Lauren Watkins on Touring with Lainey Wilson, Wanting a Soft Life but Big Career & Comparison

How do I explain that? Like I really do want this like really big massive career, but at the same time I want to live like a slow grandma life. >> Oh my gosh, yes. I feel this way every day. People always ask me, they're like, "Did you always want to do music?" I always did music as a hobby. I honestly always wanted to be married and have kids. We're just going to figure out how to have both. I feel like there's two lies that we get told. One is that you can't do both. You got to pick one or you got to pick the other. And then the other lie is that you can have it all and you can have it all at once. I think there's a lot of pressure on both sides that are telling you that like you either need to be a trad stay at home mom or you have to be in a Fortune 500 company. >> Ick culture has gone way too far. Love is so much bigger than feelings. Love is literally you have to act on it every single day and like work on it every single day. >> When you were in college and you felt like almost a conviction >> to go back into music. Can you describe that feeling? Oh, good question. had to go on this journey of not letting my emotions rule my life. >> Fear feels like a way bigger thing in your head than it actually is. >> Oh yeah. >> And over time bring back shame. >> No, literally bring back shame. Hi y'all. Really quickly at the top of the episode, I wanted to let y'all know that friend of mine, we are launching Maong mats today. I am obsessed with these mats. If you guys don't know about maong, oh my god, get with the program. It is the most fun game to play and it is the perfect hobby to get into in the colder months like fall and winter is really where majang thrives for me. I'm going to be honest, I actually play it every single week. It is my favorite game and naturally we had to make our own mats. So we have the Dolly Twall and then we have Dolly in her garden. If you guys didn't know, friend of mine is my home and hobby brand, my home lifestyle brand and Dolly is our hen, our mascot if you will. These mats are so cute. We are doing limited batches. So, I wanted to hop on here and let you guys know. And also, don't forget y'all can use code houseguest for 15% off your first purchase at shopfriend.com. Also wanted to let y'all know that all November we are doing buy 2 get one free for all paper goods. So that's our recipe binders, our family cards, our dinner cards, our night cap cards, our recipe journals, all of the paper goods. They are buy two get one free. So stock up on that stuff. A lot of it is going to end up selling out by the end of the month. So get ahead on your Christmas shopping, on your holiday shopping, on maybe just shopping for yourself. It's never been a better time of year to shop friend of mine. But I will let you know we are expecting the majong mats to sell out within the first probably like 48 hours. So anyway, without further ado, let's get into the show. Hi, house guest. Welcome back to my home. This week, y'all are coming over for yet another conversation in my living room. We have my new friend Lauren Watkins coming on the show now. She is so fabulous. She just released her new album, In a Perfect World, which is incredible. We're actually hosting a dinner party together next week, which of course, this is how like my friendships work. We meet, we dinner party, it's like a whole thing. And she's amazing. The reason I wanted her to come on the show is because she's talking about something that we talk about a lot on this podcast, which is wanting this like really big life as far as a career, but also somehow wanting like this slow, you know, not I guess it is soft living in a way life. Like basically just like a woman who kind of wants it all and how to make that happen. We're getting really into the weeds. Now Lauren is very successful in her own right. She's actually about to go towards friend of the show, Cameron Marlo. Actually, he's not technically a friend of the show because we've tried we have had a lot of scheduling conflicts having him on, but he did open for the Nashville live show. So, like he's a friend of the show in my He's also a friend. He's a friend of the show in my eyes. Okay, she has opened most recently for Laney Wilson, Morgan Wallen. She has really done so much. Her new album is amazing and you guys will just really love her. Like, we're in the national era. Here we are with all the country stars. I'm climbing my way through. You know, as someone who unfortunately cannot become a country star herself due to lack of talent, I just like to have them on my podcast and like live vicariously through them and she's just amazing. You guys are really going to like her. So, without further ado, let's welcome Lauren Watkins on to the show. This morning, Melanie, we did a a music video shoot a few weeks ago and so like she was sending me clips to like cut downs for TikTok and I was like my wrinkles. I've never seen anything like this before. Like my forehead, I think I'm gonna have like just from this sheer video, I'm gonna have to get Botox. Like >> that actually happened to me recently. It wasn't a music video unfortunately. I would love to be a country star, but I saw something from this podcast and I booked I got Botox last weekend. Literally, I was like, >> no, I've gotten it probably for the past like 3 years. >> Okay. I was like, it drove you to Botox. This video, I swear. >> No, but there is something about being on camera. I don't think I would have done anything if I wasn't on camera. >> It's really awful. >> It is. >> It's like it showed my face in a way that I've never wanted to see my face. >> No one should ever have to see themselves that much. >> I know. It's pretty terrible. >> And to be fair, like no one there's not a gun to my head. >> Yeah. I don't have to be doing this. I don't have to be doing it. >> I actually do have free will and I'm choosing to do that. So, >> yes, exactly. >> It is what it is. >> Well, congrats on the new album. >> Thank you. >> This is so exciting. Also, I'm so excited for our dinner. >> Okay. I literally can't wait. I've been I I've been so excited to meet you. Also, I feel like we just are destined to be friends. You are my kind of people. I can tell. >> Well, you know what is so crazy is that your whole album and just the whole I loved I was reading up on you obviously and I loved what you were saying about like wanting this like big life and big career but also like wanting a simple life. >> And that is the cross that I feel I'm always the crossroads that I'm always at. And we talk about this on the podcast a lot. It's like >> oh my gosh, >> how do I explain that? Like I really do want this like really big massive career, but at the same time I want to live like a slow grandma life. >> Oh my gosh. Yes. I feel this way every day. And it's actually like it's scary to say it out loud cuz you kind of feel like your record label or people are going to be like wait what do you mean? Like you don't And it's just like sorry I want to have a simple life too. But I people always ask me they're like did you always want to do music? And like I always did music