Jo Dee Messina stopped by the studio to talk about a major milestone in her career, new music on the way, and the journey that brought her back to releasing a full project.

Messina is approaching the 30-year anniversary of her first album, a milestone that prompted reflection on the music and memories tied to the beginning of her career. The anniversary also inspired a video celebrating what that album meant and how much it shaped her life. The conversation quickly turned to how fans are discovering her music all over again through social media. Messina has found a new wave of attention on TikTok, where clips of her songs and dance videos regularly circulate online. The platform has introduced her catalog to a younger audience while reconnecting longtime fans with the songs they grew up on. During a recent performance in California, Messina even reunited with the choreographer who created some of her early stage dances. The two recorded a new dance to one of her hits while she was performing at a festival, another example of how her music continues to evolve in the social media era.

While the viral moments have been exciting, Messina has also been focused on something she hasn’t done in years: releasing new music. It has been more than a decade since her last major release. The last full project tied to a major label came out in the late 2000s, though she did release music independently through a crowdfunding campaign several years later. Now she’s preparing to release a new album this summer, with the first single already out. The song, “Bridges,” carries a message she says comes from life experience. Growing up, people often hear the advice not to burn bridges because they might need them later. But Messina explained that sometimes walking away from certain paths is necessary. If a situation leads someone back to a place where they lose themselves or feel harmed, she believes it’s okay to let that bridge go. Although she loves every song on the project, Messina said she allowed others on her team to choose the first single because she had a hard time narrowing down the options.

The new record is especially meaningful because it represents something she has never done before. For the first time in her career, she wrote nearly every song on the album herself. Earlier in her career, many of the songs she recorded came from professional songwriters. This time, the record is deeply personal, filled with stories and emotions drawn directly from her own life. One of the most emotional songs on the album came from a conversation about relationships and faith. That conversation inspired a track that explores the idea of how life might look different if someone truly understood faith and its impact on relationships and family. Messina admitted writing the song was emotional from the start, and the vulnerability carried through the writing session.

Even after decades in the industry, she said self-doubt still exists. She remembers performing at huge venues early in her career and wondering whether she truly belonged on stage in front of thousands of people. At one point she performed at Texas Stadium and stood at the edge of the stage listening to the crowd roar, questioning how she had ended up there. Despite the success she experienced with songs like “Bye Bye” and “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” she said the pressure to keep delivering hits often overshadowed the excitement of reaching the top of the charts. Every number-one song simply created pressure for the next one.

Messina also reflected on the early years after she moved to Nashville from Massachusetts to pursue music. The first few years were difficult as she tried to survive while chasing the dream of becoming an artist. She spent time competing in talent contests just to earn enough money to pay rent. Winning those competitions eventually led to opportunities to perform on a radio show, where producer Byron Gallimore first heard her sing. Gallimore, who was producing Tim McGraw at the time, later helped launch Messina’s recording career. Messina shared a memorable moment from an early awards show involving Faith Hill. At the time, Messina was still relatively new to the industry and found herself surrounded by some of the biggest names in country music. Feeling a bit out of place, she remembered an interaction with Hill that left a lasting impression and made her feel welcomed in a room full of stars. On the other side, Messina also opened up about one particularly painful moment early in her career when a record label passed on signing her, saying she would have been signed if she were ten pounds lighter. Thirty years later, she still remembers the comment. Moments like that, she said, shaped her advice to her younger self: never sell out who you are just to succeed.

At times during her career she felt pressure to change her appearance or style to fit expectations. She remembers seeing promotional photos where she barely recognized herself because of the styling choices that had been made for her. Eventually she realized she couldn’t represent an image that didn’t feel authentic to who she was. Today, Messina says gratitude has become the biggest driver of her energy and outlook. Whether she’s performing live, writing music, or raising her children, she focuses on appreciating the moment. That gratitude carries into her live shows, where she brings high energy to the stage: running around, headbanging, and rarely standing still. Her fitness routine also plays a role. Messina trains regularly, lifts weights, and previously ran several marathons, including the Boston Marathon and the Chicago Marathon. At one point she even ran a half marathon in San Antonio and then immediately performed a concert afterward.

Despite the physical and emotional challenges that have come with a long career, Messina said she feels grateful simply to be here. That perspective also shapes how she wants to help others in the industry. She hopes to be a safe place for younger artists navigating the pressures of fame, offering support and encouragement when things feel overwhelming.

For Messina, the goal of this new chapter isn’t just about chart positions or accolades. It’s about making music that is honest, meaningful, and true to who she is now.

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