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Carly Pearce on country music’s big year and that viral moment with a heckler

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Carly Pearce on country music's big year and that viral moment with a heckler

As a writer myself, I completely understand the cathartic release that comes from pouring your heart out through words. It seems like this form has served as a powerful tool for Maren Morris, helping her not only express herself but also grow as an artist.

Carly Pearce is fast becoming country music’s queen of the clapback.

In June, after some social media users assumed she was affiliated with Satan due to a photo showing her tour bus parked in a space labeled 666, the Grammy-winning artist clarified on X that she is a devoted Christian and takes great pride in using her platform to guide people towards JESUS. She also pointed out that the bus was actually in spot 668.

Approximately two months past, a video circulated widely, capturing her exchange with an unruly spectator at a Minnesota festival performance. “If you’re going to behave impolitely,” she said to him, “then you’ll have to express it directly and leave my concert immediately,” which was not the kind of speech one typically associates with the friendly, cheerful city of Nashville.

Then she added a priceless kicker: “I do not have time for d—.”

34-year-old Pearce is no stranger to the broad gossip that such events tend to spark in tabloids. Her 2021 album, “29: Written in Stone,” narrates her tumultuous divorce from singer Michael Ray. The heartfelt duet, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” featuring Ashley McBryde, where Pearce depicts a married woman and McBryde portrays the husband’s mistress, earned Pearce her third No. 1 single on Billboard’s country airplay chart.

Among Nashville’s leading artists, Pearce appears to be the one least eager to expand beyond the boundaries of country music – a time when the genre is experiencing a surge of crossover power not seen in quite some time.

As a devotee of traditional country tunes, I find myself surrounded by many musicians experimenting beyond the genre’s boundaries. Yet, I prefer sticking to the roots of country music.

2021 Country Music Assn. Awards female vocalist winner, Maddie Pearce, bolsters her artistic stance on her new album “Hummingbird”, which is a traditional, heartland-style production brimming with fiddle-infused songs about love, home, and whiskey. The singer from Kentucky, who’s scheduled to perform at next year’s Stagecoach festival in Indio, California, discussed her music, her growing fame, and the viral video during a recent trip to Los Angeles.

Is this moment in time leaning towards a more traditional country sound for a new record? It seems that genuine, authentic styles are gaining traction again. However, as I’ve always been an anomaly when it comes to industry standards of success, I’ve found that what works for others doesn’t necessarily work for me.

Can you give me an illustration of something? In 2018, I had a song titled “Closer to You,” which was quite popular with mainstream pop-country radio stations at the time. However, it didn’t resonate as expected. It doesn’t mean that fans dislike it, but it’s not a track I frequently include in my performances.

One of Hummingbird’s standout moments is “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” a classic duet featuring Chris Stapleton. When I received the demo, his voice was already there. However, I couldn’t help but think that everyone hears Chris Stapleton on their songs – he’s one of the greatest singers ever, and his voice is simply divine. I reached out to his wife, Morgane, on Instagram, saying “I know you get this all the time, but I have this song, and I just feel like Chris should be a part of it.” After what seemed like two months, she texted me on the night before I won my first Grammy [for “Never Wanted to Be That Girl”], saying “He’d love to sing with you.

Carly Pearce on country music's big year and that viral moment with a heckler ×

When it comes to tunes, I’ve always found myself drawn to ballads. Ever since I was young, I’ve been captivated by the heart-wrenching melodies of artists like Patty Loveless, Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood, and Tammy Wynette. Their powerful voices and the raw emotions they convey in their songs are truly mesmerizing to me.

From an early age, it was clear to me that my dream was to become a singer. At just five years old, I remember telling my parents with certainty, “I’m going to perform on the Grand Ole Opry someday.” Later, people might have thought we were unusual when my parents allowed me to be homeschooled so I could pursue a singing job at Dollywood. After all, country music wasn’t exactly popular back then. I guess you could say I was something of an anomaly in our small town.

Now, of course, Beyoncé and Post Malone have both released country albums. Lana Del Rey has said she’s working on one. What’s your take on pop stars going country?
What I think is cool about it — and I don’t know any of them at all — but I’d like to think that what they want is to go home. They want to feel connected to home and to authenticity. And that’s us — that’s country music. Who knows if they’ll make another country record.

