Jo Dee Messina‘s Bridges album is out. The record, Messina’s first new album since Me came out in 2014, began when Messina had no idea she was writing for herself.
“I was writing. I was writing songs with other artists and for other people,” Messina says on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “And then people were like, ‘Man, you should cut this. You need to cut this.’ And then I’d write another one, and they’d be like, ‘You need to cut it.’ It’s so different from what we’re used to. We’re used to the whole system in place with a record label, that promotion stuff, and all that. And I’m like, ‘Well, I don’t have a label.'”
Messina was writing with a guy named David Spencer, a producer, who offered to help Messina put a record together. The result is Bridges.
Much has changed for Messina in the years between Me and Bridges, including raising her sons, a divorce, and a bout with cancer, all changes that come out in the songs on the project.
“There’s a lot of seasons that it covers,” Messins says of the project. “A lot of earth-shattering things in there, and lessons that go along the way.”
Messina is in many ways the same singer, songwriter, and performer that she was when her debut “Heads Carolina, Tails California” single came out in 1996. But in many ways she is also very different.
“I think I have a different perspective now because I’ve lived through more,” Messina tells BuzzFeed. “There’s a bit of wisdom and perspective in these lyrics that you can’t have at that age.”
Jo Dee Messina Launches Her Headlining Bridges Tour
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Messina is heading out on her headlining Bridges Tour, kicking off on June 11 in Columbus, Ohio. The 55-year-old is eager to perform for her fans, although she admits choosing what songs to sing is a bit of a challenge.
“Just getting out there and sharing new music – it’s funny to construct that set list,” Messina says, acknowledging that she has to play all of her big hits like “Lesson in Leavin’,” “Bye Bye,” and others.
“You gotta pick those, and then sprinkle the new ones in there. … You won’t be bored at the show, because we won’t do 15 new ones,” she adds.
See a list of Messina’s tour dates below.
06/11/2026 – The Bluestone – Columbus, OH +
06/12/2026 – Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center – Carteret, NJ
06/13/2026 – Bowl In The Pines – Sidney, ME
06/18/2026 – American Music Theatre – Lancaster, PA +
06/19/2026 – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom – Hampton Beach, NH +
06/20/2026 – Foxwoods Resort Casino – Mashantucket, CT
07/10/2026 – Hodag Country Festival – Rhinelander, WI *
07/17/2026 – Saddle Up for St. Jude – Tuscumbia, AL
07/23/2026 – Canyon County Fair: Bi-Mart Concert Series – Caldwell, ID *
07/24/2026 – Mountain America Center – Idaho Falls, ID +
07/25/2026 – Cheyenne Frontier Days – Cheyenne, WY *
07/31/2026 – The Haute Spot – Leander, TX
08/01/2026 – Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX
08/06/2026 – Streator Fest – Streator, IL *
08/07/2026 – Effingham County Fair – Altamont, IL *
08/14/2026 – Batavia Downs – Batavia, NY +
08/15/2026 – Warner Vineyards – Paw Paw, MI
08/22/2026 – Tier 10 Music & Sports Park – Spencer, IN *
08/27/2026 – Central States Fair – Rapid City, SD *
08/29/2026 – Cali Country Cruise 2026 – Long Beach, CA ^
09/04/2026 – Columbia Bank Concert Series at the Oregon State Fair – Salem, OR *
09/05/2026 – Lake County Round-Up – Lakeview, OR *
09/06/2026 – Twin Falls County Fair – Filer, ID *
09/11/26 – Heart of Country Festival – Independence, KY *
09/13/2026 – Kansas State Fair – Hutchinson, KS *
09/16/2025 – SEMO District Fair – Cape Girardeau, MO *
09/19/2026 – Boots in the Park – Fresno, CA *
09/25/2026 – Shooting Star Casino & Lodge – Mahnomen, MN
09/26/2026 – Mayo Clinic Health Center Event – Mankato, MN
09/27/2026 – Washington Pavillion – Sioux Falls, SD
10/10/2026 – GreyStone Amphitheater – Douglasville, GA
10/23/2026 – Genesee Theatre – Waukegan, IL
11/06/2026 – The Truth – Nashville, TN
01/16/2027 – Renaissance Theatre – Mansfield, OH
03/06/2027 – Crystal Grand Music Theatre – Wisconsin Dells, WI
+ The Bennett Hall Band supporting
* Fair/Festival
^ Dock performance only
Photo Credit: CMA / John Russell