Hailey Benedict ... Keith Urban Can Pick 'em

Terry Evans  0:00  
When I first saw my guest on today's podcast, I thought, Oh, my God, that guitar is attacking that little girl because the guitar was gigantic, and the little girl behind it was so tiny when she started to speak, I thought, Oh, listen to this. This is, this is almost the cutest thing I've ever heard in my life. Then she started to sing. It wasn't very long before I could tell that there was something there, and it was very exciting to watch. I think that was almost 10 years ago. Her name is Haley Benedict, and she's agreed to be my guest today, reluctantly, today's show is brought to you by Haley Benedict music.com hailed as the future star of country music by city TV, Haley Benedict introduces her new chapter with the single things, my mama says it's her first release In signing with big, loud records at local hay, reluctantly, hello,

Hailey Benedict  1:04  
hi, Terry, thanks for that intro. That's so kind. And I can't believe it's been over 10 years now.

Terry Evans  1:12  
Actually, it's just coming up on 10 years it was, if I remember correctly, it was February of 2015,

Hailey Benedict  1:20  
right at the at Dave Wynn's fundraiser, right? That's

Terry Evans  1:24  
right. It was the, it was the fundraiser for constables win and bond, who were tragically killed and killed in the line of duty. And I was hosting the event all day, that day, and you were one of the performers, among other things. It was very chaotic, and it was just a din of sound and wall of activity throughout the entire day. And there you were, and you really stuck out. And as a matter of fact, you know what? I'm just going to play it because I I'll tell you the story after I play it. Okay, so here, here it comes. Listen to this, oh boy. Name

Speaker 1  2:04  
is Haley, and this song i It's called dare to be hero. And I wrote it in honor of constable win and constable bond and for the community of Saint Albert. And he was my dare officer last year, and he taught me how to be our own hero. So that's what this song is about.

Speaker 1  2:39  
White ribbons hang from up above. Love spreads from tree to tree. They symbolize the service of those protecting me. That was

Terry Evans  2:52  
February of 2015

Hailey Benedict  2:55  
Wow. What a throwback. Yeah, that guitar definitely was attacking me. Then it was, I think it was almost bigger than me.

Terry Evans  3:03  
I didn't really pay attention to what kind of guitar it was at the time. I don't know what it was. I don't know if that's the guitar that you got for that Christmas or if it was something else. Yeah.

Hailey Benedict  3:15  
So I was, I think it was my tailor, 214, and then that at that fundraiser, there was a Luke Bryan signed guitar, and I had this bet going on with my dad that he didn't know I actually recorded him, and I still actually have the recording, but he said it one night, and was like half joking, saying that, you know, if I learned to play Crazy Train On the electric guitar. By the time I was 12 that he would buy me an electric guitar. And I have not one to back away from a challenge. So I learned it on my acoustic guitar, which would have been that tailor, which was way too big for me. And and then I learned it. And then there was, there was this guitar at the at the fundraiser, at the silent auction. And so I was like, Dad, like I used promised, and so he ended up getting and that was how I got my first electric guitar. But that fundraiser was such a special day, and to come together for the community. There was just so much love and support in st Albert, and getting to meet people like yourself and my friend, Bobby Cameron was huge, huge part in all that, too. So it was, yeah, really, really special day to come together.

Terry Evans  4:30  
Well, that that recording that we just heard, that was from my recording that I put on Facebook, right? That's how Bobby Cameron, that's right, was it was introduced to you, and then Bobby, Bobby contacted me, and then wanted to start, you know, is seeing if there was an opportunity to possibly work with you. So I put him in contact with with your parents, and there

Hailey Benedict  4:55  
you go. Oh, yeah, that really, as I had never recorded any music up until then. And and that song, it was one of the first songs I ever recorded. It was called dare to be a hero, because I constable when was one of my school resource officers, and when he passed away, it was such a, you know, such a tragic shock to the whole community. And so I turned to music, and I just, I knew I wanted to write something, or do something with how I was feeling and give back in some way. So Bobby actually donated all his time and efforts to record that, and then we donated all the proceeds to the win fund and and the fundraiser there. So I'm really grateful that you know all the stars aligned, and that you were such a pivotal part. Because, I mean, Bobby, too, has just been such a huge, pivotal part of my career, and I wouldn't have been able to put out that song without him, and and, and really just kind of showed like how impactful for me music could be at such a young age.

