet, right to taste the sweet. Is that how it goes? It is true, it is yeah. And

then so after that happened the other blow. Um My, we lost my mom. So at this point to right, yeah, so at this point, how is nineteen And it was just honestly like the worst case scenario for our family, you know. Um so I went back Texas again. It was just like this, Oh yeah, like where you grew up. Texas will always have my heart. I love Nashville, but my whole family is there, you know, and I just like the culture like we live in. I went back to him where my family is. Yeah, we don't you know,

have the house we grew up into. Well, and you did a really cool piece on did so you saw that, like we still have that property, but the house is you know, okay, and then it's kind of weird, like we want to fix it and like redo it, but I don't know, like it's it's hard to like go back and think that you have to like remove the literal like wall where your you know, your family was last at that, you know, like because they're not here anymore. And I don't know, it's just the memories are in

the walls and stuff like you know. Literally, Yeah, how was doing that piece for American Idol? Like for people who didn't see it, what was that like for you? Those emotional So Top three you get to go to

a home story. Um, I have to say that one of the producers was his name was b Rob and he went he came and didn't mind like the camera guys, we were all very close at this point because you spent like a damn year of your life with him um so I just remember him like pulling me aside and saying, look, I know how like emotional and impact and impacting is that a word? Yeah? God, like you don't you don't need school. You think you do, but

you don't need at all. I'm ever thinking it, um which is what they teach you in school is to not overthink in second guess yourself. So yeah, it was just it was just really emotional and I just remember him pulling me aside and saying, like, at any point, you need to stop or whatever. Like it was so selfless of him to do that, because I mean it's TV. It's like it's good TV. You can't make this ship up.

So it's like they would probably most of the time be like, yes, let's get her, she's bawling, and corner, let's follower. You know. It was just really really thoughtful. I'll never forget that, but um, it was. It was amazing. I mean I felt so much love and support from you know where I'm from, which was really cool to like it was almost tangible, like the amount of support. Yeah, it was really fun. And Lacey came with you did

my little rock. Yeah, it was really fun. We were very very much all though, like walking in the house and um, you know, like you said you can if you know phil um the presence of you know, people that we've lost, and then also like the same smells and I don't know, it's kind of eery, but it was fun. It was really cool. It was a really cool moment, and I have it captured. Honestly, I have not seen it because I feel like I would ball like a little brat, but um, it was. I was

happy that I did it. I am, and I saw that I thought you were very brave to do that, and I thought it was very um. He share seemed healing, you sharing your story and well, I've always sicking, I'm sorry, I'm interrupted. Well, I always always thought there's no way I'm gonna do that because I don't want like the

pity party or like the sympathy vote. No. I realized that as I was doing it, like for people to not just to get to know me, but um, I don't know, for people to have something to relate to and not fill alone and see like, oh, you have had a lot of loss and it's been rough and whatever, that you can come out on the other side and not have like the ship end of the stick mentality. You know, truly, you stayed inspired, you stayed totally. But I mean I've I've gone up and down for sure.

It's a freaking roll, you know, roller coaster of emotion. But yeah, I'm I'm happy. I'm happy. I'm blessed that I had good parents for as long as I did, even if it was a short time, rather than parents all life. You know, that's a really it's quality not quantity, you know. I agree. And your parents are so involved in your life. They were like hands on and they were really just cool. My dad wrote Harley's and listen to you know, bad Company. Yeah, I love it though.

He was the sweetest thing ever. Um, but yeah, where are we? Okay? So you're on American Idol. You do that awesome piece your top three. How are you feeling when you're standing there and now you are the final freaking two for American Idol on the biggest reality singing show in the entire world and you are freaking standing on there as one of the two remaining. I just I didn't see it as like is that that situation?

