Country Stars Central

Jo Dee Messina is an award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist that has given her heart and soul to find success. She’s had 9 #1 singles, has been honored by The Country Music Association, The Academy of Country Music and The Grammy Awards and was the first female country artist to score three multiple-week #1 songs from the same album. But success aside, Jo Dee has faced more than her fair share of adversity. She’s battled some demons along the way and experienced the twists and turns that define all of our lives. If anything these life experiences have re-invigorated her and given her a new perspective, which in turn has produced, in her words, her truest recording to date.

Delicious Surprise is Jo Dee’s 4th studio album. It is that rare recording that captures the true essence of an artist’s soul. You see, rather then talk about what has occurred in her life, Jo Dee has chosen to sing about it. She’s put together a group of songs that come from her heart, a group of songs that are meant to convey a musical message of optimism, strength and hope. As the songs say, while life’s experiences may be hard, it’s those experiences that make us who we are and make life worth living.

The 12-track album, co-produced by Jo Dee, Byron Gallimore and Mark Bright, features five songs that were either written or co-written by her. “It Gets Better” shares an optimistic message of hope from a woman that has “felt the chill of this world and come face to face with the devil,” written entirely by Jo Dee, which also shows the power and finesse of one of country music’s finest voices.

“Music has always been an enormous part of my life,” said Jo Dee. “It’s not just something I do, it’s part of who I am. Songwriting to me is my refuge, a safe place to me where I can go to spell out my emotions, especially when dealing with tough situations. It helps me to gain perspective. You could say that songwriting gives me emotional freedom.”

But Delicious Surprise also contains songs, not written by Jo Dee, that capture her essence – her feistiness, her strength and her humor. No song is more indicative of this than the powerful tongue and cheek rocker, “My Give A Damn’s Busted” (Tony Martin/Tom Shapiro/Joe Diffie). Jo Dee’s first song released to radio in nearly two years, it marks another in a list of milestones for her – it’s her fastest rising single ever at country radio. It’s flown up the charts and taken its place as
another in a long line of Messina hits. “My Give A Damn’s Busted,” along with “Who’s Crying Now” (Patrick Jason Matthews/George Teren) and “Where Were You” (Jo Dee Messina/John Bettis/Wayne Kirkpatrick) are songs that deal with broken relationships and the empowerment brought on by the choice to move on.

“Managing relationships in today’s world is so hard,” said Jo Dee. “It’s funny in fact. We all spend so much time and energy chasing what we think matters at the time, but the truth is that what really matters are the simple things – our family, friends and loved ones. Amazing when you realize that just living to see another day is the ultimate gift.”

Jo Dee’s optimism is infectious and it is optimism that can be felt in many of the songs on Delicious Surprise. “Life Is Good,” (Jo Dee/Mark Selby) is an upbeat, pop-infused track that reminds us to “grab on to today,” and to appreciate the simple things in life. “I’ve got my two feet on the ground, I’m breathing in and breathing out. Life is good.” But it’s the album’s title track (Beth Hart/ Glen Burtnik) that offers the essence of Jo Dee – the dreamer who understands that tenacity and audacity are the keys to achieving.

“To me, the ‘delicious surprise’ in life is the dreaming, getting there, without limits, without putting up boundaries, just having faith and working hard. Dreams are meant to be followed and if your heart speaks it, then it doesn’t matter how far-fetched it seems. You have to believe.”

Born in Holliston, Massachusetts, Jo Dee was first attracted to country music after hearing the recordings of Alabama and Hank Williams, Jr. As for her love for country music, it grew as fast as her respect for its heroes. Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn, the strong women of country, that wrote and sang from the heart, and Reba McEntire, the hard-working, blue-collar girl whom Jo Dee related to best. At six, Jo Dee had her first public performance and from there on she was hooked. Thirteen brought a band that she had formed and more experience performing throughout clubs in the Northeast. Jo Dee did what she had to, to perform - booking and marketing her own shows, lugging gear and keeping the books. At 19, she made the difficult decision to move to Nashville. She didn’t know a soul, had no grand plan, but what she did know, was that she wanted to sing. It was there that Jo Dee would lay down roots and chase her dream.

In 1996, she released her self-titled debut, produced by Byron Gallimore and Tim McGraw. The album gave Messina two Top 10 hits and set the stage for her breakthrough, I’m Alright. Released in 1998, the first three single releases from the album all went to #1 - “Bye Bye,” “I’m Alright,” and “Stand Beside Me,” as well as a fourth single, “Lesson In Leavin’,” which peaked and stayed at #2 for seven consecutive weeks. In 1999, Jo Dee released Burn, her first #1 album. The
multi-platinum effort, contributed two more #1’s to Jo Dee’s collection, the huge crossover hit “Bring On The Rain” and “That’s The Way,” as well as two other Top 10’s – “Burn” and “Downtime.” Messina went on to release her favorite Christmas songs on A Joyful Noise, released in 2002, and later a Greatest Hits collection that debuted at #1 on the charts, her second #1 album.

“My greatest hope is that somewhere, somebody will hear this record, and find in it what I’ve found in music my entire life,” said Jo Dee.