Terry Evans  5:54  
I kind of figured that there was going to be kind of a, like a flow to our discussion today, our chat, but you've already talked about, you've already talked about learning an Ozzy Osbourne song, the electric guitar, and the connection with your dad. You're a rocker chick, aren't you? Oh,

Hailey Benedict  6:11  
yeah, from my dad, because it was, it didn't matter, like my mom all had her music, and, I mean, she still liked that kind of dude. It didn't play as often as dad. And I mean, when you're just around that growing up, there's like, there's just, like, the nostalgia factor of it, and then I, like, fell in love with it more when I started to play play that kind of music, because it's just so fun to learn. And, yeah, I find it even more fun to play rock than even listen to it like, I love to listen to it, but to play it is just like, it's just so, so much fun, so much energy. So, yeah, it comes by honestly from dad. Didn't get any of like the singing abilities from my dad, because my dad cannot sing, to save himself, but the rock music was, was a trait that he definitely passed down. I mean, even listening to people like yourself on the air and and stuff. So, yeah,

Terry Evans  7:07  
I bet at some point your dad threw out. I

Hailey Benedict  7:14  
all the time, and that's why he was It was so funny when he brought up that bag, because he said, There's no way this was like 12 or 13? Yeah, I would have been 12, because by the time you're 13, so he's like, there's no way this. You know, 12 year old kids gonna Sure enough.

Terry Evans  7:28  
Well. And then the other thing too, is your tick tock, which you you are very active on, as a matter of fact, didn't, didn't you get a country music Alberta award for your your social media sort of connection with your fans. Yeah,

Hailey Benedict  7:43  
that was crazy, because I just fell into, I mean, I've always liked using social media as a tool to connect with people, and something that I've just kind of done throughout the years, but Tik Tok really, obviously exploded over COVID, and there was nothing really else for me to do. I couldn't go play shows. I couldn't, you know, so that was my only way to connect with people. And I honestly didn't even think people were really gonna see my Tiktok. So I was just posting, like, just sharing my journey, whether it was stuff from covers or learning the electric guitar. And I didn't even, like, put it under one of my regular usernames, because I was like, Oh, this is just gonna be for fun. And then it it took off, which was really cool and and then it was kind of a fun way for me to challenge myself and keep myself accountable. So I did lots of different guitar challenges. One of the ones that was more popular that I applied for, that CCMA was, I did a Thunderstruck guitar challenge, and every day I played it a little bit faster and a little bit faster and, and I don't, can't remember what the last BPM I got to was, but I got a pretty fast past original. And it was a fun way, like, to interact with an audience, but it was also a cool way for me to practice and and like, so before, like, hold myself accountable. Like, okay, people are watching this now I gotta, I gotta do it.

Terry Evans  9:06  
I watched the Tick Tock stuff with, uh, with thunderstruck. And I was, I thought, What the heck is she doing? Like, yeah,

Hailey Benedict  9:12  
people are wondering, well, that's a fun thing. Like, I don't know. I've because genre wise, like, everything I write and sing has always been in that country music umbrella, but I listen to everything, and I think there's so much to learn from other genres. So to me, it was just like a fun challenge, and it's actually something that I've even now incorporated into my live show. And I mean, you can't tell me, like, anytime someone hears Thunderstruck or Aussie or those, like, they're just, they're such classics that I feel like, even if you're not, even if you don't listen to that kind of music, like you're gonna see some heads bopping, and it's, it's just, it's so fun. So it's, you

