Jo Dee Messina Opens Up About Early Career Struggles

Country singer Jo Dee Messina recently shared her experiences with harsh criticism she encountered at the start of her career. In an interview on the Bobby Bones Show, the 55-year-old singer of “Bye Bye” discussed how record labels rejected her due to her weight.

“I remember one label in Nashville turning me down. They said I was too fat,” she recalled. “They told my producer, ‘If she was just ten pounds lighter, we would have signed her.'” Hearing this left Messina feeling “devastated.” Even now, decades later, she admits that she hasn’t fully moved past that criticism. “Thirty years on, and I’m still talking about it. I couldn’t let it go.”

Messina noted that despite this setback, her sister, who she regards as her “biggest support,” urged her to persevere. “You have to pass so many tests before you actually get a contract,” she said, encouraging her to keep pushing forward.

Messina made her entrance into the music scene in 1996 with her self-titled debut album, which included her well-known hit “Heads Carolina, Tails California.” Her career continued to flourish with her second album, “I’m Alright,” which achieved double platinum status.

Now, she’s preparing to release her first studio album in twelve years, titled “Bridges,” set to come out this summer. The album’s first single, “Sam Bridges,” is set to drop on Friday. Messina celebrated on Instagram, with fans buzzing about the new song. One fan commented, “I keep playing this song nonstop because it’s so awesome,” while another expressed excitement by saying, “Oh, I missed your voice! That song is fire.”

Messina’s last studio album, titled “Me,” came out in 2014 and featured tracks like “Peace Sign” and “Female Rant.”

In September 2017, she disclosed her cancer diagnosis in an open letter shared on Facebook, though it was signed by Team JDM rather than by her directly. The letter conveyed her faith, stating that she is surrounded by God’s love, which provided her with peace during difficult times.

After undergoing treatment that fall, she announced by March 2018 that she was in remission and ready to get back on stage. “I started going to the hospital once a year for blood tests and scans as needed,” she mentioned during the interview on “The Bobby Bones Show.”

Currently, Messina is touring across America to promote her upcoming album. She described her shows as “very active,” noting, “I don’t stay still. I move around a lot, banging my head… there will be a lot of pictures with my hair flying around. It’s definitely not a pretty show.”