And that sentiment is what you get from the opening bars of Delicious Surprise. “I’m Not Going Down,” (Shaunna Bolton/ Kevin Savigar) the album’s first track, is as defiant and energetic as Jo Dee herself. It is an appropriate place to start, again for Jo Dee, because no doubt she will continue to carry that intensity wherever she goes. Make no mistake, Jo Dee Messina is here to stay and despite all that she has been through she stands strong and defiant, with a clear sense of her purpose and passion. Life is good for Jo Dee, but don’t ask her about it, listen.

 

(CSC) 1. Tell us about your NEW album “Unmistakable.” What can your fans expect to hear from you this time around?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

What to expect! Well, “Unmistakable” is an album that I finished about a year ago. I did a lot of writing for the record. The topic of the songs on the albums that I record always reflects what I’m going through in my life during the making of the record. So it sort of varies album per album. I didn’t have a conscious effort going into the record as far as specific details. I did have a conscious effort about the sound of the record. A lot of my records have been really compressed, and the music has been a little bit more complicated than this current album. We consciously went into the studio to make it sound like I was singing LIVE with a band, versus the record being laid over layers and layers of guitars, and backgrounds that are unfeasible to cover. We wanted it to be real, and that was what we captured in the making of this record. A REAL sound! 

 

 

(CSC) 2. Your latest single “I’m Done” has just been released to radio. What is the story behind this song?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

“I’m Done” is the first single that I’ve written. I’ve had songs that I’ve written on albums but “I’m Done” is the first single that’s been released that’s out there. It’s a real story. It’s a story about this guy I was dating who kept calling his ex-girlfriend, and she made a big deal about it. She thought that he was going to go back to her, and prove to me that she had him. So I told her, “Sister you can have him, I’m done!” I didn’t want trash like that in my life. (Laughing) I don’t need it.

 

 

(CSC) 3. You had a lot of involvement on this record as a songwriter and co-producer. What was it like for you being able to have so much freedom with the album?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

I’ve co-produced a lot of my records. So this isn’t the first time I’ve co-produced an album. I love being able to do it because then I have a say on the sound and what goes into the record. It really reflects me when it’s out there. 

 

 

(CSC) 4. How have you changed as an artist and songwriter since you first came to Nashville?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

I think that with my songwriting I’ve gotten a little bit more valiant with it. I’ll go out and take chances, and I don’t have to write songs that are right down the middle. I’ve learned how to put my thoughts into words and music better.

 

 

(CSC) 5. Country music is evolving constantly. Did you ever feel that you weren’t taken seriously as a female artist early in your career?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

When I came to Nashville and was signed, that was during the days of Shania Twain, and Faith Hill; women were just ruling the charts! (Laughing) Thank god we had people like Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, and Reba McEntire. Those women knocked the doors down for us, so it has been a great ride! 

 

 

(CSC) 6. You are known for giving exceptional concerts with your high-energy stage presence. What do you do as a pre show warm-up?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

Twenty minutes before every show we do vocal warm-ups so that when you hit the stage it’s not like the first time we’ve seen each other, or the first time we’ve sung together in that day. We get everybody together and into the same head space so we hit the stage as a team.  

 

 

(CSC) 7. One thing that you enjoy doing besides singing is participating in marathons. What is it like to be a part of one and how do you prepare for them?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

I do a lot of running to prepare for the marathons. I haven’t run since the Chicago Marathon of 2007. Right now I’m starting to get back into it. It takes a lot of discipline to be involved. It is a great deal. There is a great mindset when you’re running; you don’t start off running as hard as you can in hopes to finish, because you’re running eighteen miles on some of these training runs. You have to keep your mind occupied!      

 

 

(CSC) 8. Out of all your albums that you’ve recorded do you have a particular favorite?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

You know I love them all for different reasons. I am very excited about “Unmistakable” coming out this summer because it has a bunch of new material, and I wrote a lot for it. 

 

 

(CSC) 9. What country artists inspired you growing up?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

I listened to a lot of country music growing up. Loretta Lynn was one of the first, and then Patsy Cline. I would dig out the old records, which weren’t current at that point, but it was the first music that I was exposed to. I love singer/songwriters. Dolly Parton has always been a favorite too. I lean that way. Dolly is a singer/songwriter, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn; they are all singer/songwriters. That seemed to be what I gravitated towards.

 

 

(CSC) 10. Last year you went on a USO tour all over Europe and also performed at “A Capitol Fourth,” what was it like for you to be a part of those historical events?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

I’m really proud to live in this country, and anything that I can do to give back to it such as doing the USO tour, supporting our troops, or playing the Capitol Fourth; I try to do my part. They were both amazing experiences for me to be a part of! I am very grateful for that.

 

 

(CSC) 11. What can fans look forward to next from you?

 

(Jo Dee Messina)

NEW music, a lot of touring, and they can just get out there and request the NEW single, “I’m Done.” You can download it on i-Tunes. So please make sure to call your local radio stations and request it!

 

 

 

Listen to our special promo from Jo Dee below;

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For the latest news and touring information on Jo Dee please visit her official website here; http://www.jodeemessina.com