Terry Evans  9:55  
almost have a pool to figure trying to have a better. As to who's gonna go,

Hailey Benedict  10:04  
yeah, it totally is an anthem. And you like, when we play it live, it's fun, because you're like, Oh yeah, we're gonna definitely get the dads with this what? But it is like, so much of the females, people my age, like Gen Z audience, it just, like, loves it. And I just don't, yeah, I just don't, yeah, I don't think there's like, it's just like, one of those universal songs that's like, you said, an amp, plus

Terry Evans  10:25  
the fact that I was talking with Mike bloom and Clayton, Bellamy and David, go, go, and we talk music and that sort of thing. The other thing too is having a variety of genres to, you know, contribute to your style. And for you to, you know, take this from that and take you want to, okay, well, I like this aspect of, oh, I don't know, maybe a Kurt Cobain sort of way that he presents something vocally. And then, you know, there's all kinds of things that you can glean from different artists and different genres that you can incorporate with your own style, adopt and make your own right?

Hailey Benedict  11:05  
Yeah, absolutely. I've always used, like, the analogy of a like a painter when it comes to that kind of stuff. Like a painter could make a really nice picture with just the color red, but there's all these other colors in the palette that you can use to make something really stand out and really be beautiful, and different shades, even different shades of red, and stuff like that. And so I've always found music like that is that, you know, you might primarily have one kind of thing, but there's so many different things to pull from to make something that's uniquely your own, which I think is really cool, talking

Terry Evans  11:42  
about the Rock and Roll aspect and the growing up rock and roll and the part to the role that your dad played in that Jim, can I tell you a story about about your dad? Sure,

Hailey Benedict  11:52  
oh gosh, I don't know where this is gonna go. Two

Terry Evans  11:55  
weird dads run into each other in the lighting aisle of a home improvement box

Hailey Benedict  12:02  
store that sounds about right, yeah.

Terry Evans  12:07  
And one is even more surprised to see the other. And that was me. And so it was your dad, your dad and me, we're in the lighting aisle at Home Depot. And he was, he was so excited, and I was so excited to see him, because I think something had just happened with you. And I don't know if it was a trip to Nashville for one of your writing stints, or if it was one of the things that happened with one of the country music of Alberta awards or something. Anyway, something had just happened with you. And I was, I said, Oh my god, Haley is like knocking it out of the park right now. And your dad, Jim goes, Are you kidding? Riley just played Coachella and or just played Lollapalooza or whatever. So I was gushing about you. He was gushing about my son. And we were losing our minds right there in the

Hailey Benedict  13:01  
video. That's like the sweetest also, for like, that interaction to happen at like, like a Home Depot type thing is, I feel like that. Yeah, that's perfect. But, yeah, we were, I was so excited to see Riley playing Coachella. I mean, that's, it's huge. It's really cool just to see, like, these community of musicians, you know, chasing, chasing their dreams, and that's so fun. We love, we love the support of dads out there,

Terry Evans  13:27  
the support of dads and the support of everybody else. When I was talking with Clayton Bellamy, he said something that I thought was really profound. He says, a rising tide raises all boats. I

Hailey Benedict  13:36  
love that quote I've heard out prairie states. Use that as well. And I use that one quite often. I stole that from them. I think that's yeah, sums it up perfectly.

Terry Evans  13:47  
Yeah, you were nine years old the first time you you played it was, was it one of the tents at BDJ?