as a hobby. I honestly always wanted to like be married and like have kids like when I was a kid that was what I kind of dreamed about and then music obviously came as a whole separate dream and that's like been a an amazing thing of its own but I also still want that simple life and so I'm going to have it >> figure it out. >> We're just going to figure out how to have both. >> So if you wanted to do music as a hobby like how did you go from wanting to do music as a hobby to like playing Madison Square Garden last week? It's kind of crazy. >> Pretty crazy pretty insane thing for me to do. I mean, it was a it happened over a long period of time. Basically, like I grew up in Nashville, so I grew up playing gigs, playing my sister is also in music and so like we'd play gigs together and stuff and it was just so fun. Like we just had a good time. It was like what we did on the weekends that was like our thing and um I don't know, I just didn't think of it. I was too young to think about like a career. So, I just thought, "Yeah, we just do this for fun." And then I wanted to go to college and I thought again like thought you get to pick one or the other. Like I'm gonna go to college and leave Nashville forever or I'm going to choose music now and like never get to do the whole college thing. And I was wrong about that too. Surprise. >> And I went to Miss had the absolute time of my life. Like loved it. And then I just thought like the whole time I was there I I wasn't really playing gigs. I kind of took a break from it. And it just it was almost like a conviction like I it pulled at me. I I always thought about music. I was always like why am I like why am I running from this? Like I know I'm I know I'm supposed to be doing this. And so long story short, I moved back home after college and then just like hit the ground running and one thing led to another and then we were playing Madison Square Garden. That's the short version of the story. But >> yeah, it's easy to be like, you know, I just decided to do it. But how did you have the confidence to do it, especially postgrad when all of your friends are going to like, I'm assuming, very traditional career paths? >> Oh my gosh. Yeah, honestly, that's a good question. No one's ever really asked me that. And I don't know. I don't even know that I I don't know. I think I was just half delusional and like a little crazy and just kind of thought like well we'll just it's going to work out and it if it doesn't like it just has to work out and that it is what it is. And that's kind of the mindset you have to have going in because you just don't know what you don't know and you don't know how hard it's going to be and you don't know how long of an uphill battle it's going to be and you also don't know how rewarding it's going to be. And so I think like there's a lot of things that if I had known I probably would have been scared away from it and I would have been like oh my gosh no way no way am I going to do that. But I think that's the beauty of not knowing is like you just got to go figure it out. >> I think with following any big dream that's actually probably the best perspective to have. >> I'm someone I'm like an inagram three. I'm overachiever in every way. What are you? >> I'm a four. >> Okay that makes so much sense. I am like a big dreamer. Love all that stuff but I also love my grandma hobbies. I like being home. mom. I'm a huge home body, all those things. But I would always say, especially when I was younger, >> I just wish that I could like talk to God and he could just tell me everything that's going to happen. I just follow in those footsteps. Like, and I mean like talk to God and have God talk back. Like I wanted him to audibly say something, you know? I wanted him to give me a book. >> Same way I not the Bible. I mean like a book to my life. >> I need you. This is a playbyplay of what's going to happen in my life. That's I I am the same way. I need a plan like and this honestly this job has made me it's like challenged me in so many ways especially in that area like I have had to just throw that throw that out the window and go like okay one hour at a time some days and just like one day at a time whatever happens happens like all I can all I can do is like get up and do what I've got to do today like because I love a plan I love knowing what's going to happen but you just don't know you don't know And I think again if we knew all the other things, one, it would be too overwhelming to know all of it up front. And two, it would be I think weirdly I think it would actually be scarier. >> Oh yeah. >> Because if you knew everything that came with it, >> you're anticipating it. >> Yes. And it it would just be too much and too overwhelming. And really what happens like you through the process, you're actually like being prepared for the next thing. So things become maybe like I I think less and less scary than they would have been, you know, day one of course. So like you really just need to know the next step and and follow that versus like the full big picture. Now I would like I would have liked to know the big picture, but I'm glad that I did it. >> You know, I I actually I think you're so right. Like I love if I'll have like Okay, for example, last week we had like the craziest week ever. It was like a bunch of shows. My album was coming out. So there was so I mean we were literally like traveling every single day for like six days straight and it was just craziness and going into it I normally would want to know every hour by the hour like okay what's happening this day what where am I going to go next how am I going to have time to get ready what and like I feel like when you know that stuff it's not it's not good for you and instead I just kind of was like okay whatever here I am just I'll go wherever I need to go and like I'll just take it literally one hour at a time and it was then you get to the end of it and you're like we did it. Oh my gosh. Like I didn't that's you know easier than I thought it was going to be. Same way if I if you would have told me every little thing that was going to be so hard about touring I probably would have been like okay not going to do that then. But now I'm in it and I'm doing it and I'm like the hard things they just kind of are like whatever. The good stuff is way better than the hard stuff. So, >> this is a weird comparison, but it's kind of like when you are in love with someone in their annoying qu corks and things don't bother you. >> Yes. >> Like that's really what it is. I was talking to a friend the other day and they were talking really good point. >> It really is that. Like they were talking about like this guy that they were seeing and all the things that are annoying and I'm like you don't like him. Like that really is what it is. Like I I hate to break it to you but you actually just don't like him because these things wouldn't bother you so much. >> Yes. Oh, that's actually so true. Or like when people talk about the ick >> Yes. >> like okay ick culture has gone way too far. >> Agreed. >> But like there's a difference between like something that's just like oh why did you do that? And it you just kind of laugh it off then