Carter collaborated with John Mellencamp on his newest studio album, Sad Clowns & Hillbillies, where she sang with him on five tracks, and she either co-wrote or wrote two songs on the project. “It was really easy because we have been working together for a couple of years, so we were pretty used to each other. We recorded it in his studio. I wrote a bunch of songs, and he wrote a bunch of songs, and then we weighed out what we were going to use. I think it came out really good. I think it balanced out really nicely,” she said.
“It was really interesting. We started out by taking some old hymns and write music to them to do a gospel king of record, and this is what came out,” she said, with a sweet laugh. “It has a lot of spirit to it.”
On July 11, Carter will be performing with Mellencamp at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York, along with Emmylou Harris. “It’s going to be the last date of that run, so that’s going to be cool,” Carter said. “I’m going to open with my solo set, and then, we will do a few songs together. That’s how we have been doing it the last couple of years. We try to keep it fresh.”
Carter complimented Emmylou Harris for being her “absolute favorite.” “I remember getting Emmylou’s album when I was a young mom and learning every single song on it. I thought she had the voice of an angel, and then I met her and she was everything that I ever hoped she would be in person. She was also one of the first people to ever record one of my songs. I would love to sing with Emmylou again, and I hope we have some time to do some things together,” she said.
Sad Clowns & Hillbillies is available on iTunes.
She also praised Martina McBride for being the “perfect fit” for singing “Grandview” on the new Mellencamp album, and Carter noted that she will be singing it on tour, in lieu of McBride.
When asked if she would sing her solo hit “I Fell in Love” at Forest Hills, she said, “I don’t normally do it because it is a bandy song and I play it by myself. I usually do ‘Every Little Thing.’ I’m starting to put my set together. Also, I want to fit in some songs from the new album.”
On the key to longevity in the music industry, Carter said, “You need to keep going. My theory is you need to keep writing, then you are inspired every day to keep going. Have the attitude of ‘I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.’ Don’t get attached to the outcome of something. Start from a pure idea and let it unfold. Then, go and play it for people, and hopefully it will touch people in some certain way.”
Each day, Carter shared that she is motivated by life and love. “I love my home, husband, my dogs and I really love music. My life is full, and I don’t want to miss a day of it. Every day is precious to me,” she said.
For aspiring country singer-songwriters, she said with another sweet laugh, “Write your songs, and don’t give away your publishing.”
She defined the word success as follows: “Looking at my grandchildren and children, and I’m still doing what I love to do.”
“Everybody come on and bring some tissues. If it gets too hot you can dab the sweat, if you get too weepy you can cry in them, and if you dance too hard, you can blow your nose in them,” she concluded, for her New York fans, who will be seeing Carter at Forest Hills Stadium on July 11.
To learn more about country songstress Carlene Carter, her music and touring schedule, check out her official website.