Hailey Benedict  13:53  
Yes, yeah, nine or 10. And that's when I really started to to pursue music, kind of outside of just singing it for fun. I when I was six, I started to take lessons, and so, you know, I do like the recitals and all that. And then it was really cool growing up, there was a lot of stages for youth artists to participate on whether they were competitions or they were just some sort of showcase. And so big valley jamboree was, was one of those major ones. Every summer. It was called the road to main stage competition. And now, now I think it's just called the horizon stage, but the time it was a competition. And so with that, there was different layers all leading up to to to perform at BBj that you had to get through. But then they also did, like, mentoring sessions, and, yeah, my first year, I think, I think I sang a Taylor Swift, like, safe and sound. I had, like, a pink tutu dress. It was really something. But it was, it was so cool. I mean, that was. Honestly, where I really discovered country music, and I was like, What is this sound like? I absolutely love it. And then it just slowly became a tradition every year that I participated in that competition. And then it turned into, just like a family thing, with all of us going every year and listening to the music over the weekend. And it was such a launching pad for my career because of that opportunity. And to give me that kind of that stage at such a young age was was really cool.

Terry Evans  15:25  
So tell me about this. Let me know if I'm right, or if I'm off, or if I'm way off, or whatever. You're nine years old. You know, you've taken guitar lessons for a little bit after getting your first guitar, which we will touch on in a second. And then you're nine years old. And when you're nine years old and you start singing and playing guitar, a lot of the reaction is, ah, she's so cute. Isn't that cute? Yeah. And then all of a sudden, you're 1213, and 14 years old, and you become a teenager, and that's where other kids opinions start getting into the fray of things. And maybe it's not all, Oh, she's so cute. Maybe it's, did you find there was a lot of stuff happening with the kids? Because let's face it, when you're a musician, when you're in band, when you're putting yourself out there, when you're singing, when you're that vulnerable, you are susceptible to criticism, especially from your peers. Did that happen with you?

Hailey Benedict  16:26  
Yeah, absolutely it. I say it happened even even earlier, when I just would participate in, like, the kids talent show, and that there was a thing called St Albert idol that they used to do, and so how they would audition all the kids was going to the schools. And I remember I was getting up to sing, and I had, like, I was like, nine at the time, and someone had told me that was supposedly one of my friends at the time, but it was like, they were like, do not go up there. Everyone's gonna make fun of you. It's gonna be bad. And I just remember being in tears. And I had this music teacher at the time. Her name was Mrs. Kelly, and I still love her. She's amazing. But she was like, Do not listen to them. Got to go up there and keep singing. And it just became kind of like a similar theme of, you know, whether I'd receive that kind of stuff in person or online. And to me, it just, it was so confusing, because I loved music, and, you know, the same way as some my peers loved hockey or their other like, it was just a different interest and and I, like, never really realized until I started to get older that it just, like, wasn't a cool thing to do. I still don't know why it isn't because it's, I think it's just, I don't know it's, it's like a form of creative, I guess, expression and, and I think there's, you know, some, some jealousy factor with kids and stuff, which is unfortunate, and, yeah, just it was definitely really difficult. But it was also, you know, I felt like it could have been something where I took it and I could have quit immediately, but instead of leaving music, I actually ran more to it. And so as I was dealing with those things, I was, that's how I wrote my first song was writing about, kind of just against bullies and everything when I was nine, and music, even though it was what was making me kind of targeted, in a way, it was also like my safe place away from it all, which was like an interesting juxtaposition, but it's funny now too. I mean, obviously, you still, I still experience criticism, and there's, I think it's definitely helped me kind of build a little bit of a backbone, especially online, and things like Tiktok have been mainly, mostly positive, but you're always going to get people that have nothing better to do. And so it's definitely given me a thick skin, but I so I'm kind of grateful for it, in a way. But yeah, it's interesting. Why that? And I talked to so many musicians, and they all have very similar stories and paths. So, yeah, sadly, but I think it does kind of prep you in a weird way for, for the business, a little bit

Terry Evans  19:10  
well, I mean, look at you. You're, you're sitting there in Nashville right now,

Hailey Benedict  19:16  
yeah, which is crazy. Something that like, I wish I could tell little me like it's all gonna be worth it. Just hang in there a little bit. You know so

Terry Evans  19:24  
well, since you mentioned little me and you were talking about growing up with music and your first performance at BBj at nine, and dealing with the things that you had to deal with through your teens to the point now where you're in your early 20s, you went from singing at the st Albert inn to all of a sudden, you're you're in Nashville. Why don't we just remember this? See if you can, you can remember this?