actually being like seriously icked out by >> like my husband doesn't like give me the ick where I actually go like oh my gosh like why would you do that? Like I think if you're getting if you're seriously getting the ick like the pit in your stomach, like maybe re-evaluate. >> You don't like them. If you if you if a man can actually ick you out to the point where you're like no longer attracted to them and no longer want to be with them, you didn't like them to begin with. Like I say that all the time. I'm like it's just a good way of knowing if you like someone or not. There's of course going to be annoying things. It's like oh I can't believe you did that or whatever is normal. >> Completely different. But even just being like annoyed like if you've been around each other too long. Like that's different. But the ick >> no ick culture is so out of control. >> It is out of control. >> And I also think it's I think there's probably two things at play here. The first one being you just didn't like him to begin with. And I actually like as I now have a boyfriend that I actually like. And I'm realizing that like most issues in my past relationships were that I don't think I really liked them as much as I thought that I did. >> Yeah. Totally. And I think really the the the biggest dating advice is like like your partner, you know what I mean? >> Make sure you like them. >> You make sure you like them. Like I think that that is really like top of mind. That's the most important. And then number two, I do think it is almost like a defense mechanism. I I think that it's very easy to be nervous when you're stepping into a new relationship and like look for everything that's wrong so that you are weirdly protecting yourself from getting hurt in the long run. So, you're looking for all these things and you're looking to get icked out so that you're not putting yourself in a position to be vulnerable and like find love. >> 100%. >> Which I know I've done. >> I was the queen of that. Yes. >> But like it stop saying that your boyfriend like I don't know eating something weird is like an ick. Like get over it. That's like >> marriage. They're just going to do weird stuff and you just have to get over it. >> And you have to find someone that like won't make you feel that way because you'll like them enough. that exactly. Yeah. >> You know, I want to talk about when you were in college and you felt like almost a conviction to go back into music. >> Can you describe that feeling because I know there's a lot of listeners who are tuning into the podcast every week that really don't even know. >> A lot of them are like postgrad in their 20s feeling confused as literally everyone is at that phase of life, not even knowing what they want to do. But can you describe that feeling because maybe there's people out there who are feeling similarly but can't really put a word to it. >> Yes, totally. Okay. Well, there was probably like a lot of moments that led to the my actual epiphany of like, okay, I got to do music for a living, but it was I mean, I knew it was something that I always loved. Like, I always just it brought me so much joy. I knew that I was good at it. Like, I knew that that was a gift that I had and that like there was a lot of other things that I wasn't gifted at. And I was like, "Okay, this is something that I can lean into." And when I was in college, I was just sort of like I was taking a break from music kind of unintentionally. Like I used to do it with my sister and we were in separate cities at the time. So it was just like wasn't happening. And I knew deep down and I I don't know how to explain it, but like it was just like an inner knowing. Like I knew deep down that I could be doing music, but I'm choosing not to because I just don't want to do it by myself. like she was kind of my security blanket and I knew that I if I wanted to pick it up and do it again, I'd have to do it alone and that was really scary. And so I just kind of was like it always pulled at me when I wasn't playing shows. I would just like we'd literally we'd go and we'd go to the bar on Friday night and there'd be a band playing and I would just be like >> I know that's should be me. Like I need to just get up and do it but I'm too scared. And I I mean there was just so many moments that like just kind of fed into that like I'll never forget I did believe it or not I did a marketing internship when I was like a junior in college I think and it was I just I didn't know I just thought this is what you're supposed to do like you're supposed to just I was a marketing major so I'm supposed to go get a marketing internship and like just do something in marketing. And the guy that I interned for, he was so so passionate about his job. He like started his own company and he was so just obsessed with it and really good at it too. And I remember like we were talking one day at lunch and I was telling him like, you know, he was just talking about his company and stuff and then I started somehow talking about music and I was talking about my sister and her like songwriting career and I was just like raving about her. I was like, "She's so good at it and blah blah blah." And he was like, "That's so cool. Like, that's so cool that she has something that she's that passionate about that she can do for work. Like, what do you feel like that is for you?" And it actually I got a pit in my stomach cuz I was like, I know what it is, but I'm not accepting it. Like, I'm just running from it. And I don't know, it just I think it just took time. Like I I um again my sister she played a show in Oxford which is where I was in school and she brought me up to sing with her and I hadn't been on stage in like two or three years maybe like two years and that was really when I was like okay I can't go another day without pursuing this because it was just like I was back to myself like I was just back to like what really brings me joy. And so yeah I guess that's the best way I know to explain it. It was like I just knew I just knew in my heart that like this was what God was calling me to do and I was running from it because of fear really and so I just had to kick the fear in the face and do it anyway. >> I have this theory that most of the time we know what we should be doing and especially when it comes to some sort of career like more often than not it actually is what you liked as a kid. Mhm. >> Like I feel like it's what you liked before the world like jaded you >> or maybe like fear got to you because you see either how hard it is or how scary it can be or maybe you lose your confidence or whatever that might be. I do think a lot of it comes from either like even just things that you were interested in as a child like I think that we kind of always know. >> Yeah, I think you're right. And it's like, like you said, it was so different than what everyone else was doing. And that can be scary, too, cuz there's like no road map. I guess if you're in Nashville and you're which I did grow up in Nashville, but I just didn't grow up around the industry. But like if you're in Nashville, I guess there's maybe more of a clear like, okay, you first you go to Belmont and then you go like, I