Jenna LaMaster, as both she and Hank Jr. put it, is unashamedly a clinger to sad ol’ songs. When given the chance, she’s sure to dial up (or write) a heartbreaker that’s sure to put a tear in your beer. And with her new single, “Holy Smokes,” she’s done just that.
Finally unearthing a song that was written nearly half a decade ago, the northern California native enlisted the help of legendary studio musicians Paul Franklin and Glen Worf to produce the track, which captures a timeless vocal performance from LaMaster on top of a stone cold country backing track.
We chatted with LaMaster all about “Holy Smokes,” her transition from rodeo to music, her favorite sad songs and more!
Pro Country: Your bio mentions that rodeo was one of your first loves, but as time passed, you were more and more drawn to music. What was it about music that was calling to you, and what was it like to make the decision to pursue a career in music over a career in rodeo?
Jenna LaMaster: I grew up in the rodeo world. I started competing when I was eight, and eventually climbed the ranks to where I got to perform on the professional circuit for a while. Rodeo and country music go hand-in-hand. There’s a lot of rodeos that have a concert; country music has always been a part of the rodeo lifestyle. I had grown up singing in church, but I never really thought pursuing music would be in the cards for me. While I was on the circuit, they would have cowboy church services for the contestants. Most of the time, they wouldn’t have worship beforehand. I thought that I could learn how to play the guitar; it couldn’t be that hard [laughs]. I started leading worship for cowboy church, and after that, I had a passion for playing and learning every country song I ever knew. I became “the girl with the guitar in the horse trailer.” I felt my passion for that growing. Simultaneously, I started not performing as well on the rodeo circuit. It’s a very blue collar, pay-to-play sport; when you’re not winning, you’re not making any money. I came to a crossroads where I felt like I was supposed to do music. I felt it in my soul; I felt called to it, but I had to figure out how to make it work.
I grew up in northern California, and had moved to Texas. Our horse trainer had trained different people in the entertainment business over the years: some actors and some musicians. He was nudging me towards pursuing music. I had no idea what that meant at the time, but eventually, I moved to Nashville, and here we are!
PC: Your bio also mentions drawing influence from artists like Lee Ann Womack, Patty Loveless and Miranda Lambert. What was it about their way of presenting country music and songs that connected with you?
JL: All of those artists weren’t afraid to be honest and tell a story. It might not have been pretty, but they have an emotional vocal that, to me, cuts through. It made me feel everything. Lee Ann Womack’s There’s More Where That Came From is my favorite record of all time. Even though I hadn’t lived every single one of those songs, it felt like I did. It was like an escape. I was a little kid singing “I may hate myself in the morning, but I’m gonna love you tonight,” and I had no idea what I was saying [laughs].
Country music makes people feel understood. It’s the people’s music. Those three women are strong. They knew how to tell a story, and they weren’t afraid to do it. When you’re able to do that, everybody can find a little bit of themselves in the songs.
PC: You mentioned moving from your native California to Texas, and eventually, Nashville to pursue songwriting and music. What was it like to move so far away from home in pursuit of your musical dreams?
JL: It’s kind of crazy. When I look back, I think about how brave it was to do that. But in the moment, it didn’t feel brave; it felt like what I had to do. I moved to Texas with my sister, and we were both competing at the same time, so it didn’t feel as lonely. When I moved to Tennessee, I didn’t know anybody. My dad helped me pack up the U-Haul, and we drove across the country. All I knew was that I had a job working horses when I got there, and I started work the very next day. I didn’t know anyone in the music business. It just felt like it’s what I was supposed to do; I’d have to figure it out and put one foot in front of the other. I knew God would open the right doors, and He did.
PC: After moving to Nashville, you signed a publishing deal and have since earned cuts from Ashland Craft, Faren Rachels and Kasey Tyndall, among others. How important was it for you to spend that time honing your craft as a songwriter and having a pretty steady stream of cuts?
JL: It was so important. I fell in love with country music, but I fell in love with songs at a young age. Songwriting will always be my first love in this business. You move here, and holy smokes, you’re in a town with the best songwriters in the entire world. You start writing with them, and you try to take something from everybody you write with. The love of songwriting runs deep in me, so learning how to do it well is something I’m always going to chase. I was so fortunate to have experienced writers take me under their wing and show me the ropes.
It was very validating when I got my first few cuts. Ashland’s were my first major label cuts, and that’s when it felt like it was starting to happen. The songs were rough when I first started, as anybody’s are, but you just have to chip away at it and learn the right way to tell a story.
PC: Speaking of writing with talented songwriters, you co-wrote Jake Worthington’s forthcoming single, “I’m the One,” with Jake and country music legend Marty Stuart. As someone who values country music history and songwriting so much, what was it like to sit in a room and collaborate with someone as talented and respected as Marty Stuart?
JL: Unreal! I was so nervous, I was hoping to not look like a fool when I was in the room with him [laughs]. He’s so well-respected. He’s the king of cool. Walking in a room with him was an experience. He knows what he’s doing; he doesn’t need any help writing a country song, but it was a lot of fun. I’ll remember that experience for a long time. I’m excited to be on that song with him and Jake. Jake is a good buddy of mine. I believe in him and his music so much, and I’m excited to play a small part.