Audio Clip  19:57  
Oh. Gosh, guitar lessons, January, 9, wow, Merry Christmas, kid. And we hope you love and Trump always mom and dad. Oh, my gosh, thank you.

Terry Evans  20:22  
Oh, that's Christmas morning. I'm guessing 2011 because your guitar lessons were coming up starting in January of 2012

Hailey Benedict  20:33  
Yeah, I had to, I had to specifically say that in the video, I find it funny that I emphasis on 2012 Yeah, that was, that was the start of a very fun journey. And I'm really blessed that my parents, lot of the times for Christmas or birthdays or things that they they really sacrificed a lot for both my sister and I to be able to have experiences. And that was always kind of a thing. Like, my mom would rather us do something that was, like, an experience or a learning opportunity, rather than like, like, get things. And so yeah, that year for Christmas, I got guitar lessons. And at the time I had, like, a really cheap couple years ago that my grandpa, I think it got me or my grandparents. It was like a Hannah Montana, like Walmart guitar. And so I my papa played by ear a little bit. So he was showing me a few things, but I really just wanted to, like, get my hands on guitar. And I started in piano. And I like piano, but it was way more structured. And I just thought guitar was so much cooler and and so yeah, that after that Christmas, gotta go my first first lessons. And I walked in with that Hannah man, a Hannah Montana guitar. And then the teacher told me that I needed, I needed something a little bit better than that if I wanted to keep practicing. So that's where the addiction all started. So

Terry Evans  22:00  
that's great. We'll be right back reluctantly. Well, you brought up family. We talked a little bit about your dad. Well, let's talk about October of 2024, this has been a bit of a nutty month for you, hasn't

Hailey Benedict  22:19  
it? Yeah, I said that's a perfect word for it. I think nutty. Yeah, it has.

Terry Evans  22:26  
There's been everything you Well, I mean, if you actually, if we take it back to September of 2024, we're talking about the Canadian Country Music Awards, let's, let's start with that. Yeah,

Hailey Benedict  22:42  
so the ccmas this year was in Edmonton, which was great. It was fun, because I remember the last time was in Edmonton, which I'd say is like, I think it was like a decade or more, and I couldn't get tickets to that. And I remember we were, I think we were offered seat fillers from somebody and and then they got snatched up before we could say yes. So I remember watching it on my TV when I was a kid, back when was in Edmonton. So it was really fun that it was back in Edmonton this year, and I got to celebrate a nomination for breakthrough Artists of the Year, and getting to celebrate that with my family in Edmonton. But then also just the community, which has been so wonderful and has supported me in a lot of ways. Yeah, it was, it was so exciting. And just a jam packed week,

Terry Evans  23:35  
and you got, you got to present an award too. Did you not telecast? Yes, I did,

Hailey Benedict  23:39  
which was super cool. I mean, it's, I love getting to do stuff like that, and it's also really cool just to see how something like that, like I think we often take for granted programs like that, and don't realize all the little things that have to go on behind the scenes for a show to be broadcast and and run so smoothly. So it's really neat getting to actually be backstage and seeing all the hair and makeup artists and all the volunteers and, you know, everyone that all the crew and stuff that's making all these set changes happen. And it's I just get a deeper appreciation for all the work that goes behind an event like this.

Terry Evans  24:18  
If we go back prior to September, you had an extremely busy summer with the festivals. Such an exciting part of the full circle you talk about was being able to play the main stage at bvj and Camrose Big Valley jamboree. That must have been just surreal for you, did you that was the same day that Lainey Wilson was playing, wasn't it?