don't know, get an internship or whatever. But I was away. So I did not know what the road map was. I really was like, "Okay, I I can start like go play on Broadway cuz I had done that in high school and I was like, I can go back to that and just see where that takes me." And >> that was another thing where you just like you don't know what it's going to look like, but I was willing. I was like, I'll do whatever. I don't care. I just have to do this for a job. >> Yeah. I mean, it sounds like it I mean, it worked out. So, >> yeah, it's I'm trying. >> Yeah. Also with fear, I think it having that break over the like I think fear feels like a way bigger thing in your head than it actually is. >> Oh yeah. And over time Yeah. It literally making up scenarios. >> And I also like I was I sort of like had to go on this journey of not letting my emotions rule my life because they did for pretty much my entire life. Like I'm a very emotional person. I love you know I'm always in my feelings and I love that. But like that cannot be in the driver's seat. It will ruin your life because like if you're constantly led by just the way you're feeling in the moment, then like you're going to make some pretty awful decisions. And that was a huge area for me was like whatever I was feeling like, okay, I could do this gig, but it makes me feel scared and like I don't like the way I feel. I don't like feeling anxious, so like I'm just going to turn it down. Like that's letting your emotions lead. And sometimes you just have to say literally screw you. Like I'm not that's >> Mhm. My emotions don't matter right now. I need to just go do this thing. >> I had someone say to me like, "Your feelings are valid, but they're not always true." >> Yeah, they're not. >> They're not. They are not. And I was someone who >> Your feelings aren't facts. >> They're not facts. I was someone who also was led by my emotions for so long. And that'll just lead you to like the worst life ever. >> Oh my gosh. Yeah. Well, and it's like you can even apply it to marriage, too. Like if I'm constantly led by whatever I'm feeling, like if I'm angry at my husband or annoyed at my husband or whatever, like that can't I mean you you just have to act in the moment, but like I'm not going to be like, "Well, you know what? I don't really like you right now, so I'm going to leave." Like >> we're not married today. >> No, that's not how it works. Like love is so much bigger than feelings. Love is literally like you have to act on it every single day and like work on it every single day. As someone who has loved by feelings for so long, I'm so interested because obviously I think it's way harder when you're a creative, especially like writing songs, releasing songs and going through, you know, like the heartbreak of your 20s and all of the breakups and stuff. I think that we weirdly can find like comfort in all of the chaos in all of the heartbreak. Like how have you managed that as you obviously are like going into the next >> chapter of your life where things are more stable and calm like in your personal life? >> Yeah. Well, it was like kind of an adjustment to be honest. It was sort of like a little jarring at first. I mean, I was so used to just like guys being awful >> and so you just I just that was like kind of my comfort zone for a while. And so when I met my husband, I was immediately like, okay, wait, he's amazing. And I was seriously like I was obsessed with him right right away. And and then we kind of settled into our relationship and there were no problems. And I was like, "Wait a second. What's wrong? Like is this okay? Is this normal?" And I remember my sister like she was kind of on the same timeline as us, like with her and her husband. And she had just gone through the same thing. And she was like, "No, no, no. This is good. like you've gotta just relax and just like let yourself get used to this and then it's going to be amazing. And I did. And that was another thing like about not letting your emotions lead you. Like this is it's okay to be comfortable. It's actually you should be comfortable. And so it's it was definitely an adjustment, but now it's like I'm just so glad that that's not my normal anymore. But I'm also glad I went through it and and like went through the awful guys and like just lived life, you know? >> I think we so often mistake chaos for love. >> Like you think the fighting and the back and forth just like means that you guys love each other and that is so not true. So when you find like a healthy love or a healthy relationship that's stable and easy, it feels crazy because or it feels like >> not that you don't love them, it's not that, but you just think like, oh well, I love these people and this is kind of how it was shown, but it was actually just like really unhealthy. >> Yeah. Yeah. You think your brain is supposed to be like firing off signals at all times and like that's just anxiety. >> Anxiety doesn't equal passion. It doesn't at all. Also, even I've just been thinking about the concept of like mental gymnastics a lot lately. >> Whenever I'm in any situation, just thinking back to the past like decade in my life. Any situation that I had to do mental gymnastics over, meaning like >> I would have to like really think think through how I was going to make something work. And I don't mean this in the context of work and working hard and pushing past obstacles and like building this career. >> I mean like a almost like an inner knowing. Like for example, I think the easiest way to explain this would be like in dating. Like when you start dating a guy >> and you know deep down at the beginning that it's not right because you're doing mental gymnastics and you are willing to forego whatever you actually want or there's this big red flag that's glaring but you're will you don't care or there's something that like >> values-wise does not align at all but you're willing to just change yourself for that person. It's never worked out for me. >> Right. Those are Yeah. No, you're so right. Those are all like those are all valid like icks. Like that's what we actually should be basing our choice of a person on. Not like they eat canned tuna or like they whatever, >> but like what? Yeah. If do they do their values align with you? Do they treat you well? Do they make you like do they not make you go absolutely insane and like wonder where they're at? Like those are all if there's something like that, you always know. Like you just you always have a kind of a like a gut response. I think you know deep down >> and that's why we lose ourselves because you're trying to get as far away from that gut feeling as possible cuz you don't want to hear it anymore. >> Pushing it away. Yeah. >> Yeah. You're pushing it away. Exactly. It's literally you. So that's why like anytime that I've lost myself in a relationship or just whatever it might be, it's because I was ignoring myself for so long. Yeah. No wonder I lost myself because I wasn't listening for a year. You know, >> you're just pushing your own voice down. