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And then the tornado hit.
Theres this pessimist that lives in the back of my head that says, Youre cursed!
Its just kind of the way that my career has been a lot of ups and downs.
You cant have redemption and a rise from the ashes if you dont have struggles.
Im just soaking in the unemployment and the misfortune as Ive done in the past.
Im sure that Ill gain something from it maybe new perspective, or maybe good songs.
Wry realism courses through the 37-year-olds music.
Jeremy co-wrote many of them, and music has always been such a huge part of your marriage.
I wrote Prisoner of the Highway on a flight out to Los Angeles.
I was opening a show for Willie Nelson at the Hollywood Bowl.
I had just found out I was pregnant, and there was just a lot of stuff going on.
It put strains on our marriage.
It really tested it.
Letting Me Down and some of the songs, theyre just hitting different, you know?
There have been these protests, which are amazing its a revolutionary time, but everyone feels so divided.
Theres such hate being spewed by the president right now.
I dont know where it ends.
]Ive been talking about that for a few years.
There has to be accountability for the double-standards of beauty, from men and women and an older generation.
There are people who are content to stay quiet, because then they can keep that right wing crowd.
Sturgill Simpson producedRumors, and he also lends his voice and guitar to Letting Me Down.
We really just picked guitars on a porch and traded songs a long time ago.
Ive always respected his ability to be straightforward.
I was more open than I expected myself to be.
We were all just trying to serve the song.
Its been really wonderful to see how youve been embraced by your heroes in the last few years.
Do you continue to learn from them in new ways?
Ive met a couple people that I looked up to a great deal, and then they disappointed me.
That was a really special moment.
Its just really slowing down my way of life.
There could be something where we have to wear masks outside because the air wasnt clean.
Were not promised a day; were not promised anything.
I really am going to spend all this time writing and reading and recording.
Thats kind of more important than playing a show and playing the same songs over and over again.
I got work to do!Fiona Apples recordand her work ethic really inspired me.
Im gonna sell the harvest and plant for next season.
All of those things have a line that runs through them.
That feels really good.
Im looking to shed the old skin in many ways.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
