Jane McDonald's new Channel 5 series, titled 'Jane McDonald in Nashville' or 'Jane McDonald's Nashville', follows her as she showcases the sights, sounds, and stories of the city. The series coincides with the March release of her album 'Living the Dream', which features 13 new tracks and marks her 11th studio album. After its release, the album climbed to number five in the UK's listening charts, though its performance in other markets remains unclear. The exact release date and viewership details for the Channel 5 series have not been disclosed.
Reflecting on her career, Jane McDonald described the showbusiness industry as 'very, very hard'. According to Daily Mail - Home, she described herself as having been the 'underdog' all her life, revealing she was rejected from pop group Bucks Fizz because of her appearance. She added that she never gave up and fought all the way through, though the specific struggles she referred to beyond the Bucks Fizz rejection are not detailed. According to Daily Mail - Home, she emphasized the difficulty of the industry, stating it has been a struggle.
I'm going to let you into a little secret. I've come to Nashville because I was making a new album, and when I started writing I realised there was like a country feel.
Jane McDonald's connection to country music stems from her recent work in Nashville. According to Daily Mail - Home, she described coming to Nashville because she was making a new album and realized there was a country feel when she started writing. She noted that people have been telling her for years she should be a country singer, including her dad. According to Daily Mail - Home, she said it took her 27 years to finally come round to doing what she maybe should have been doing all along, though the specific reasons for this delay are not specified. She explained that she has always felt her heart is in country music because she is a storyteller, and her songs are about her life, hopes, and dreams.
Recording at Blackbird Studio, an iconic Nashville studio where artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton have recorded, was a highlight of her Nashville experience. Jane McDonald visited the studio in the first episode of her series. According to Daily Mail - Home, she described walking straight into Taylor Swift's big album at Blackbird Studio and sitting where Taylor Swift was. According to Daily Mail - Home, she described the mixing process at the studio as nerve-wracking. She said it was a joy to record at Blackbird Studio with Nashville musicians who said her work was really good, echoing sentiments she shared on social media about the incredible experience of recording where country legends have worked.
For many years people have been telling me I should be a country singer and my dad always said 'you should be a country singer' and that was years ago. But if I'm honest I never gave it much thought until now.
To promote her projects, Jane McDonald appeared on This Morning on March 24 to discuss her album. Her series includes her embarking on the Jack Daniel's Distillery Tour, exploring the Parthenon replica and museum, and touring historic houses in Nashville. The titles or themes of the songs on 'Living the Dream' have not been revealed, leaving fans to discover them through the album and series.
It's only taken me 27 years to finally come round to doing what I maybe should have been doing all along.
Today the musicians, the engineers and the producers are mixing the songs. This is the part of the process where it all comes together and I'm not going to lie, it's all a bit nerve-wracking.
It's blown my mind a little bit really. When I started here I thought 'what am I doing?'
I've always felt my heart is in country as I'm a story teller. And when I write songs I write a story and this is my story.
All of my life I've sort of been the underdog. Never give up, If I've learned anything form being in Nashville I just never gave up. I fought all the way through. It's been a struggle. I'm not going to lie. This industry is hard - very, very hard.
I walked in straight to Taylor Swift's big album. I thought, 'I am sat where Taylor Swift was'.
It's my songs, you know? I've written these, and it's my life that I've been writing about, and hopes and dreams. We all go through bad times, but get out and live life, live the dream. I'm living the dream in the Blackbird studio with all these amazing Nashville musicians who are going, 'This is really good'. When you get that, it's like what?! It's just a joy, a joy to do.
Recording at Blackbird Studios, the iconic Nashville studios where Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift and many other country legends recorded their albums was just such an incredible experience. Being able to do this is something I really don't take for granted, and I can't wait for you lot (or should I say y'all!!) to listen to the new songs and hear them live on tour.