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, I do need to go back to wanting a big career but also wanting like a slow life >> because this is a really big thing and I think it's goes even deeper than that. It's like women are your are so like we should you can have it all, you can want it all. I think obviously you can't always have everything at the same time. I think that's kind of where it comes into play especially when you go on to like have children and stuff. >> Totally. >> But I do want to like dive deeper into that. Another thing I read that is something you said is >> I do think at times and again I am a very driven person. I've always I I was came out of the womb with a business plan. Like I have wanted this forever. >> I love it. >> But I do think that there I have used my career or wanting a bigger life as some sort of like defense mechanism to like have some sort of control. >> Oh yeah. >> And not get hurt and be more independent and not let >> a plan like a plan B. It's not. But it's like you kind of think of it like well if I have this then like I don't need anything else. >> Absolutely. It's like I if I have all this then I'm safe and I'm okay because who cares if I forego the other stuff or like the healthy marriage or whatever because I have everything else that I want. And I think I it's very like Taylor Swift eldest daughter. It's like I think I just didn't trust that that was going to happen for me also. >> Yeah. >> You know what I mean? So like I don't know if like when I was reading what you were saying I was like that's exactly how I felt. Not to say that every woman who has goals and dreams is just pushing away. There's a lot of women who don't want kids, never want to be a wife, and like that's completely valid. We just are not those people. >> Yeah. >> But um I want you to speak more to that because I think it is just I personally related so much to it. >> Well, yeah. I mean, first of all, I will say like I do not have it figured out. I am I got married a year and a half ago. I've been doing music for like, you know, a handful of years. So, I don't I don't know either side to its extent, but I do know that like I think both of those two things would be great to have both. And I I love both those parts of my life. I think that there's like I feel like there's two lies that we get told. One is that you can't do both. Like you can't do both. You got to pick one or you got to pick the other. And then the other lie is that you can have it all and you can have it all at once. Like I think that's a lie, too. I think that >> there are times in your life where one thing is going to take precedent over the other and that's fine. Like right now me and my husband could tell you like we are both hustling hard. Like we are both working so much. I'm gone a ton and it's just a lot. Like we're putting a lot into our careers right now and then there's going to be a time where we're going to have kids and that's going to have to take precedent. Not that we're going to quit everything else, but like we will have to put more of our time and energy into that. And so I feel like if if we could all just be a little more okay with that, then maybe it would be easier. I don't know. Again, I don't have kids. I don't know what it's like, but I I just when I look at the future, like that's what I would love for things to look like. So >> I think it's like less about balance and more about like you have different priorities at different times. >> Yeah. And that's fine. Okay. Yeah. But I love that you feel that way, too, cuz I it's kind of rare. I feel like >> Yeah. Also, I just like love a grandma hobby. Like that's like my whole personality. So like I and I'm a homebody and like I have a home brand. Like I like to be at home 247, but I also >> love like I started doing this stuff when I was like 16. Like I that was 12 years ago at this point. Like I love to like >> build something. I'm very entrepreneurial. Like I I feel like tugs from both sides. But I agree like you can have both, but I don't think you can have them at the same time always. Like I think in life there's just going to be different priorities at different times. It's okay to like drop the ball on either way sometimes and just like kind of juggle. >> And I also think like >> I don't know if I feel this way just because I am someone who really like values my career and I'm very career oriented. Like there really is nothing wrong with someone not being the most career oriented person in the entire world. Like if that there's nothing wrong with that, but I do think that I think there's a lot of pressure on both sides that are telling you that like especially right now like you either need to >> be a tradome mom who does nothing or doesn't do nothing. Stay at home moms by the way do more than anyone. >> You just need does >> nothing career-wise. Yes. Like no nothing like financially or whatever, >> right? So someone who is staying at home >> or you have to be like in a Fortune 500 company and doing all these things and it's crazy that women like you feel the pressure from both ends. >> Yeah, it it really is and I I'll be honest like I really do it it is something that like I like I said I haven't figured it out and I really do wonder what it will look like in the future. Like I don't know because I know I want to have kids and I know that I want to do this job. So, like I just I'm kind of just it's another one of those things I'm just kind of taking day by day and I'm like, "Okay, God, you have a plan." I know that or I think that he wants me to do both of those things, whether it's one at one time in my life and another at another. But I just I'm kind of like, "All right, I'll just follow your lead and whatever happens happens." >> No, I think that's great. And I also just think like vocalizing this stuff is good. >> Yeah. You know, >> normalize it. >> Yeah. Normalize. >> Normalize. >> Like me on TikTok and I'm like normalize. And it's like the most normalized thing that's ever existed. >> Some things we need to stop normalizing. >> Some things we should stop normalizing. Like absolutely >> bring back shame. >> No, literally bring back shame. Actually, the things that I see on the internet on a day-to-day basis. >> I know. I'm like, that shouldn't be normal. >> Yeah, that should be normal. >> It's okay to keep some things to yourself. >> Absolutely. Okay, so I want to talk about how you met your husband. >> My eyes lit up. I'm like, okay, perfect. >> I'll talk about it all day. >> So, okay. I met my husband through songwriting. technically we he's a songwriter and producer extraordinaire and we met probably I think it was like in 2021 so like four years ago and we were supposed to write we shout out to Rodney Clawson I don't know if you know who that is but he's a big songwriter like kind of one of our close like friends and we were I was supposed to write with Rodney and he pulled Will on to the right he was like hey I'm writing with this like new artist nobody knows who she is like, "Would you want to would you want to write with her?" And Will was like, "Yeah, sure." And so we had this on the calendar and then we went to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame induction. Didn't have a valid reason to be there. We were just like tagging along with our publishers. And he I guess he recognized