In the 1990s, country music surged into the mainstream as artists like Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, and Reba McEntire helped redefine the genre’s reach and appeal. Their crossover success opened the door for a new generation of performers, among them Jo Dee Messina, whose powerhouse vocals and infectious energy quickly made her one of country music’s brightest stars. With nine No. 1 hits and 16 Top 40 singles, Messina built a catalog fueled by resilience, humor, heartbreak, and the kind of lived-in storytelling that connected deeply with audiences.
Then, at the height of her success, she stepped away from recording to focus on family life, marriage, and raising children. But even during that decade-long break from the studio, the songwriting never stopped. Working with a variety of collaborators, Messina continued crafting songs shaped by experience, growth, and a deeper understanding of herself and the world around her.
Encouraged repeatedly by her songwriting partners to return to recording, Messina eventually found the right creative guide in producer David Spencer, who helped shape years of material into a cohesive and emotionally resonant statement. The result is Bridges, an album that feels both contemporary and deeply personal; a record rooted in reflection, but equally focused on what still lies ahead.
Jo Dee Messina, Bridges, album cover.
More than a comeback, Bridges represents the beginning of a new chapter for Messina, one built on the understanding that life continues to evolve long after fame, success, and even hardship have had their say.
Copper sat down with Messina ahead of her upcoming tour and appearance on Today to discuss what inspired her return to the studio, how she balanced honoring longtime fans while reaching a new generation of country listeners, and why Bridges may ultimately introduce her story to audiences all over again.
Ray Chelstowski: You have the kind of catalog that you could tour on forever. What prompted you to head back into the studio after so much time away?
Jo De Messina: I have been writing with other people and the more I did that the more I heard from them that I should record what we had written together. But I didn’t have the safe system in place that I was used to. I wasn’t on a major label. I was at home focused on raining my kids. Then one of the guys I was writing with, David Spencer, offered to help and ended up producing the whole record.
RC: Given that these songs were written over time, not in just one session, did you have a kind of sonic or lyrical North Star you followed to decide what made the cut?
JDM: We didn’t. If you listen to them, so many of the songs are so different from each other. Now, this doesn’t reflect 10 years of writing. They really came about over the last few years. But the lessons, the overall topic, the subject matter is scooped up from the last however many years.
RC: With songwriting partners, are you looking for people to help you complete something you’ve started, or do you reach out to folks you’ve just always wanted to work with?
JDM: Both. There are a lot of writers I wanted to write with. Then there were songs where I was kind of stumped and some [of the other writers] were able to come back with ideas that pulled everything together.
RC: Country music has evolved sonically in so many ways since you last recorded. How do you balance what your fans will want to hear with how the genre has evolved?
JDM: That was a “David” thing. We went in and cut “It’s All About You” and they used click tracks and other elements that are part of the current country world. That’s one of the great things about him is because he is so current. But on the same song, they added effects to my vocals in one key part and I asked them to make it less like that. So, there were a few moments where I wanted it to sound more organic. But [for] the rest, he made it on track with what’s going on now.
RC: What is your regime for keeping your voice in shape when you’re not on the road?
JDM: I sing all the time. I sing at home. I sing in the car. What’s funny is my younger son does the same thing. I don’t know. It seems to work.
RC: You’ve had some fast-rising stars cover your music and introduce it to a whole new audience. Are there any artists or songs that influenced you that you do the same with on tour?
JDM: It’s hard to play something the audience hasn’t heard before. We do a medley of songs: “Living on a Prayer” (Bon Jovi) “Toe The ‘Line” (Toto), into “Faithfully (Journey), “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” (Pat Benatar), and more. We try to stump the audience, and they nail it every time. I think people are exposed to so many genres of music, across generations. It’s mind blowing.
RC: The Bennett Hall Band is opening for you on tour. How did you find them?
JDM: I discovered them online. The group is made up of sisters. They are so talented and so pure. As an opener I don’t have to worry about them going crazy on the crowd. I just enjoy them so much and that’s something I want to share with people.
RC: You end the 2026 part of your tour in Nashville. It’s almost poetic. Was that always intended?
JDM: It was the intent to have a Nashville show on this tour. We played the Ryman [Auditorium] a few years ago and it sold out, so we knew we had to bring our show back to Nashville. But we might be adding dates…
Header image courtesy of Big Hassle.
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