Bethany Joy Lenz Has Stories To Tell

Listen to her episode of Biscuits & Jam.

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Published on November 28, 2023

About Bethany Joy Lenz

Bethany Joy Lenz was born in Florida and grew up in Texas, which is where she first got involved in the performing arts, carrying on a tradition she inherited from her grandparents. Her family eventually headed to New Jersey, where her Southerness drew the wrong kind of attention from some of the girls in her class, but she made it through the experience and eventually landed on the hit TV show One Tree Hill. Now Joy is living in Nashville, writing and performing music, editing a publication called Modern Vintage, and hosting a podcast with her One Tree Hill co-stars called Drama Queens. If that’s not enough, she’s starring in the new Hallmark Original Movie, A Biltmore Christmas, which is based on a trip back in time to the famous North Carolina estate, and she’s working on a new book.

What Bethany Joy Lenz Talks About In This Episode

Growing up in Texas and New Jersey
Moving to Nashville
Born in Hollywood, Florida
Her mom being the cook in the family
How special Wilmington, North Carolina, is and her favorite places
Her faith and her parents' instilling confidence in her relationship with God
Sharing her story in an upcoming book
The joy of Christmas
Her Hallmark movie, "Christmas at the Biltmore"
Her upcoming book

Quotes From Bethany Joy Lenz

"The first thing I remember when I got to Wilmington, I got off the plane and it was a sauna. It was so hot outside, but I loved it. I love humidity... And then, as we started driving through the town, the Spanish Moss that was hanging everywhere, it looked like we were in a fairytale. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was and you smell the salt right there, and you know the Atlantic is always so warm, and so anytime we would go to the beach, even if it was November, the water was still tepid.... The people were again, that Southern way of welcoming you in, they were all so happy to have us there, employing people and bringing more energy, new energy to the town. The streets were lit up in a really cozy way." -Bethany Joy Lenz

Bethany Joy Lenz

When you slow down, you listen more, you notice more, you hear more, you can create more, you think about more.

— Bethany Joy Lenz

"Christmas was always special because I grew up in a Christian household and because Christ's story was deeply embedded in my heart, I felt deeply connected to that, culturally, and just as an experience of a time to feel warmth and meditate on something that was very valuable and important in my life, and I think that I cannot even begin to answer this question without saying that because that is where everything else stems from." - Bethany Joy Lenz

Bethany Joy Lenz

But Christmas is so magical with kids. I would put glitter, a trail, to her bedroom where her stocking would always go at the end of her bed and the glitter would go up into the fireplace, and I love wrapping presents and creating little creatures out of the gift wrap, and I think creative folks come alive during the holiday season, for sure. It's great.

— Bethany Joy Lenz

About Biscuits & Jam

In the South, talking about food is personal. It's a way of sharing your history, your family, your culture, and yourself. Each week Sid Evans, editor in chief of Southern Living, sits down with celebrity musicians to hear stories of how they grew up, what inspired them, and how they've been shaped by Southern culture. Sid takes us back to some of their most cherished memories and traditions, the family meals they still think about, and their favorite places to eat on the road.Download and listen to this episode of Biscuits & Jam with Bethany Joy Lenz on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or everywhere podcasts are available.

Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors.

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