me just from like knowing that we were going to write together. And so he came up and introduced himself and I thought like he was so handsome. He was wearing a blue suit and since that was like probably the last time I've seen him in a suit, but he's like a jeans guy. He doesn't really wear suits. And he just came up to me and he was like, "Hey, he's so country." And he's like, "Hey, I'm Will Bundy. I know your sister and we're going to be riding soon. I just wanted to say hey." And I was like, "Okay." And I kind of had thought because I had just gotten back from college. I had like just graduated and I was like, "Yep, these are the Nashville guys." Like, "This is it." And I was so wrong. Like, Nashville guys are not really like that. He's the coolest one I found. >> I was going to say, it's not the It's not the most amazing. >> Yeah, he's an anomaly. >> But, and so anyway, we ended up writing like a couple weeks later and then we just became friends. like we were both kind of dating other people and so we like we became friends and I just always thought he was so funny and sweet and like I thought he was really hot. Every time I'd go ride with him I would like have butterflies and I just kind of was ignoring it. And then one day we ended up single at the same time and the rest is history. >> Did he like ask you on a date? we sort of like started texting like >> it was so funny because we were we were co-writers like we worked together and so we went on a writing retreat and we were kind of like the two youngest people. It was us and like four other writers and they were all like in their 40s and 50s and so we were like kind of the two kids and I swear he was flirting with me. I was like wait you like me I can tell. And I was just kind of like, "Okay, whatever. I'm just going to whatever." Like maybe, maybe not. And then a couple months later, it was just like we would have to text about work. Like we would write together and he'd like have to send me the song or whatever. And then it just kind of slowly turned into like we were like texting a little bit longer. And I'm like, "Wait, why is he asking me about like not work stuff?" Then what happened was like we went, it's a kind of a long story, but like we went on a drive together and we just drove around back roads, listened to music, and then we kissed and like that was that. >> That was when we like crossed the line of like, okay, we're not friends anymore. Like >> that's a really really sweet story. It's very Nashville. >> It's so country music. >> It's so eye roll. >> No, that's actually really sweet. >> Yeah, he's the best. He's amazing. >> Should we talk a little bit about touring? Like all the crazy things that you do. Yeah. >> Like what have you been up to most recently? >> Well, I just got done with Laney Wilson, touring with Laney Wilson, and that was amazing. Like, and I've gotten to do a lot of amazing tours, so I don't want to pick any favorites, but like that was really one of my favorite things I've gotten to do cuz I' I've gotten to tour with so many guys, and I really do like that. It's kind of fun being the only girl sometimes because it's just like I don't know, it's kind of easier for me to like have alone time if I'm the only girl around. >> It's a different dynamic. It's just a different dynamic and and it's great and fun in its own way, but I haven't really gotten to tour with a lot of girls or at least like go out for a long period of time. And so it was just awesome. Like it was just so cool seeing how she kind of runs everything like differently than other people. And she's freaking awesome. I don't know, you said you've been to a lot of concerts. I don't know if you've been to a >> I haven't been to one of her concerts, but I've I've gone to like the ACM and like I've gone to all the shows, so I've seen her. Well, you've seen what she can do, but go to her go to a a concert. It's freaking awesome. It is so good. >> She's so talented. >> She is. She really is. And like she's just as nice as I thought she was going to be. >> That's amazing. >> Yeah. You know, you like you see people online and you like kind of know them adjacently and you feel like they seem so nice and you're just like, I hope they're really like that. And she really is. She's so sweet. I will say like I do feel like more often than not like people kind of and I know this is kind of a crazy take because it's like okay people are not who they are in the internet >> but I do think that like >> there's a lot of people who actually just are nice and but it's the people it is almost always the people who are at the top of whatever industry it is. >> It's true. the more successful, the nicer they are. Every time >> that, okay, me and my husband actually talk about that all the time because you just interact and you encounter so many different people and you're like, "Wow, you're really not nice." Like, and then you realize it's like the people like that that actually are at the top, they are the nicest. Cuz you cannot get there without treating people nicely. People will be like, "Nope, I'm not working with you. You are not nice and I can't do this." And so for someone like that's literally at the very top, it's like, yeah, you got to be nice because you got there somehow. >> I also and I lived in California in LA for a couple years and we would always say like assistant syndrome. I think it's also people are insecure from like where they're at and they want there's a lot of jealousy and there's a lot of >> totally >> emotions. Yeah. Just like nasty emotions around that and I think they acting out of insecurity and that's what like makes them mean a lot of the time. >> That's so true. And then it makes me sad to think about it like that. >> But the most successful people are always like the biggest in the industry. It really or the are always the nicest in the industry. >> No, it's so true. >> It really is so true. >> How do you deal with like I think everyone who listens to the show deals with comparison on a day-to-day basis. Like for example, I literally on the internet I can't I don't like watching people who do something similar to me unless they're my best friends. I like I literally watch people who are like live in the North Pole and like need a point and like are not in the same field. >> Okay, I do the same thing and I think that's really healthy. >> Okay, that's what I was about to ask like how do you deal with comparison? It's so hard when you're in a creative field. >> I don't know. I'm still figuring it out. It's really hard. Like it's really hard for me. It's you just I don't know. I just let things get to me and like I just actually think it's really unhealthy to have to see it all the time. There's part of me that's like no, I should make myself be okay with this. like I should be able to like see all this content of all these people all the time, but really why? We were not built for that. And so I think it's great to watch people doing Needle Point and people living in the North Pole. Like I do the same thing. I think my version of that is I'm obsessed with like southern moms on TikTok. Absolutely obsessed with >> the thicker the accent, the longer I'm going to