This past Friday (March 31st), Jenna Paulette dropped her highly-anticipated debut album, and we are seriously OBSESSED 😍
The budding songstress is a part of Nashville’s growing wave of female artists, and The Girl I Was definitely solidifies her role in the country music scene.
The 16-track project discusses her decade-long toxic relationship, highlighting “grit and vulnerability [and] facing the heartbreak of her past and diving confidently into her future” — It is truly a must-listen!
On the ICONIC aqua carpet at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, Paulette shared the true inspiration behind her debut album, which dropped on all music streaming platforms just days prior to the event.
According to the rising country star, “the title track is what made me feel like I could drop a record at all,” and we are soooo glad she did!
“The Girl I Was” is an extremely honest track that talks “about me getting back to myself,” she revealed to Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder on the aqua carpet in Austin, Texas. “I got out of a really long, really bad relationship, and after all of that in the aftermath, I sat down and was on a writing retreat… and this picture of me as a little girl popped into my head.”
In the image, Paulette was only eight years old, “sitting on a fence selling [her] uncle Hick’s cattle with [her] granddad.”
According to the Lewisville, Texas native, “I thought about it and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m just getting back to the girl I was…’ it made sense of a whole record that is going to just paint a picture of who I am, where I come from, and all the people that I love so much.”
Aside from the beloved title track, there are TONS of other songs on The Girl I Was that are soon-to-be hits — “Fiddle and a Violin” is a groovy tune that discusses two individuals who appear similar, “but upon a closer look the differences that were present all along become apparent,” “You Ain’t No Cowboy” and “Bless Her Heart” are two tracks that “continue to delve into the heartbreak of a relationship gone awry” and more.
Also on the legendary aqua carpet, the talented singer-songwriter pinpointed one thing she learned about herself through the creation of The Girl I Was: “I’m good enough and that the way I was raised is good enough and that I can be at peace with that and represent her very well and very proudly.”
We LOVE this heartfelt message, and it is clear that her debut album will serve as an inspiration to young women everywhere ❤️
What’s next for Jenna Paulette? Touring, of course!
“I’m on the road right now until September, so it’s gonna be a very busy year for me, but I’m here for it,” the rising country star revealed. “I love being on the road. I find just so much joy in it. Like, it doesn’t stress me out at all. I think I thrive in like the ‘wake up in a different city’ kind of mode.”
We can’t wait to catch one of her legendary performances AND to hear The Girl I Was live, but until then, be sure to check out our full interview with Paulette from the 2023 CMT Music Awards below.
Let us know what you think of the budding songstress by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets, and be sure to connect with her on Instagram @jennapaulette and TikTok @jennapaulette for updates on upcoming music, live performances and more.
LISTEN TO THE GIRL I WAS:
With reporting credit by Juliet Schroder. For more coverage from the 2023 CMT Music Awards, click HERE.
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