For some reason, Literally, me and Candice, who was the winner of season twelve, She's amazing, literally one of the funniest people I know. I think Ryan Secrets was a little freaked out of how calm we were, because I mean he literally said, I've never known to finalist finalists too, just be here because we are very much alike, just

very like, we're very similar in that way. Um. And the truth is we're standing there talking shipped to each other because we think it's funny that everybody's like, it's going to happen, yes, because I mean, at this point, we already feel like we've made it, We've done. We've came here to do what we were trying to, which is basically have a following, have a platform of you know, immediate uh following. I guess you know people be aware of Yeah, totally, which is exactly what happened. It was

amazing we get to go on tour together. So yeah, there was never like, oh god, what if I don't win. Um, so this is I swear to you from like top forty. We would just always be like, hey, whenever you win, don't embarrass me, Like we would say that to each other all the time. So we're standing there, um, and it's right before Ryan's like, dim the lights. I mean, it's like literally gives me anxiety about it. Oh god. Um. Yeah, so we're just like talking to each other. I'm trying

to remember what I said. Oh I know, So when you win, you have to perform your single, whether or not you're bawling or not, Like you have to go for it right then, right totally? No one, Um, and even if you're not like a very emotional person, the journaline rush, the energy, the support from everything, this crowd going nuts. I mean, it's just like it will make anybody emotional. It's overwhelming, and I'm the best of ways. So anyway, I just said, um, she said, whenever you win,

don't embarrass me. I was likening like right before. Ryan's like, what the funk are y'all doing? And I'm like, okay, whenever you win. Um, if you if you cry, I mess a song up, I'm gonna push you off the stage. Like we're just waking ship to each other a little. I swear like I love so much. Oh god, no, I know, I mean, god, I'm after this, we should just sucking FaceTime er because you would love her so much.

She's hilarious and I probably verbat him. Sure, she'll be able to be able to remember why can't I talk right now? A little miss? She will be able to remember it probably verbat him because it was hilarious. How great though that you guys weren't like devastated, like because

you got second place that's winning. I mean if I got like forty forty place, I would have thought, this is awesome, you know, just to be like in validated that you honestly to say that you're like one of the best voices in the kind tree like that is well, I just never thought of it that way. But more than anything, like to be involved in that process and like, yes, being in Nashville has taught me so much does every day.

But I wouldn't have worth ethic without that show. I would have never I would never know what to do with a damn camera in my face. I would not you know, have made lifelong friends like it. For me, it wasn't necessarily about the popularity contest of winning. It was the everything that I learned and people have met through the whole damn process. Like it was crazy. I made lifelong friends. Um, I mean there's just so many like some of the producers, uh gosh, down to like

hair and makeup. I mean that you just because it take it so close, the whole old team. It literally took the idle village. And you said you got to like have a wardrobe every day. I know it was a girl's dream for that part. And I hate shopping. I hate shopping for myself. I hate shopping for clothes. I love antiquing or like going and buying gifts or whatever, but I do not like going to a damn dressing room with hospital lighting and trying on clothes. I get hot.

I don't like it. It's stressful. I have someone who already has all your measurements and sizes and fine, and they just bring you clothes it fit. You're like, nope, yes, nope, chance they're going to fit. Right, That's so wonderful. It was really fun. And the shows the Shower's Girl. I got some shoes to show you. Do you take home your outfits? Do you still own them? I? Seven? What do you wear? I figured you did? You would wear a seven. I feel like all of my friends have

the tiniest fucking feet. Maybe that's normal, and I just have huge skis. Nine that's great, right, But I'm shure. So you think that my he would be smaller and they're not. My sister has like sized tin Really is she my hype five four? That makes sense? I don't know. Anyways, I would share my skis with you, but they would veit. Yeah. So what were the judges like? They're awesome? I mean yes, Mariah Carey, Keitherban, Riney Jackson and you were wife these

with Nikki? What ho was about that? There was? There was this um particular time where I think it was top forty I'm pretty sure. And she I don't know. She was just really sweet and was always about me, and she made this comment of like, well, you know you're my wife. That was her thing and yes, can you imitate her voice? Yes? Yeah. She she she would just be like creed, um, I am cessed with you. You're

you know you're my wife. And I would just be like, yes, I know this, um And then she's like I think she said, how is it possible that your sexiness? Oh? I can't, I can't. I don't know, That's all I got. I don't ask, I can't. But she did say, um, how how possible? How is it possible that you're sexy? Sexiness level? What up again? Tonight and I said, I'm just trying to do my wife proud, and everybody lost it. And then from then on we were like the couple.

