If you’re curious about Denver’s country music scene. If you need plans for April 7th in Parker. If you’ve wondered how musicians create music videos. If you’re curious about Indiana’s regional cafeteria cuisine, this is the episode for you. Jenny Shawhan (jennyshawhan.com and Jenny Shawhan on FB and IG) joins me to talk about it all.

Self-serving notice: I will be opening Jenny’s video release party April 7th at The Studio in Parker. Ticket information is posted below. Come join us for live music, full band, full bar and the premiere of Jenny’s music video for “Don’t You Tell Me What to Do.”

My name is Alex Rhodes, and this is the aptly named Alex Rhodes Show, featuring independent artist interviews, their songs and sometimes even live performances. We talk about the art, the music, the deep stuff, how it all relates to marketing, and in the space between, we chat all around silliness.

This show airs LIVE each week  on KPEO.org, World Community Radio Mondays from 7-9 MT (that’s 9-11 ET, 8-10 CT and 6-8 PT), but for you modern day listeners who don’t believe in appointment-based entertainment, I edit the radio show to podcast form every week…most weeks.

Welcome to Episode 8. This is the last episode for Season 1, and I’m excited because I’m talking with country music artist, Jenny Shawhan.

Growing up in Mooresville, Indiana and now living in Denver, Shawhan was influenced early by her grandmother’s hymns and her dad’s love of country radio. She started playing piano at age 7, then quickly discovered her voice singing in the school choir. After high school, she went to Nashville’s Belmont University where she began exploring her craft, gained professional experience and started writing her own songs. 

Not long ago, Jenny Shawhan had an epiphany. It was deliberate and it was life changing. That moment of enlightenment flavors every song on her new album, Don’t Be Afraid. Released in July 2021.

“I shifted my outlook,” the Colorado-based singer says. “I started opening up to more ease and support instead of believing everything had to be so hard.” 

Her newly-adopted mantra couldn’t have come at a better time. 2020 began with Shawhan facing life as a single woman for the first time since college. And like every other American, COVID put an end to socializing on any level. 

“I’m not saying I haven’t had low moments, but I took the time to rest, to write and surrender to what was happening.” 

Now 40, Shawhan is looking at herself in a way that was impossible when she was a young music student in Nashville. 

Comparisons have been made from Bonnie Raitt and Melissa Etheridge to Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton, but Shawhan is no copycat. Her music is, rather, a blend of influences that she presents honestly and without pretension. 

Produced by award-winning producer/engineer/ steel guitarist John Macy (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Los Lobos). He enlisted veteran guitarists Justin Weaver (The Chicks, Wynonna, Josh Turner) and Chris Leuzinger (Garth Brooks, George Strait, Randy Travis) and keyboardist Pete Wasner (Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, John Prine) along with Shawhan’s rhythm section of bassist Alex Goldberg and drummer Ryan Elwood. 

You can find Jenny online at jennyshawhan.com, and on the Facebooks and the Grams at jennyshawhan.