Emily Ann Roberts recently released a new song, “Things You Didn’t Know.” Written by Roberts, along with hit songwriters Trent Willmon, Michael Farren, and Laura Veltz, the song is a personal one to Roberts, celebrating her close relationship with her own father, Tommy Roberts.

“My parents had breakfast with us because they had traveled in from East Tennessee to see me play The Listening Room with Vince Gill the night before,” Roberts recalls. “After they left, I was talking about how inspirational my dad has been in my life. He hasn’t had an easy life, but he never let the hard times define him.

“He modeled hard work, how to be a friend, and introduced me to all his favorite records, which in turn shaped my songwriting and artistry,” she adds. “He taught me so many things, but I know I learned the most just by watching how he lived.”

Emily Ann Roberts’ Goal With “Things You Didn’t Know”

“Things You Didn’t Know” says, “You didn’t know that I was watching when you held momma tight / Slow dancing in the kitchen, making up after a fight / You didn’t know that I was learning real love don’t let go / My favorite parts of who I am I owe / To the things you didn’t know.”

Roberts has released plenty of songs since becoming the runner-up on Season 9 of The Voice in 2015. But with  “Things You Didn’t Know,” Roberts has a very specific goal.

“I hope this song brings back wonderful memories for folks and reminds them we all have a huge impact on the people’s lives around us,” she says. “I still have so much to learn, but I pray the impact I leave is one half as good as the one my dad made on me.”

Emily Ann Roberts Wins First Industry Award

Roberts just won her first industry award. Roberts, who was also nominated for an ACM Award (for New Female Artist of the Year), was just named Rising Artist-Writer of the Year at the AIMP (Association of Independent Music Publishers) Nashville Awards.

“I’m so honored to be named AIMP Nashville’s Rising Artist-Writer of the Year,” Roberts says of the honor. “Nashville’s community of publishers and writers have been so edifying to me over the past ten years. … This award makes me want to work harder to live up to be the woman this town believes I am.”

In addition to her big win, her “Come Home to You” song was also named the Publisher’s Pick of the Year.

“I moved to this town to be an artist and entertainer. While I love to write my own songs, it is an even greater honor to be trusted with someone else’s art,” Roberts reflects. “I’m so proud to have recorded ‘Come Home To You’ and thrilled for Jim McCormick, Michael Wilkes, and Makayla Lynn to have received this honor.”

Photo Credit: Jamie Wendt