I wore a fake engagement men just to be an ass because I thought it was funny. Um. Yeah, she's awesome. She's the sweetest thing and very very smart. Yes, yeah, very smart she is. I mean some people would call it a gimmick, and I just think that it's a fucking marketing. She's a marketing genius and she's authentically owns it. She does like it's like not fake for her, Like she like is that all the time? And then Keith urban the sweetest And then you played the Opery with him?

I did, and you said, oh I have a quote from you that what what did you say? Where's all my notes? Um? He said something about how like playing the Opery was your greatest dream and like it was to accomplished that kids always wanted to do that. Yeah, I mean there's a Whenever I was on Rosie the first time they she asked me like, what are my dreams and goals or whatever? And I told her, you know a few things. And then grand Ole Opry would

would just be an honor to play. So I've been wanting to do that for Mob, you know, since I was probably three, and then you did it with Keith Urban. Yes, he told me after the finale of my season and vital that I was asked to play and we both cried. He told you that you're asked to play after Did he tell you that on TV? It was after it was back, Like we were literally walking to press and he's like, hey, I gotta tell you something that's stopped

really quick, and like we literally both cried. He cried too. Yeah, I was just I mean, he's the sweetest thing. You know, he's the sweetest thing ever. But he Eithervan. I've always I thought you've met I thought you've met him in my dreams. He's just he's genuine, like he's one of the few, and he like he looks at you when you're talking. There's no like, where else do I need to be, even in the middle of chaos, and he um, why do you think he's like that? I don't know,

I really, I mean maybe it's rain or something. Yeah, well that was pretty as so he started crying with you. He did. Now, it was very emutional. I mean, I just couldn't believe it. I was like, what am I to do now? Like, this is one of my biggest I mean genuinely though, that was the big leagues for me seeing on the opera stage. How does that feel to like accomplish things on your bucket list just like

you think it would? Do you have to get new dreams? Oh? Yeah, I think that's good for you, right, it is good for you. So after Idle, you made an album I did. I took a little bit of time off just because I needed to like recharge after the craziness of you know, you think about it was a year and a half of my life. So I wanted to come back to Nashville right, figure out my team, make sure I was okay, you know, in a good place, uh, Because I mean after that it was like a crash. I was like,

what do I do now? You know, it's crazy. I can relate to you just from an amazing rate to exactly it is so intense. You have crew falling around, you have cameras everywhere. You're so intense every day and then it literally is over. Yeah, it's it's it's kind of it's a it's not like a a low moment, but you cry just from totally you're on. When you're on for that long period of time, you're never off. And so how long was American Idol a year and

a half. I mean auditions, that process goes, you know, months, and then once you know, you start filming that's I don't know, three weeks, and then the show is live for another three weeks and then you go on tour. But you're just at this high adrenaline, adrenaline constantly, just like you were saying, like once you once you get off whatever show, whatever schedule, that's crazy. Yeah, I crashed, So basically I had to just like regroup, come back

and regroup again. Um, which was good for me. I definitely do I think it is too Yeah, I mean for me, I speak for myself, but I have to what happens, Like you said, nothing last forever, Like these highs don't last forever. These lows and lasts forever, and you're constantly just having to navigate the highs and the lows. No, and I think it's good for you, like to just be on all that time, that whole time. I don't know, you gotta I feel like you gotta separate yourself or

I do again just me? Yeah, you know, didn't happen when you crashed. I just like needed to figure out how I was going to make a live studio record and with who who would want to do that? Everyone? Um well, I mean as a new artist, it's kind of scary. Your voice is like one in a million. That's what you maybe don't know. No, I know, I mean I it's you know what you have to know. I do know, yeah, yeah, I know, it's what I do. But um, I wanted to make sure that I wasn't

gonna have asced. So I didn't want to like come off the show Russia, good record and then have to go play it just for the momentum Like I just needed to remove myself. Um, so I did. I wrote for UM. I started writing for this company called Plaid Flag Um and we sat down and had a conversation about getting an investor for a live studio record. Did it? I started writing a year before, Uh, we make the writer.

