Jennifer Nettles Releases ‘Playing With Fire’: The Ram Report
“My two favorite questions in life are ‘what if?’ and ‘why not?’,” Jennifer Nettles tells Rolling Stone Country contributor Marissa R. Moss in a candid interview about her new album, Playing With Fire. “I think it’s important to allow ourselves to rewrite the script when our own evolution calls for it. But that also takes courage and bravery, and many times within society it isn’t smiled upon for women to grow and evolve in a certain way.”
But that certainly doesn’t stop her. Nettles shows tremendous growth — both personally and musically — on the new LP, her second solo effort since Sugarland went on hiatus. Many of Playing With Fire‘s tracks were inspired by the plight of working mothers — and societal pressures with which so many women, mothers or not, struggle. The deeply personal “Stupid Girl” and the Brandy Clark co-write “Drunk in Heels” are perfect examples.
“I applaud women, and I did my best and took my time after having a kid, in a healthy way get back to a place where I felt good in my body,” Nettles confesses. “But it’s not an easy thing to do in any circumstance. But to do with a spotlight and a camera is sometimes a bit more brutal, for sure.”
Jennifer Nettles’ Playing With Fire is out today. Read our full interview with the singer-songwriter (and newly-minted actress) here.