Jo Dee Messina is back. Her next album, Bridges, out on Friday, June 5, is her first record more than a decade, since Me came out in 2014.
In the 11 years between the two, much has happened in Messina’s life, including a bout with cancer, a painful divorce, and the loss of both of her parents. She also spent time focusing on parenting her two boys, now 17 and 14, which is her primary reason for stepping away from the spotlight.
“Motherhood gives you perspective on the things that are important,” Messina tells The Tennessean. “Most things aren’t worth giving up that time with your kids.”
The Song Jo Dee Messina Wrote With Tyler Hubbard for ‘Bridges’
When Messina was ready to get back to country music, she began by writing. Included on Bridges is “Days You Don’t Get Back,” one of the early ones she recorded for the project. Messina wrote it with Tyler Hubbard.
“Don’t wish away the days you don’t get back,” Messina tells Us Weekly, speaking of the message in the song. “You always want what’s next. You want your license. Then you want to be 21, then you want to be 25, then you want a family. You’re always looking for the next thing, but you have to learn to love where you’re at.”
Bridges does exactly that, bridges the gap between Me and Bridges. Not all serious songs, they are all in some way reflective of a new chapter Messina is wholeheartedly embracing.
“There’s a lot of seasons that it covers,” Messins says. “A lot of earth-shattering things in there, and lessons that go along the way.”
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Joe Dee Messina Focuses On Her Faith
In addition to the professional and personal changes, Messina has also undergone a spiritual transformation in recent years. It inspired her to start a new ministry, Broom Tree Haven, where she hopes to “build a peaceful, physical space to gather,” per The Tennessean.
“I want to have a place where I can love people until they’re ready to walk on their own again,” she says.
Sober since 2004, the 55-year-old says her life is a living example that Jesus is for everyone.
“I was pretty far lost to myself, and He found me, so He can find you too,” Messina says.
Of her strengthened faith, Messina says that may be the biggest transformation of all.
“I’m less feisty, more compassionate,” Messina notes. “That’s a Christ thing.”
“I still have drive, don’t get me wrong … but having who I am defined by our Father, the Creator of all things, rather than (the music) industry that’s constantly changing, there’s some solidity in that,” she adds.
Messina has plenty of tour dates on the calendar. She is also performing at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Friday, June 5, as part of CMA Fest. Find music and tour dates at JoDeeMessina.com.