We made the record and studio album. Well, I mean, I've always wanted to like more than just me, wanting to emote more, you know, and I feel like live I did explain most albums are studio album. Yeah, So what's the difference between a live album and a studio recorded album. Obviously you're in a studio, but yeah, yeah, yeah, break down the difference. Well, my influences would go to a studio, be in one big room and literally track everything to tape. So that's what I did. I picked

a studio in Asheville, North Carolina. It was beautiful. I didn't even see any of it take except for the studio, but it was enough for me. Um, it was this old church. Jordan Lenning, I know it was, I'll show you pictures, but Jordan's Lenning is just a brilliant man, and he told me about the studio. Um, I don't know. It's just like Erie likes walking in with all of my amazing friends who played on the record, um, like eight dudes, and it was like some somewhere somebody did

something wrong. This is all too freaking perfect. That's that's how you know you're on the right path. No, totally, but it was just like, oh god, this is happening. Um. So yeah that I was like, this is your first album. Yeah it is. But that's the reason why I want to do it live, because all the you know, little imperfections and like you know otis reddings, you know, breaths in the middle of whatever of tracking like that that makes me so happy. You don't want it to be perfect,

well I did. I wanted it to be real, but I wanted it to be Um. I didn't want it to be too like clean, if that makes any sense. Um, because a lot of albums, each instrument will go in track, each part, and then you can cut and paste in like auto tune, and obviously everybody does some of that, and I respect that. I just didn't want to do it that way because, um, I didn't think that it would come across as real as I wanted it to,

you know. Um. But yeah, it was really fun and um we had our friend Jason coming like just capture everything, like and it was just like, I don't know, seeing this footage there's a lyric video for this old thing that he did. Uh. Seeing it all together was just like it seemed like a dream. It really did. That's kind of cheesy, But what is a dream? You dreamed it up? I did. That's what it feels like a dream. Well, we all did. I mean, it was definitely a team

of amazing people. That now I have. So that's that's why it took so long to make a record. You found your team. Yeah, isn't it crazy that that you literally can dream things up in your head and they can become real. I'm a huge believer in that visual lies. No, I do, Like, I don't know how you would say this. I don't know. I think of dumb things, mostly at a bar stool on a bar stool with my friends drinking whiskey, and I'm like, oh man, what if so

you're always dreaming? Oh yeah, right, I mean I feel like all creative people are that way. I agree. I don't know, but yeah, I'm really proud of this record. And it's called this is the Whole album called this Whole Thing, which that is the coolest title. Really. Well, when when I heard that you put out a song and your album is to come and you haven't released the album yet, right, No, that'll be uh this year. I don't know when. Really, I think it will be

like the end of summer perfect or something. When you released this Whole Thing though, I just thought to myself, like, that is like the perfect song for you, because just knowing you and how cool you are and how like humble, you are company. You're so talented, but you don't like take yourself so seriously, like you know, like you're just like so chill and so cool and so relatable and yet so unrelatable because your talent is out of this world.

But yeah, you don't make anyone feel like you're on voating in the galaxies because you're so good, like you make people feel you're you don't, You're just relatable. But yeah, you're so talented. And then that title, I was like, of course, it feels like just home. I love that you're saying that, mostly because I don't know. I had this like crazy, uh, I thought when I was there,

you know, we're recording this, and I have this old book. Um, it's just like I don't know why it's my favorite thing, but I was bringing it to show one of the guys because I just thought it was cool. It looked like old and it looks like I think this book was published in like the eight hundreds or something like, it's just an old poetry book. I was just being a nerd, like showing it off and I'm looking at it as we're recording, Um, and we're recording this old thing.

