catching up with the ‘ it ’ girl of country at her childhood home in savannah, georgia. she talks boys, beer, and being unapologetically herself in her new album.
C: So your new last album was highly anticipated! for starters, it was the follow-up to 2014’s critically acclaimed Platinum, which earned you your first Billboard 200 No. 1 album, and both an ACM Award and a CMA Award for album of the year.
J: Don’t forget the grammy for best country album.
C: Tell me about your first single ‘Vice’.
J: My first single, ‘Vice’. it’s definitely a “tear-in-your-beer song” in the Hank Sr. tradition, steeped in self-medication and early morning walks of shame. I feel like when you listen to this song, there’s really nothing to read into. It says what it says. Everybody has a vice. Everybody goes through a time in their life when they run to it a little bit more than when they don’t.
C: Well what’s your vice?
J: Miller Lites and boys in bands.
C: that sounds very specific. a lot of people have speculated that a few of your songs may be about your ex-fiance Easton Zabat.
J: Every record I’ve ever made has been a reflection of where I am right then in my life, however old I am. And I’ve never held back at all. But this time with what I happened to be going through in my life, being honest was never really a choice. Everybody knew anyway. So I just said, I’m gonna journal it, and – good days and bad days – use it for my art.
C: how is your relationship with Easton?
J: it…is what it is.
C: and his daughter?
J: she’s two years old. I can’t really have a strong connection with a two year old. we have fun together I guess.
C: and how is Leilani on all of this?
J: I don’t know, maybe we should ask her.