Jo Dee Messina Celebrates New Release With ‘TODAY’ Show Performance

The performance was in support of her just-released greatest hits collection.

By

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

March 14, 2023

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10:50 am

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Jo Dee Messina; Photo Courtesy TODAY Show, NBCUniversal

Jo Dee Messina made her way to the Big Apple this week for a performance on NBC’s TODAY Third Hour. 

The country hitmaker performed her iconic debut hit, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” as well as a snippet of her version of “Lesson In Leavin’” as part of the Citi Music Series live from New York City’s Rockefeller Center.

Sporting cowboy boots and an all-black ensemble, Messina commanded the stage with the chart-topping hit alongside her band. 

Her performance was in support of her new record, Heads Carolina, Tails California: The Best of Jo Dee Messina. This is her first-ever greatest hits collection. 

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The album features 11 of her timeless hits, including familiar favorites like: “Bye, Bye,” “I’m Alright,” “Lesson In Leavin,’” ”Heads Carolina, Tails California” and more. 

The release also marks Messina’s first-ever vinyl release on a limited-edition, 180-gram clear vinyl with wisps of color throughout. 

“It’s amazing to look at this list of songs and be able to capture those moments in time,” said Jo Dee Messina, adding, “to actually be able to hold my music on vinyl is such a gift!”

Heads Carolina, Tails California: The Best of Jo Dee Messina is available now.

Greatest Hits Collection

Jo Dee Messina_The Best Of_Heads Carolina, Tails California_Cover
Jo Dee Messina – The Best Of_Heads Carolina, Tails California

Messina is in the midst of a 45-plus date headlining tour. She launched the Heads Carolina, Tails California Tour with sold-out shows in North Carolina and South Carolina and will visit various cities around the U.S. through November where the tour will wrap in – you guessed it – California.

The tour is all an ode to Messina’s 1996 debut single, “Heads Carolina, Tails California.” This is the first time Messina has toured under her iconic hit’s name and she is furthering the nostalgic theme by embedding retro artwork from her original cover art for the tour’s promotion and limited-edition merchandise.

“It seems crazy that we’ve never toured under the ‘Heads Carolina, Tails California’ banner before. We are so excited to bring people songs that they know, stories we will share and, yes, new music!” Messina previously shared in a statement.

Jo Dee Messina Tour
Jo Dee Messina Tour

2023 is proving to be a busy year for Messina. In addition to touring, she is also working on new music and has plans to release it before the end of the year. 

See below for a full list of Jo Dee Messina’s upcoming tour dates. Tickets and further details about the tour can be found by visiting her official website

Upcoming Heads Carolina, Tails California Tour Dates

March 

25 – Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

April 

14 – Fort Worth, Texas

15 – Georgetown, Texas

28 – Wichita, Kan.

29 – Fort Smith, Ark.

Jo Dee Messina; Photo by Hunter Berry, CMA
Jo Dee Messina; Photo by Hunter Berry, CMA

May 

13 – Kansas City, Kan. 

19 – Doswell, Va.

20 – Roanoke, Va. 

June

9 – Clinton, Iowa 

10 – Decatur, Ill. 

16 – Ashland, Neb. 

17 – Winsted, Minn.

23 – Raleigh – N.C.

24 – Virginia Beach, Va.

29 – Shipshewana, Ind.

30 – Central City, Iowa

YouTube video

July 

13 – West Salem, Wis.

14 – Chicago, Ill. 

15 – Pierz, Minn.

21 – LaGrange, Ga.

22 – Cullman, Ala. 

28 – Kearney, Neb.

29 – Mendon, Ill.

August 

3 – Wausau, Wis.

4 – Detroit Lakes, Minn. 

11 – Atlantic City, N.J.

12 – West Chester, Ohio

19 – Calgary, Alberta

September 

7 – Carterville, Ill.

9 – Savannah, Tenn.

14 – Spencer, Iowa

22 – Frederick, Md.

23 – Mount Vernon, Ky.

Jo Dee Messina; Photo by Andrew Wendowski 2
Jo Dee Messina; Photo by Andrew Wendowski

October 

7 – Hiawassee, Ga.

19 – Greenville, S.C.

20 – Kissimmee, Fla.

21 – Charlotte, N.C.

November

3 – Lubbock, Texas

4 – Waco, Texas 

10 – Phoenix, Ariz. 

11 – Indio, Calif.

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.