I grew up loving country music and my stepfather, who raised me, is a Methodist minister, but he also drove buses and he would take us to Nashville, Gatlinburg and Dollywood in Tennessee. That turned into them participating on “Pray,” so it was one of those real organic situations after Jimmie called me about doing the record. I met Little Big Town when Brandi Carlile and I were in the studio working on my country album - it may be out before the end of the year - and I heard harmonies up the hallway. He called because he wanted me on it, that means it was meant. Jimmie didn’t call me for “Pray” because he heard I was doing a country album, no one knew. Jimmie Allen is an incredible guy who loves his family and knows they’ve brought him through a tremendous amount of things. What encouraged you to break into country music? “Pray” with Jimmie Allen and Little Big Town is your country music debut, but you were already working on your country album.
It was important for us to have the conversation that we had, but we had it just before the whole world saw us sitting next to each other. Those things festered and became very real over time. It’s really difficult, but that’s a part of life and that’s what I want to continue to share.
My uncle was killed the album, and that brought things to a complete hold. I said, “One of the key elements is that a lot of the people I love are in the trenches.” I’ve had so much happen over the last couple of years that I am continuously dealing with. I was explaining to him that my ultimate goal is to remain authentic and connected to my people. “Trenches” the single didn’t have a name at the time. Trenches came about when Pharrell and I were talking. Why was that the right name for this album? You first played the Trenches title track, which features Lil Baby and The Neptunes, during your Verzuz battle last year. It’s a very expensive thing to do but it’s extremely rewarding, because I know what’s happening in every area. My deal came to an end, but throughout the process of being on a label, you learn a lot about them, and it becomes a lot easier for you to step into that type of arena and feel comfortable. What inspired you to launch MonDeenise Music and release music independently? I think when something is authentic, people can feel it.
You can hear it in Miss Thang, The Makings of Me and “So Gone.” I wanted it to touch people’s souls. I made sure that when I sang, I sang with my soul. When you’re that young, it allows you to focus on what’s most important. The greatest part of my first album is that I wasn’t expecting anything. You were 14 when your debut album, Miss Thang, dropped. Not only had I won, but producers in the city were looking for me. I wanted to win because it was a $1,000 prize. I remember singing, “Greatest Love of All” and then leaving immediately because I didn’t want to miss my mom’s wedding rehearsal. I became excited about what the music business could hold for me when my cousin would say, “You could be on everyone’s radio station.” She and I started doing talent shows.
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