And I was like, holy shit, this is the cover of the record, this book and this fun and it's going to be called this old thing because this is like this old sound I've been trying to find and figure out and make for how many years? You know? Yeah, sixteen years. Yeah, I don't know. It was just kind of a commitment to craft. Yeah, yes it is. Yes, committed. Yeah, I'm so committed that I'm going to be admitted pretty soon.

I don't know what that means actually, ever. No, it's so good because they're just trying to truth in it. I think insane, absolutely, but it's insane together, which makes it fine exactly. That's amazing. So committed I'm going to be when you Oh god no, but that's the best part too, Like I didn't realize how much we could use this whole thing to our advantage, like making merge right now, and like there's two shirts to say that

this old thing, like this whole I don't know. I just I'm I'm really proud of that song and then also having it to be the you know, the name of the record title track. So excited, Thanks fabe, thank you, You're the best. Okay, So I'm gonna wrap up, and this interview did record glory hallelujah. If it didn't, I could totally just do it again. Not there are times a charm. Two times you're an angel. For redoing it,

You're an angel. I don't mind. But actually everyone is gonna be jealous because after we wrap this interview, I get to hear your whole album, of this whole thing. Yes, I'm so excited for you to hear it. I cannot wait to hear it. But leave your life. Give me some inspiration. How do you inspire people or how have you been inspired? What's just an inspirational, inspiration, inspiring message you want to share? Um? Oh yeah, that smokey Um. Smokey Robinson was one of the mentors on IDOL and

he was just very very sweet. I was trying to take it all in because I was fan growing the funk out of him. I was one star struck and I've never been that way ever. Um, what was it about him? He's just I don't know, he's got just such a star quality walk into the room. He walks into the room and just takes it all up like in the best of ways. He's the sweetest I mean, he's been one of my influences my whole life, so that has a huge part to do with it. But

he's just cold human being. But he uh, he said, you're amazing. But just remember, no matter how high her head gets in the clouds, always keep your feet on the ground. And I was like, that's just something that everybody should live by in general. So that is my inspirational quote for the day. I love it and I think I do cheers. We both do? Yes? Is that a thing? Though? Yeah? That is freaking beautiful. Also, thanks Marine God. Yeah, my cousin, Cannon Louis designed it. She

does Cannon Louis jewelry. If anyone wants to know Cannon Louis. Yeah, girl endorsement. Okay, oh we should get you some jewelry. I would love I would love that. Okay, yeah, I'll talk to her because you got good stuff and I love your bolo that you have on Thanks Kitty Nashville, everybody, yes, his favorite story. I didn't interview with Sarah about her store. Kitty. I genuinely a I love all of the girls because they really sweet. But um, it's just good stuff, good stuff,

and it's comfy. I know, I feel cute in cash all the same time. Okay, Caree Harrison, You're the best, the best. Okay, this whole thing, everyone get it? Yes, iTunes ituned, Carol Lam, She's a queen of talking. She's only got the scoop on. No one can win, caral Lam. I hope you guys loved hearing from Cree. She is just the best. She's the best in everyway. Love that girl. Go get her song, this whole thing. I'll be on

the look up for her album coming soon. It is so good you are not gonna want to miss it. Her music. It is amazing. So excited for her future because it's bright as the sun. Next week, Corey Crowder is joining me. He is a hit songwriter. He wrote several hits for Chris Young, I'm Coming Over, and he just had Think of You with Cassidy Pope and Chris Young that Do What They both went number one. He's on a streak. He is also an incredible producer. He

produces Chris Young Cassidy Pope. He also is married to spoken hot wife and they are having a baby on the way. He already has a little boy and he just talks all about how I got started his MTV days, how he got picked up and all the songs got put on, like Real World and all the MTV shows, and he tells us all that journey. He's hilarious and awesome and so talented. So tune in next week for Corey Crowder and don't forget to subscribe on iTunes under

hyper Caroline Hobby. Subscribe and like it and leave me some comments, give me some love, girls and boys. Okay, see you all next week. By