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Jo Dee Messina is an award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist that has given her heart and soul to find success. She’s has nine No. 1 singles, was honored by The Country Music Association, The Academy of Country Music, The Grammy Awards and was the first female country artist to score three multiple-week No. 1 songs from the same album.
“Delicious Surprise” is Messina’s 4th studio album. It is that rare recording that captures the true essence of an artist’s soul – her feistiness, her strength and her humor. Rather than talk about what has occurred in her life, Messina has chosen to sing about it. She’s put together a group of songs that come from her heart, songs that are meant to convey a musical message of optimism, strength and hope. As the songs say, while life’s experiences may be hard, it’s those experiences that make us who we are and make life worth living.
“Music has always been an enormous part of my life,” said Messina. “It’s not just something I do, it’s part of who I am. Songwriting to me is my refuge, a safe place to me where I can go to spell out my emotions, especially when dealing with tough situations. It helps me to gain perspective. You could say that songwriting gives me emotional freedom.”
Born in Holliston, Massachusetts, Messina was first attracted to country music after hearing the recordings of Alabama and Hank Williams, Jr. As for her love for country music, it grew as fast as her respect for its heroes, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn, the strong women of country who wrote and sang from the heart, and Reba McEntire, the hard-working, blue-collar girl whom she related to best.
At six, Messina had her first public performance and from then on she was hooked. At age thirteen, she founded a band and gained experience by performing in clubs in the Northeast. She did what she had to do: performing, booking and marketing her own shows, lugging gear and keeping the books. At 19, Messina made the difficult decision to move to Nashville. She didn’t know a soul, had no grand plan, but what she did know, was that she wanted to sing. It was there that Messina would lay down roots and chase her dream.