It’s disheartening to witness some well-known country musicians, such as Maren Morris, expressing their departure from the genre. It seems to me they might overlook the fact this very genre helped them achieve their success. While I understand the desire for artistic exploration, Maren is an exceptionally talented artist, and her unique voice could adapt to any genre. However, country music played a significant role in shaping who she is today, and I hope she continues to acknowledge that.

Maren has expressed that it’s more about Nashville’s overall culture and industry, rather than music itself. That’s entirely her opinion, and I can understand where she might be coming from. It seems to me that she may not have needed to criticize the genre that brought her success.

Have you ever found yourself reflecting on whether your past divorce saga felt like an endless narrative for you?

Does that experience change your perspective on sharing relationship matters openly? At the moment, I tend to keep such things more private. However, I don’t feel compelled to share everything with everyone. I truly respect Miranda [Lambert] for her approach; announcing a marriage quietly like that is admirable to me, as it reflects personal choice and privacy.

Are you considering getting remarried?

Do you find, much like artists often do, that songwriting serves as a therapeutic outlet for you? Absolutely, it’s been my go-to method for sorting through emotions and experiences over the years. In fact, there have been instances when I couldn’t express myself any other way except through writing songs.

Speaking of therapy, it’s been quite beneficial for me since my divorce. It’s comforting to have someone you can pour your heart out to without holding back. I believe this has not only improved my mental health but also my writing skills.

Carly Pearce on country music's big year and that viral moment with a heckler

We should talk about “I do not have time for d—.”
I really do not.

Let’s retrace that significant instance together. For eight years now, I’ve been holding back on numerous topics – not only during performances but also regarding personal matters, comments made about me or concerning me, and online discussions about myself. That specific moment seemed to touch a sensitive spot that had been yearning to express itself for a long time.

Instead of simply stating that the man apologized to me, I approached where he was standing, only to find him about to leave. However, before he could utter an apology, he stood firm in his actions. He met my gaze and even smiled, gesturing that it was indeed him who was responsible. At that instant, my patience ran out. I felt a surge of anger.

The boys get to do it all the time. They don’t take any s—, and they’re praised for it because they’re strong men. But if I do it: “How dare you do that when there are children in the crowd?” I wasn’t thinking about anybody’s opinion of me in that moment. I was thinking about the girl that has sat back and cried over the way people have spoken about me.

That statement is well-known as a famous line. To put it another way, I strive to maintain an air of elegance and honesty. Yet, I’m also a genuine individual who doesn’t mince words, who tells the truth, and expresses my thoughts openly. The following day, I received texts from Lainey Wilson and Kelsea Ballerini almost simultaneously, roughly saying, “You go girl!

Have you ever felt envious about Lainey’s rapid rise to fame over the past few years, given her similar style? I don’t harbor such feelings towards her specifically. However, if I were to feel that way, it would be directed at others. Lainey moved to Nashville 13 years ago and lived in a trailer while working tirelessly. Her success is reminiscent of Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift’s rise, but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a female star ascend like this. When she won the female vocalist of the year award at the 2022 CMA Awards, I didn’t win, and that was challenging. But I could step aside because I understand the efforts she has made to reach where she is, and she truly deserves it. If a trailblazer of my generation is to emerge, Lainey seems to be the one who will do it.

Last thing: You have an interesting number of tattoos — more than a few, yet not so many as, say, Ashley McBryde.
Ashley’s a bad b—. She can stand in that. But it’s true — nobody really looks like me with the tattoos at the moment. I’m sure in country music it’s frowned upon. But I like wearing very pretty clothes while also having a little bit of edge.

How many tattoos is perfect for someone?
I’ve added two new ones to my collection today. Being a member of the Grand Ole Opry for three years, I decided to get a Grand Ole Opry stamp as a symbol of that membership. Then, I chose to get some tiny wings. I don’t plan my tattoos in advance; instead, I wait for inspiration and then act on it. This year alone, I’ve gotten five new tattoos. The excitement lies in the spontaneity of it all. I ponder over every aspect of my life, but when it comes to tattoos, I just go with the flow.

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2024-10-16 01:01

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