1. Hi Sarah, can you give me a short bio about yourself, before you became a country singer?

There isn’t really a ‘me’ before country music. I’ve lived a normal life just like everyone else, but music runs through my blood. It’s always been a huge part of what makes me, me. Both my parents were Broadway performers, and they raised my brother, Patrick, and I in a home filled with music. We grew up singing for our church as a family and performing professionally at a young age. Swimming fought for my attention for most of my youth; I swam competitively for roughly ten years. Then I headed down south from the DFW area and earned my public relations & business degree from The University of Texas in Austin before making my way to Nashville. But music and singing, that’s always been the drive.

2. How did you become a fan of country music and how did you know you wanted a career in it?

Well, how music was always the heart behind my family, country music most definitely was not. Haha. My mama was an opera singer, and getting her heart to ignite about most of country music is still a bit of a struggle today. I think that helped influence my music in a more alternative country direction. My dad loved the oldies though, and actually got his start singing at a place called The Country Dinner Playhouse back in the 60s. Hearing him sing songs such as ‘Desperado,’ ‘Rose Colored Glasses,’ and ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Morning’ (Broadway meets country), began a love so deep for country music. It’s the stories they tell, ya know? Country music had a way of making me feel so deeply. I wanted to be a storyteller too.

3. Who are some of your musical icons?

Karen Carpenter, Bonnie Raitt, Loretta Lynn.   Their voices have an unparalleled quality. Someone once told me my voice reminded them of a Karen Carpenter take on country music and it’s the biggest compliment I’ve received to date. Moving to Nashville opened a whole new door of writers I admire and aspire to be as great as one day. Hillary Scott, Keith Urban, Ashley Monroe, Emily West, Lee Brice, Maren Morris, the list goes on. I admire them all for different reasons, but ultimately for their artistry.

4. What is one of your favorite songs that you ever recorded?

‘Pretty Funny.’ I actually go into the studio to record this next week, but there’s a rough demo of it available on my SoundCloud now. I co-wrote the tune with my friend, Caroline Marquad. It’s my favorite because it’s the more vulnerable piece of art I’ve created. Something I had tried to write for almost two years but the pain was too close; I couldn’t step outside of it enough to write something beautiful. The day we wrote this song, it was effortless. It was my goodbye, my healing. My favorite song of all time to perform on the other hand is Bonnie Raitt’s, “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” There’s something about the sad songs, I’ve always had a weak spot for them.

5. Is there anything new coming up with your music for the rest of 2018?

I’m really excited for what’s to come this year! I’ve been writing and saving my pennies like a mad woman. I plan to begin recording a five song EP this summer and hopefully I’ll be releasing that be the end of this year!

6. Where do you see your career in the next 5 to 10 years?

Making good music and touring to sharing it with you guys! I don’t plan to stop anytime soon. I wish I could see what the future will bring, but hopefully I’ll be sharing my music nationally (and internationally) on the road and with a great team supporting me.

7. What was your experience as a cast member on the country music reality show “Music City CMT?”

New experiences excite me! So while I had a million voices in my head going on about becoming involved with “reality TV,” I couldn’t think of a more fun way to expand reach for my music. I’d say the most difficult part was to stop overthinking how everything I said or did could be perceived and/or edited. Once I let that go and made peace with the fact that it’s all out of my control, it was just a fun ride that brought me a lot of amazing friendships and opportunities!

8. If you could sing a duet with a famous singer or group who would it be and why?

Ah that’s such a tough question! Keith Urban. The guy is so insanely talented. I feel like our voices would blend well together, plus it’d be pretty epic to stand on stage with him while he goes absolutely nuts on the guitar.

9. Is there anything else you would like to share?

If you made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to get to know me a little better! And I hope you’ll continue to follow my journey via social media!

Insta: @sarahellenthomas YouTube: www.youtube.com/sarahthomas13 SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/sarahellenthomas Oh and tune into Music City, Thursdays @10/9c on CMT!