PC: You released your debut single, “Drunk Thoughts,” in late 2023. After spending a bit of time honing your songwriting craft and having others cuts your songs, what emotions came with releasing your debut single and having a song to call your own?
JL: It was interesting. I had written a lot of songs by then. There were some that I’d given away, but there were a couple that I knew I wanted to keep for myself. There weren’t a ton, but “Drunk Thoughts” was the first song that I didn’t want to hear anybody else sing. I wanted to sing that song. I went in with Glen Worf and Paul Franklin, who are two very esteemed players. Paul is a legendary steel guitar player. Glen Worf is a legendary bass player, but he’s also co-produced records with Frank Liddell, including some of the Lee Ann Womack stuff, some David Nail, Pistol Annies and Miranda Lambert. Those guys are just as much my heroes as anybody else. Getting to go in with them and record songs that felt and sounded like me was surreal.
PC: A TikTok video for your second single, “Truth Is,” went viral in September of 2024, and the song has earned well over 100,000 combined streams since its release. What was it like to see the video go viral and to see the life that “Truth Is” has had?
JL: That was so cool! It was my first time having something pop off on TikTok. Seeing all the people that related to it and were singing along to it; people knew the words before the song even came out! That song is special to me, because we wrote it in the midst of the world being crazy, and it was our reminder of hope and how there’s a lot of good in the world. It was fun to see that song translate and touch a lot of people.
PC: You closed 2024 with the release of “More of Them,” an autobiographical track inspired by your story and the helping hands you’ve received on your journey from rodeo to Nashville. How much did you enjoy giving people a glimpse into that journey and pulling back the curtain a bit?
JL: That was a lot of fun. I had been hanging on to that title for a while. I went in to write with Wyatt McCubbin and Jason Nix. I’m typically a sad song girl, but I knew I needed to show some happiness [laughs]. Wyatt and Jason were the right writers to bring that idea to. We all put a little bit of ourselves in it. My favorite line in the song is “I got the bright silver lining and the keep on trying from a three-legged dog named Happy.” Jason threw out that line very quickly, and I thought it was so cool. I thought he made it up out of nowhere, but it turns out that he actually does have a three-legged dog named Happy. It was fun to get to show a little bit of my fun, carefree, sassy side with that song.
PC: You just released your new single, “Holy Smokes,” which is an absolute gem of a sad country song. Why did you feel “Holy Smokes” was the right song to kick off 2025 and the right song to follow a grooving song like “More of Them”?
JL: I wrote “Holy Smokes” maybe four years ago now. It’s always been special to me. It’s one that I’ve played in my live show, and have always gotten a great reaction. It felt like now was the time to record it and put it out. I’m always looking for the next heartbreak song. The next new way to break a heart, I’m in!
PC: As lovers of sad songs, “Holy Smokes” hits right at home for us. As someone who has admitted to leaning more towards sad songs yourself, can you tell us a few of your favorite sad country songs?
JL: I think one of the best songs ever written was “The House That Built Me.” That might not be sad sad, but it’s sad. Lee Ann Womack has an arsenal of sad songs. “Painless” is so good. “Send It on Down” is another one. And “Last Call” is up at the tippy-top! And of course there’s the classics like “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” Any of the ones that make you cry [laughs].
PC: Your bio mentions that there was more music recorded with Paul and Glen. What information, if any, can you give about what will follow “Holy Smokes”? What can people expect to hear?
JL: We’ve got more coming! We’re just getting started. I’m so thankful for the people that have found me early on, and we’ve got more on the way, so get ready!
PC: You recently made your Ryman Auditorium debut opening for Terri Clark, where you received a standing ovation. What was it like standing on that stage and receiving that ovation where so much country music history has taken place?
JL: It’s absolutely crazy. I knew the weight of it when I was walking into it. I don’t get very emotional; I usually take my emotion out in song. Walking on that stage for the first time, I got choked up. I told myself that I had to pull it together because I had to get through a show! It’s so humbling to stand on a stage where all of my heroes have stood. It’s the Mother Church, and it was crazy to play there myself. It didn’t feel like real life.
Terri is incredible, too. I’m so thankful that she shared her stage with me. My parents got to come. It was an amazing time.
PC: It’s been several years since you made your move to Nashville to pursue your musical dreams. In the years that have passed, how have you seen yourself grow along the way?
JL: I think I’ve grown all over. I’ve started settling in to who I am as a songwriter and what I want to say. I didn’t grow up playing music from a young age. I moved to a town where I felt like everybody was a child prodigy. Everyone is so incredibly talented and so engrained in music. When I first moved here, I felt like I wasn’t good enough to be here. The longer I’ve been here, I’ve realized that I got to live life before coming to Nashville. I got to see the country while I was in the rodeo world. By the time I got here, I had stories that I wanted to tell. I think sticking with it, playing more shows and writing more songs has helped me grow. It has helped me lean in to who I am.
PC: With “Holy Smokes” now released, what do you have planned for the rest of 2025?
JL: All kinds of stuff! I’m playing Tortuga this year, which is very exciting because that’s been on my bucket list. We’ve got more music, more shows, more content, and more everything!
PC: is there anything you’d like to add?
JL: I love country music, I love my family, I love Jesus, and I love my husband!
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