Country Star Jo Dee Messina, 55, Reveals: ‘I Crumbled as a Person and Christ Stepped In’
In her exclusive 'Woman's World' cover story, the singer opens up about her cancer battle, losing her mom and finding hope
Key Takeaways
- Jo Dee Messina, 55, returns with 'Bridges', her first new album in 12 years.
- The country star credits her faith in God for pulling her through a battle with cancer.
- Messina rejects aging stereotypes and swears by daily movement and Dial face soap.
Beloved for her authenticity and powerhouse anthems, Jo Dee Messina, 55, has long been a steady voice in country music. Since her breakout hit “Heads Carolina, Tails California” nearly three decades ago, she’s built a career rooted in heart, grit and emotional storytelling.
But between raising two sons as a single mom, facing a cancer battle, becoming the primary caregiver for her mother and later grieving her loss, it’s no surprise that 12 years have passed since Jo Dee last released a studio album.
Through it all, she discovered that even our most broken pieces can become a source of strength. On her new album, Bridges, Jo Dee looks back on the past decade and the many seasons she’s walked through—turning them into songs rooted in resilience, reflection and hope.
“Different people need a different piece of your brokenness. Now, I can be there for someone struggling with the loss of a parent,” Jo Dee tells us as our new cover star this week (pick up your copy here). “I know what it feels like to use all your might just to hold your chin up high.”
Here, she opens up about how her faith has sustained her through life’s hardest journeys and how she’s learned to transform pain into a powerful new purpose.
Finding purpose in pain
“Losing my mother was devastating, but my hope was in God. What He offers is a sense of peace beyond all understanding, and a sense of joy in the midst of chaos and pain,” Jo Dee explains.
“It was a struggle. I crumbled as a person, and Christ stepped in and picked up all those pieces and said, ‘I can use all of these.’ I found my grounding in God and His Word. It’s taken years of God softening my heart and realigning my focus away from ‘You gotta do this, and you gotta achieve that’ and instead to ‘Just come to know Me, and I’ll direct you.’
“All of a sudden, this desire in me to care for others lit on fire. God had to walk me through hard things to help me find my purpose.”
Resting in stillness
“Put the phone someplace where you can’t see it or hear it, and just be still,” Jo Dee says of her solution to feeling lost or stressed.
“We have to stop long enough for God to do His work in our hearts and reassure us of who we are and who we’re created to be. It’s like in Psalm 46:10, when He said, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ That small moment of quiet gives you the strength to get up and walk out into this world.”
How to embrace the real you
“The spirit in me is very young because I’m silly, happy, energetic and so excited all the time. Everything is like a first-time experience for me—even though I’ve been through it all,” Jo Dee smiles.
Her best advice: “Embrace who you are on the inside. We’re told that by the time you’re 20, you’re going to feel like this. By the time you’re 30, you’ll feel like that. Say goodbye to that! If your desire is to start a business, start it. We can’t be like, ‘Well, I should have done that 20 years ago.’ It’s never too late!”
The importance of staying active
“A few years ago, people were saying, ‘You should put a new record out.’ And I said, ‘Not looking like this!’ I started the process of eating cleaner and being consistent in moving my body,” she says.
“But give yourself grace. I’ve kept working out, and my body keeps changing. Scheduling time to stay active allows me to care for myself first. I always say to put on your oxygen mask first. You have to prioritize making time for yourself every day.”
Don’t miss Jo Dee’s new album!
With nine No. 1 hits over a 30-year career—including fan favorites like Bye Bye and I’m Alright—Jo Dee Messina’s music defined a generation of strong women. She continues that legacy with her newest album, Bridges (on sale now), a deeply personal reflection on the past decade of her life.
“I was diagnosed with cancer. I became a single mother. I lost my mom. This album is about how I’ve gotten through it,” she says. “But I’m not done living. There’s still more to learn.”
9 quickfire questions with Jo Dee
Woman’s World: What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids these days?
Jo Dee: “Sit and talk. Just have a normal conversation.”
Woman’s World: What’s a simple pleasure that you always make time for?
Jo Dee: “Planting flowers. I love flowers. If you follow me on social media, you’ll see my flowers are everywhere. I just love getting seeds in the ground.”
Woman’s World: What’s a superpower that you got when you turned 50?
Jo Dee: “Caring less about what other people think and gaining perspective.”
Woman’s World: What’s one easy beauty tip that you swear by?
Jo Dee: “Don’t ask me that…I wash my face with Dial soap! [Laughs] I’d say, don’t wash your hair too much.”
Woman’s World: What’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
Jo Dee: “Don’t sell out.”
Woman’s World: What’s something that used to stress you out that now you can laugh over?
Jo Dee: “Simply saying no.”
Woman’s World: What’s a misconception about aging that you’re happy to prove wrong?
Jo Dee: “It’s just a number, baby!”
Woman’s World: What’s a daily practice you live by?
Jo Dee: “Movement! My workouts come first. My dad was 94 years old and he still moved. He walked miles every single day, and when he stopped moving, he started his decline. So I just keep on moving.”
Woman’s World: What do you hope people gain from hearing your new album?
Jo Dee: “I always want there to be hope found in the music. I just want them to feel seen, have fun and find hope.”
Pick up a copy of Jo Dee’s new album, Bridges, anywhere music is sold!
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
