As we’ve just passed the halfway point of 2023, it is clear that country music is alive and well. In fact, anyone who doubts the strength of the pulse of country music isn’t hitting the right pressure points, as there are a plethora of independent artists delivering excellent country music every week.
This week, one of those artists is Janelle Arthur, who has released her newest single, “Country Music Will Never Die.”
With her newest effort, Arthur proves she has her hands directly on the pulse of the genre, capturing a made for the stage sound that marries a driving fiddle and backwoods melody with a rock solid vocal and singalong chorus sure to bring the energy level up a few notches.
We chatted with Arthur all about “Country Music Will Never Die,” as well as the importance of staying busy, performing on the Opry and more!
Pro Country: The last time we talked, you had just released “Hand Me Downs,” which features Dolly Parton. In the time since, it has become your most-streamed song and is quickly approaching one million streams on Spotify alone. What do you think it is about “Hand Me Downs” that has allowed it to connect with listeners the way it has, and how much have you enjoyed seeing the life the song has had?
Janelle Arthur: I believe that the thing that made it connect to the listeners is the same thing that made Dolly connect to the song. The message reminds you of the pride that you have in your family and where you are from. “Hand Me Downs” reminds you of things, people, family traits and memories that have been passed down through generations.
PC: Why did you feel that your new single, “Country Music Will Never Die,” was the right follow up to your last single, “She Said Yes”?
JA: “She Said Yes” was a ballad. I felt like it was time for an up-tempo, and if you’ve noticed, I like to write about all kinds of emotions. I write about anything from sad songs to quirky songs to songs with a message. Recently, I have been hearing a lot of people say “Country music is dead.” This song is my way of saying “as long as we are living, country music will never die.”
PC: You have stayed busy with single releases, with “Country Music Will Never Die” serving as your fifth release since the beginning of last year. In an era where the music industry moves faster than ever, how important has it been for you to keep a steady string of releases flowing and offering new music for your fans?
JA: It is really important to me to keep releasing music that I believe people will hopefully relate to. I have been in Nashville for 13 years now, so I have many songs that I want to get out into the world and let them have the life they deserve.
PC: You co-wrote “Country Music Will Never Die” with Adam Wheeler and Helene Cronin. Can you take us in the room and talk about how the song came together?
JA: During the Covid shutdown, I didn’t know what the future held for the music industry. I reminded myself that country music doesn’t begin and end with the industry. I wrote the chorus of the song and played it for Adam and Helene in our writing session to see if they wanted to roll with the idea for our session. They loved it and we finished the song within a couple hours.
PC: “Country Music Will Never Die” pays homage to the values and history of country music. With that said, what are a few of your favorite never-skip country songs?
JA: There are many, but probably “Jolene” by Dolly Parton, “Whenever You Come Around” by Vince Gill and “Somebody Like You” be Keith Urban.
PC: A few weeks ago brought the ten year anniversary of your Grand Ole Opry debut. How do you look back on that day, and how special has it been to perform on that stage and step in the circle each time since?
JA: It has been the ultimate honor. I am so grateful to have been in the circle and felt the love from the Opry crowd. There’s nothing like it.
PC: With “Country Music Will Never Die” now released, what do you have planned for the rest of 2023?
JA: More music! I am also starring in a romantic comedy set to come out in the fall.
*All images by Melanie Weeks Stokes*
Pro Country 
Leave a comment