Jessie James Decker Credits Her ‘Amazing Support System’ For Pushing Her Out Of Her Comfort Zone On New EP
“I feel like it is the most vulnerable I have ever been before,” Decker admits.
Jessie James Decker has spent years on the sidelines cheering on her wide receiver husband, Eric Decker, and working the limelight as an NFL Wife. Decker’s devotion to her husband did not go unnoticed, and the two scored a reality show with NBC called Eric & Jessie: Game On. As their relationship began to blossom over time, children were quickly added into the equation – resulting in Jessie to put her love for music on the back burner, as she was focused on learning the ins and outs of motherhood.
During this time, she grew into a powerful woman and strong mother of three. As her children got older and Eric put down the football, she decided to pick up music once again. Fast forward to the present day, and now the chart-topping artist leans on her family to help elevate her musical career.
“He supports me just above and beyond,” says Decker about her husband. “I supported him during his NFL Career all seven years that I was with him. I was that NFL wife, and I did it 100 percent because I wanted to see him succeed. He was just killing it out there, and I was pregnant and was having babies. I felt like that’s where my priorities were. I knew once he retired, I’d be able to kick it back into gear,” shares Jessie James Decker during an exclusive Country Now interview.
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At the tail end of his athletic career in 2017 – Jessie released her 14-track record, Southern Girl City Lights. She continued to share with Country Now reporter Tiffany Goldstein the sudden shift in their relationship. “I’ve definitely seen that after he retired, the flip was switched, and he has been all in with me. He sits on all of my meetings – at my touring meetings, he asks numbers and budgets… he really gets in the nitty-gritty. I mean, he is truly on my team. I just trust him with everything, and it is so good to have such an amazing support system,” shared the budding songstress.
So, when it was time to create new material for her loyal fan base that she cultivated throughout the years – she utilized notable names in Nashville but also her family to perfect her sound. While the 2x New York Times best-selling author juggles her fashion brand Kittenish and life as a mother of three – she found time to work on her recently released seven-track EP, The Woman I’ve Become.
“I have been waiting to figure out new music since 2017. I feel like it is the most vulnerable I have ever been before. So, I’m really excited for everyone to hear that side of my songwriting,” says the breakthrough star about her latest project. “I have always written songs that were so true to myself in every scenario. From being in love or feeling like I wanted it to be super empowering to women.”
The “Not In Love With You” artist took a new approach while penning and recording the transformative collection that exemplifies her growth as a vocalist and as a female. Instead of making a soundtrack of her own life, she pulled inspiration from others. “This time around, I think the growth and the transition into the woman I have become doesn’t always have to be my story. I wanted to sing songs for those that don’t have a voice or are going through something. It is my job to be their storyteller.”
She continued to stress her point of view on removing her personal stories from the project. It’s how she provides a window into her daily life on social media and in her previous music that encouraged her to try something fresh. “A lot of people know me from TV, and they expect everything to be so literal. Which I understand, you want a soundtrack to my life, because you watched it. So, I have always done that, and Southern Girl City Lights is a perfect example of that. That record was literally the soundtrack from our show,” she adds.
Before the self-assured anthem “Should Have Known Better” and “Not In Love With You” reached rapid success, which served as a teaser to her emotional-driven EP that dropped on Friday, October 22. She turned to Eric and her children to get their honest perspective on each ballad.
“Eric hears everything! Even when they are in demo style, he even hears everything I sing or write. He knows the project, and so do the kids from top to bottom. It’s really important for me to let them hear it, because if they don’t like it… I don’t want it,” she discloses about the writing and recording process.
In fact, her soulful melody “Dance With Someone Else,” penned by seasoned songwriters – Tina Parol Gemza, Dave Pittenger, and fast rising country artist Tenille Townes – is her 2-year-old son’s favorite hit on the EP.
“Little Forest keeps asking when the one song is coming out, and he calls it “nobody cheated,” but that’s not the title. The title is “Dance With Someone Else.” The first line of the chorus is nobody cheated/ nobody lied. That’s his favorite on the EP. So, I’m excited to see if everyone agrees with Forest,” says Decker while laughing.
The heartbreak ballad about a healthy breakup musically was a match made in heaven, as it complements her angelic and controlled vocals. “As soon as I heard it, I melted. I loved it so much,” she shares while reminiscing back to when the track was first pitched. Decker confirmed that the airy track was supposed to be on Tenille Towne’s record until she decided it wasn’t the best fit. “We’re both signed to the same publishing company. So, the beauty of being signed to the same publishing company is that they can pitch you songs. Other writers have written like Marin Morris was signed to Big Yellow Dog and Meghan Trainor. I get access to some of the most amazing writers and artists.”
With Nashville’s elite behind her, she confirmed that she will be making a full-fledged album in the near future. When carefully crafting The Woman I’ve Become, Decker confessed that she quickly learned the new innovative way the industry goes about releasing music. “Definitely expect a full-length album from me. They do things differently these days… it used to be, put out a single or two, and BAM comes to the album. They really like to chop it up these days. So, I’m still getting used to it, because I’m so old school. They wanted to put a little batch first and then put out a second batch, which means I actually get to put out probably even more songs that I would have on a full-length album,” says Decker full of excitement.
Until then, the hitmaker will be bringing her new music and family out on the road come April 2022. While tickets are not available for purchase just yet, eager fans can now learn the lyrics to her inspiring EP on all streaming platforms.
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The Woman I’ve Become Tour Dates
Thursday, April 14, 2022 // Detroit, MI // The Fillmore Detroit
Friday, April 15, 2022 // Columbus, OH // Express Live! Indoor Pavilion
Saturday, April 16, 2022 // Toronto, ON // HISTORY
Thursday, April 28, 2022 // Nashville, TN // Ryman Auditorium
Friday, April 29, 2022 // Rosemont, IL // Joe’s Live
Saturday, April 30, 2022 // Minneapolis, MN // Palace Theatre
Sunday, May 1, 2022 // Milwaukee, WI // The Rave
Thursday, May 5, 2022 // Jacksonville, FL // Florida Theater
Friday, May 6, 2022 // Clearwater, FL // Ruth Eckerd Hall
Saturday, May 7, 2022 // Atlanta, GA // Tabernacle
Thursday, May 12, 2022 // Glenside, PA // Keswick Theatre
Friday, May 13, 2022 // New York, NY // The Rooftop at Pier 17
Saturday, May 14, 2022 // Boston, MA // House of Blues
Sunday, May 15, 2022 // Washington, DC // Warner Theatre
Thursday, May 19, 2022 // Baton Rouge, LA // The Texas Club Baton Rouge
Friday, May 20, 2022 // Houston, TX // House of Blues
Saturday, May 21, 2022 // Dallas, TX // AT&T Performing Arts Center
Sunday, May 22, 2022 // Kansas City, MO // Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Thursday, May 26, 2022 // Tempe, AZ // Marquee Theatre
Friday, May 27, 2022 // Las Vegas, NV // Brooklyn Bowl
Saturday, May 28, 2022 // Los Angeles, CA // The Novo
Sunday, May 29, 2022 // San Diego, CA // Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
Friday, June 3, 2022 // Sandy, UT // Sandy Amphitheater
Saturday, June 4, 2022 // Denver, CO // Mission Ballroom
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