Jennifer Nettles Talks 'Farmer Wants A Wife', Her Upcoming Album, And Growing Up In Georgia

About Jennifer Nettles

Jennifer Nettles was born and raised in rural South Georgia, where she got very involved in 4-H as a kid, a relationship that’s still a big part of her life. She went on to an extraordinary music career, winning a long list of Grammys, CMA Awards, and ACM Awards with Sugarland in the mid 2000s. By 2015, she’d started to work more in film and television, including her roles as Dolly Parton’s mother in Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors and Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors, and now she’s the host of a successful dating show called Farmer Wants a Wife. Jennifer never saw herself in that kind of role, but she talks about why this concept is so different from others in the genre, and why she’ll always feel connected to the farming community. She also shares a sneak preview of her upcoming album, Timeless, her thoughts on the evolution of country music, and what the hit song “Baby Girl” means to her 20 years later.

What Jennifer Nettles Talks About In This Episode

• Being born and raised in South Georgia
• Stories of her childhood
• Support of 4-H
• Her great-grandmother, Grandma Bray – Mildred Lee Osteen Bray
• Her great grandmother's famous Johnny hoecake
• Aunt Kay's Banana Pudding
• Her Nanny's musical influence
• The church's influence on her music
• Sugarland
• New Season of Farmer Wants a Wife
• Upcoming album Timeless.
  

Quotes From Jennifer Nettles

"I have so many great memories of that, but mostly for me, in addition to those family associations, mostly for me it was in church. That's where I really grew up learning and getting to understand what it is to see people sing with passion and with conviction about something that they believe in and to this day, it's a litmus that works for me with songwriting and with performing. I have to be able to connect to it in a really spiritual way to be able to feel like it's something that I want to perform." - Jennifer Nettles

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 Jennifer Nettles 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.