For cowgirl and songstress Jenna Paulette, whose roots were planted on a ranch in Thackerville, Oklahoma where she grew up working cattle with her grandaddy, being outside is where she has always felt most true to herself. It’s this sentiment of finding solace in the outdoors that inspired her latest release, “Outside,” available now. Listen HERE.
“I heard this song and instantly saw myself in it,” reflects Paulette. “We adjusted a few of the lyrics to better fit the 'me' that played Little House on the Prairie with my sisters under the pecan trees at my family's ranch. ‘Outside’ is what shaped me into the woman and artist I am--a west wind blowing through barbed wire truly makes me feel the most at home in my own skin.”
Written by Kelley Lovelace, Ashley Gorley and Dallas Davidson, and produced by Will Bundy, “Outside” is one of 13 tracks on Paulette’s upcoming sophomore album Horseback, arriving Sept. 6 via Leo33. A culmination of all aspects of her life that have shaped her, including heartbreak and newfound love, Horseback further expands on her debut album The Girl I Was.
In an interview with Cowboys & Indians last month, Paulette shared, “This record is a cumulation of perspectives I have from the moments and people that made me: rural, cowboy, America, my biggest heartaches leading to my healing, the men and women I’m so proud to come from and represent.”
Paulette released The Girl I Was (Red Dirt Deluxe) in March of this year, marking the one-year anniversary, which swiftly earned critical acclaim from outlets including People Magazine and Grammy.com.
Paulette is currently on the road with Aaron Watson as part of The Armadillo Dance Hall Tour. For more information on new music and upcoming shows, visit jennapaulette.com or follow @JennaPaulette on all social platforms.
About Jenna Paulette:
A CMT Next Women of Country honoree and an Apple Music’s Country Riser, singer-songwriter Jenna Paulette — a cowgirl who came of age amid the gritty realities of ranch life — is part of Nashville’s growing wave of female artists who are rewriting the rules and charting their own paths. Paulette settled in Nashville in 2015, where she struck up a mentorship with Ashley Gorley – a veteran songwriter with 60+ No. 1 tunes under his belt – which ultimately led to her publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music in June 2021. Since collaborating with songwriters Will Bundy, Rhett Akins and Jessie Jo Dillion, as well as opening for Mason Ramsey, Parmalee, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker and most recently Aaron Watson, Paulette has landed brand partnerships with Justin Boots, Boot Barn, Ely Cattleman and Ranch Water.
The deluxe version of her debut album, The Girl I Was (Red Dirt Deluxe), is available now, showcasing Paulette’s finely calibrated blend of toughness and sensitivity in tracks like “Country In The Girl” and “Pretty Ugly.” Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Grammy.com remarked The Girl I Was as “transformative,” noting it “fuses the sounds of Twain and Miranda Lambert, tackling mental health with the somber ‘You Ain't No Cowboy’ and waxing philosophical on ‘Country In The Girl.’” As Paulette continues to tease her sophomore project, she most recently released “Darlin’” and “Hang Your Hat.” She continued to spotlight her authentic western lifestyle last year, performing the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo, making her Grand Ole Opry Debut and performing in multiple festivals including CMA Fest. Paulette recently signed with independent label Leo33. For more information, visit www.jennapaulette.com.