stay. >> Yeah. Like I seriously can't get enough. Like there's this one girl that I absolutely love. I want her to notice me so much. What's her username? >> Her name is Kayle's mom on Tik Tok. >> Wait, I think I found I >> Her name's Rachel, but her her handle is Kayle's mom. She doesn't know who I am, but God willing, she will one day. I'm >> You should invite her to a show. >> No, I know. I have like she hasn't seen my messages. >> We'll get there. >> Maybe she'll see this. >> Yes. >> But like I'm so obsessed with her and I just watched like it's so funny. I'll find myself. I'm like, "How did I just I think my attention span is so short and then I just I'm like, "How did I just watch this entire like family reunion that she had like I watched every all the content from her daughter's wedding, like their family came in town. Like I can't get enough." >> And I mean, I love so many people like that. And I think it's just cuz like I mean, I do love their personalities and I think they're great, but it's also so different than my day-to-day that it's so comforting to me. I'm like, I just need to watch something normal. I don't need to be fed constantly with like whoever is doing the same thing as me. I don't need to do that. >> We weren't meant to know what everyone else around us is doing. We were meant to know like what the the village that we live in, that's it. Not even like the town over. >> So, it's really it can be really exhausting. And I think people feel this way a lot with people getting engaged and getting married and having kids and like >> it just it really can be a lot. And if I I can tell immediately if I'm in like a less healthy space cuz there are times where it doesn't bother me at all. But then the second I am feeling a little bit worse about whatever might be in my life. >> It just it hits me so much harder. But I also think it's important like jealousy or comparison or all of these things. It's a very normal human emotion. Oh yeah. >> It's not and we like demonize ourselves for it almost. I think it really depends on how you act from that. Like that's the part of it that's bad. But actually feeling those feelings is a very normal thing. >> No, it's that's so true. It really is like everybody feels that way. I feel that way all the time. I'll be the first to say it. And I think it's like you're right. It is. We are responsible for how we react to it. But I think we also have to be, and I'm speaking to myself here because I'm not good about this, but I think we also have to be responsible for like what we're feeding ourselves. Cuz I'll be like if I'm really down, my husband will be like, "How long did you scroll on TikTok today?" And I'm like, "Oh, three hours. You're right. That's it." And then I'm like, "Okay, well that's why. So tomorrow I'm not going to do that." And I have a 100 times better day. >> It is so true. >> Like, and I've started like in the morning. I feel like you'll get this. Like I I don't do like social media in the morning anymore. >> I'm recovered. But I'll read like Southern Living magazines, litter homes. Like I've got a stack next to my couch that's like just from years. Like there's ones I need to see that collection. Yeah, I'll get I'll give you some. I honestly need to get rid of some. Like >> I just got all the Martha Stewart Living like like 237 of them there. Or no, sorry, not 237. I got like 907 or something at this point. Oh my gosh. Just even going back to it's like the olden days, the analog days 20 years ago. It really takes you back. >> It's so good. And it like it feeds your eyes like color. Mhm. >> Like I'll look at it in the morning and it's bright and colorful. It's giving me what I need, but it's not me scrolling on my phone seeing >> people like I don't know >> cuz you just automatically think like I should be doing more. I especially when you are someone who is driven like we're talking about it's like I want a slow life but I want to be doing these things and then you see everyone on social media and you're putting all this pressure on yourself there. I always ask people this question about comparison and then I'm like wait I actually have a great thing to say because but it's not my thing. It's I always just, you know, say smell Robbins. Okay. In her book, and this really helped me. This specifically was, we focus so much on like not caring what people think. And I think that's a lot. I'm like, I shouldn't be comparing myself. I shouldn't be doing this. And we like should and should and should ourselves. >> And she said something that really changed my life. And she said, we as human beings are always going to care what people think to some extent. It doesn't matter how much you don't. And I'm someone who like for the most part that's not my biggest >> gripe in life, but it does get to me and it bothers me. And I think it's the same thing with comparison. And her whole thing is instead of like wasting all that energy trying to get yourself to stop caring what people think or to get yourself to stop, you know, comparing I'm just outing this one, like comparing yourself to others, you instead just need to like let them like let them think negatively of you. Why does that bother you? Like let them live their lives. You don't need to compare yourself. You know what I mean? >> That's so true. Why does it matter? Yeah. Just like let it happen. It's fine. >> Yeah. No, that's that is that is really good. I just >> connect. >> Yeah, it's true. It's just like I don't know. And I think that we're also I mean we're so selfdriven. Like this >> world is so we're obsessed with ourselves. >> And I'm saying that like I just was obsessed with my wrinkles on a video. Like I we just are. And I think that's not we just got to start focusing on some other things than ourselves. Like it's ruining everything honestly. >> It really is. And I think like even something as small as like reading something living in the morning. It's like taking you out out of yourself. >> Yeah. I look at recipes and it just I'm not I'm It's like the best thing I feel like to read first thing in the morning. >> Agreed. >> Other than like the Bible obviously we should be doing that too, >> but I'm excited living after that. >> But then Yeah. Like it's just kind of like courses, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm like, it's a close second. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay, so back to like your actual crazy career cuz we've talked a lot about like, you know, being slow. So, let's talk about other like what out of your entire career, like what has been something that has been >> the maybe the craziest experience you've had or like the most meaningful to you? >> One of the most meaningful things that >> has happened is I got to headline this place called Proud Larry's in Oxford, which where I went to school. And it's a really small venue. Like I don't even know what the cap is. It's probably like a couple hundred, maybe not even that. But I sold it out. And I will never forget that night. It was just like people were singing every word. And it was like a lot of people that I knew kind of from college and then a lot of people that I didn't know that were just like miss people and those are just those are my people. >> And that was like the most special night. It like I said it was like a small venue. It's not like I was headlining Bridgestone or Madison Square Garden, but it was so special to me because I I've been to so many concerts there and just like there's so many memories for me in that building. And so it was just it was amazing. It was so special. >> Social circle. >> It was. Yeah. And that was like where I was when that was the bar I was in when I got up and sang with my sister and I was like, >> I have to do this for a living. That's then to get to be back there and I like kind of told that story and it was so special. >> No, that see that would have gotten me. I would have been sobbing. >> Oh, I was >> Yeah. I wouldn't have been able to sing. >> I know. I I really like and I I'm such a crier but a lot of times in high pressure situations like I won't cry because I'm too I like think I'm supposed to. And so I'm like, "Okay, I'm not." But I did cry at that joke. I did cry. Sometimes when you know something's about to be so emotional, it's like you disconnect completely and you can't you like can't really be there in the moment. Yes. So that's amazing. >> Oh my gosh. Yeah. Like when I when I got asked to play the opery, that was another thing that was really special to me and I thought like I'm going to boohoo so and I I kind of did but I was like too nerv I was like I was too like in shock and I just and then I was like why am I not crying? Like people are going to think I don't care. But >> and the oper's thinking about me that much. >> That's true. And the opery is like the most iconic thing ever. >> Oh yeah. Especially cuz for a Nashville native, I was just like >> I mean I grew up going there. I've always loved the Aubrey. >> So >> it really is so amazing. >> Who is the coolest person that you've met? >> Oh, good question. Honestly, Laney. She's like been the coolest like nicest. I would say Laney and Zack Top. Those are my two faves. They were both like I toured with both of them and they separately and they were just like so normal. I really love when people are normal. I don't like when people act not normal when they're just like way too big for their britches and and annoying. And those two are like the most down to earth people and so are the people that they surround themselves with. I think that's really important. Do you think people who are like at the top of their field are more normal because they're like craving that sense of normaly? Like that's their way to control it? >> Maybe. >> Like or but they were just always that way. >> I don't know. I feel like it's something that you kind of have to have in you, but then you also have to really work at it. Like I think you I think humility is something you have to really be diligent about and like keep yourself in check. And the biggest thing is like just having good people around you. If you don't have good people around you, it everything's going to spiral real fast. >> I think that's like the number one thing. Even when you see people come out with product that's crazy and it's like because they only have Yes around them. Like that is what it is. >> That's kind of like something I've observed is and so that I'm just trying to like be good about that with myself. like just make sure that I have good solid people around me because I I really have noticed like if someone is really just like a not nice person or really seems miserable I'm like okay well I can see these are the people that you're surrounding yourself with and sometimes it's just like I don't know you have to also have friends outside of business like because sometimes you know things get weird and you just have to have friends outside of it. No, I that makes from you. Yeah. >> What is the coolest thing you've learned from Laneie? >> Honestly, just watching her show, I feel like I've learned so much about just performance. Like, and everyone's such a different performer. Like, I'm not we're not the same performer. Like, we do a different thing, but I've been able to just absorb so much of just her stage presence and confidence. And I just she's so awesome. Literally like the first night we watched her set and I was like I'm a huge loser. Like I've got to figure out how to do that. She's just so confident and honestly that's I feel like that's what I've learned from her. She also is very much just like an open book and so I I want to be that way too. Like I want to be like she's just so she wants she wants to help people. like she wants to help the next people in line and just be like a a sounding board and I want to be that way for somebody someday. >> And it's like the world of the generous gets bigger. >> Mhm. >> Always. >> Yeah. >> So, it is a great thing. But it is people at the top of their industry. They're at the top for a reason. It's always >> so true. >> It is so true. >> What is something that you have on your bucket list or someone you want to meet or someone anyone that you want to do anything with in the industry that you haven't done yet? M there's so many I mean there's so many people that I love. >> Just list them out. >> I mean I'm a huge Casey Musgraves fan. Anyone who knows me knows that. And so if she ever wanted to notice me and do a song together, I would be so glad. No pressure at all. >> I would be so open and make myself so >> super open, but I'm also like we don't have to. >> I remember where I was when I heard like Mary Gar for the first time in like elementary school, middle school. I was in Texas. I was in the car and I listened to that song on re still. I still listen to that song. Just I love Also, she's from like an hour and a half away from me. So like I >> Oh, really? Wait, where are you from? >> I'm from Dallas. Oh, you're >> But I'm from the suburbs and she's from like East Texas, so not far. And we used to live like out there. But I love her. >> Yeah, she's amazing. >> She's just everything to me. >> She Yeah, she's awesome. She's my fave. >> She's so incredible. Okay, so tell everyone where they can find you and the new album and any tour dates, all that stuff. So, I'm about to go out on tour with Cameron Marlo. We're doing West Coast. >> I love Cameron Marlo. I know you guys are touring together. >> He's so I love Megan. >> He's an awesome. I know. >> They are. And And speaking of creme de la creme, the best people ever. That couple is top up there to like an level that like you don't even understand as the kindest, most generous, nicest people ever. >> Okay, I completely second that. I haven't spent a ton of time around them, but I just like I can I can tell. So, I'm excited to hang out with them. So, that's like what's up next. And then my album is out, In a Perfect World. You can find it anywhere you stream music, your you know, your place of preference. And um yeah, you can find me on Instagram, Lauren.Watkins. I always forget. And then Tik Tok, Laur dot or underscore. They're laughing because I never know. >> We can put it in the show notes, too. >> I think it's l.Watkins. >> Perfect. >> I hope. >> Oh my god. Amazing. Well, thank you so much and I cannot wait for our dinner. >> Thank you. Oh my gosh, it's going to be so fun.