Martina McBride might have new music, and soon. The Grand Ole Opry member reveals she is working on a new record, one that will be unlike anything she has done in the past.
“I think what I’m leaning toward is a really personal album,” McBride tells People. “I’ve always done songs that talk about life and tell stories and really maybe help other people and tell their stories, but maybe it’s time for me to do an album that’s maybe more personal.”
McBride wants to use her platform for much more than her music. She is speaking out about the need for mental health resources, especially for the younger generation.
“We have a mental health crisis with teenagers in this country,” McBride says, referencing her three daughters: 28-year-old Delaney, 25-year-old Emma and Ava, 18. ”Thankfully the focus on mental health has come more to the forefront. It’s become less of a stigma. It’s become more accepted to get help.”
McBride cites Olympian Simone Biles, who famously — and bravely — withdrew from some of her Olympic competitions, saying she needed to prioritize her mental health. Biles has become an outspoken advocate for mental health, earning praise from McBride in the process
“I was just telling my husband [John McBride] how much I admired her for taking time off to focus on her mental health,” McBride says. “I think the more celebrities talk about it, it just becomes more acceptable and less stigmatized. I mean, we can all use a little help now and then.”
The “Broken Wing” singer will serve as the headlining act for One Mind’s 29th Annual Music Festival for Brain Health, an organization that combines resources to provide as much support as possible for various mental health resources.
“I do have a way for a lot of people to listen to what I say, and there’s a certain responsibility that goes with that,” McBride says.
“Honestly, I wasn’t aware of the organization until I was offered the show, and then I did some research and it’s just a wonderful organization,” she adds. “They’ve raised over $500 million for mental health. And plus, it sounds like a fun event, so it’s a win-win.”
McBride isn’t immune to her own struggles and challenges. Fortunately, the 57-year-old has found a way for her to rejuvenate and recharge, and it happens to be in her own backyard: her garden outside of her Nashville home.
“It’s a place of peace and solitude, and it’s also nurturing to plant a seed in some dirt and then watch it and tend to it and nurture it, while also being able to feed my family and friends with healthy food,” says McBride. “It’s really gratifying for me to just be able to go out there every day and spend some time taking care of something.”
Find all of McBride’s music and upcoming tour dates at MartinaMcBride.com.
Read ‘Martina McBride: 11 Things to Know About the Powerful Singer’ here.