Biography

With the release of her full-length debut just weeks away, Mountain Home Music Company recording artist Jaelee Roberts has a new single headed to radio — one in which, as it happens, radio plays an important part. Penned by three writers (Chris Harris, Josh Matheny and Robbie Melton) whose careers have included turns as pickers, singers and songwriters in both country and bluegrass, “Sad Songs” feels tailor made for Roberts — and for the musicians backing her: producer and bassist Tim Surrett, Kristin Scott Benson (banjo), mandolinist Alan Bibey, Tony Wray (guitar), fiddler Jimmy Mattingly and harmony singers Kenny & Amanda Smith. Set to a loping bluegrass groove, the lyric finds its forlorn narrator observing that “Everybody on the radio’s got a broken heart like mine,” with a hooky chorus that proclaims:

“I’ve had enough sad songs, he done me wrongs
I’ve been living those lyrics for way too long
All I need is a happy melody and a reason to sing along
All I get are these sad songs”

“I always joke about how happy sad songs make me,” laughs Roberts, before adding, “Well, it’s not really a joke, because I sure do love them. So when I had the opportunity to record a song with the title ‘Sad Songs,’ I just had to do it. My mom actually brought this song to me, because after she heard it, she knew that I would love it — and she was absolutely right! And really, ‘Sad Songs’ is NOT a sad song! It’s actually the anti-sad song; the lyrics talk about having had enough sad songs, and the melody is upbeat and happy. I think this is such a well-written song with cool plays on words and little rhymes and an awesome bridge — and I’m a sucker for all of that. I hope you love it as much as I do!”