Hailey Benedict  24:43  
Yes, yeah, very surreal. I haven't missed a year of Big Valley, like I've gone every year, except for, obviously, the years that were closed because of COVID. But it was, it was really a dream come true, and it was extra special because my. Guitar Player Josh razickie and drummer Brad Durand. The first time I played with them was in the trade show inside at bvj, and that's where I first met my guitar player. Josh was through that road to main stage competition. So first time we played as a band was at Big Valley, and then getting to come back this summer and play the main stage, and not even just play like couple songs, but getting to play a full hour set was such a dream and such a full circle moment. And just because, you know, not as, not only as there's so many memories there, and it's been a, you know, a lifelong dream, but also that it is as close to like a hometown festival that I can get. So all the love and support from cameras and area and my family and friends, it was a really special day.

Terry Evans  25:54  
Country thunder as well. Oh, you even got to go to Paris this year too, didn't you? Yes, we

Hailey Benedict  25:59  
did Paris, Ontario.

Unknown Speaker  26:05  
Other Paris,

Hailey Benedict  26:06  
yeah, yeah, yeah, I was it was awesome, like, yeah, country thunder was another huge highlight. We We started our first festival is Cavendish on the East Coast, which we'd never been and so we started the summer on the East Coast, and then actually played all across Canada and finished the summer on the West Coast. And our last show was in Victoria for the summer. So it was is quite cool to literally go from coast to coast this past summer and meet so many wonderful people.

Terry Evans  26:35  
And if you look at it now, so I'm trying to, I'm thinking back a year from now, or, sorry, a year ago, right about now, it's close to the anniversary you were doing the campfire troubadour tour with Tim Hicks. And at that time so, and that's coming up at the end of October, beginning of November, it'll be a year so, pretty much a year ago, you were doing the huge tour of Alberta, and then just months later, you're touring across the country.

Hailey Benedict  27:10  
Yeah, that's actually such a great point. It's crazy what a year and time can do. And you know, experiences like that with Tim It's was so wonderful getting to perform for all these different crowds, and I just learned so much, even from his show. So it was definitely a cool, cool experience to have that and then be able to kind of take that and learn from it, to prepare for all these summer shows, for sure,

Terry Evans  27:38  
with Big Valley Jamboree, you talked about not missing one, except for the COVID years. And I've read interviews that you've done and seen things that you've mentioned how it really was a family outing, a family sort of thing. It was like a vacation. You all went there, and it was just amazing. This year, it must have been absolutely incredible. We talked about your dad, and let's talk about your mom. It must have been amazing for her to see you on the big stage.

Hailey Benedict  28:12  
Oh yeah. I mean i Yeah, both my parents have been so supportive, but especially my mom, she she's been my rock throughout all of this, and has never wavered in her support. And so, I mean, I love my dad, but, like, he's like, outfits on stage and I couldn't, he wasn't gonna curl my hair. So mom would would sit there and curl my hair when I couldn't, and find me outfits and drive me to, you know, she was, she really gave up her career and everything for my sister and I. She was stay at home mom, and so she drove us to, you know, like, lessons, and just spent countless hours or just, like, waiting for us to, you know, get out of these rehearsals or whatever it was. She was really there for through it all and and I'm really lucky that I had her with me to navigate, because the music industry is is a lot to navigate. You know, I think let being an adult, let alone being a kid, and most people are great, but it's also can be a little bit daunting, and some people try and take advantage of of young green artists. So I'm really lucky that my mom always had my back and and was such a huge and still is, you know, such a huge part of of what I do. And, and she was never musical. But just, I think it's really important as musicians or artists to find, you know, whether it's your parents, but just finding that kind of support to build around you, because it can be a little bit of an isolating journey. You know, pursuing a music career

Terry Evans  29:51  
with that as a passion, and, you know, helping you through it. She's also people who are, you know, a little tighter. With your family a little closer to your your community, know that she's been dealing with her cancer diagnosis, and that has been a big part of what you are. All you McKenna, Jim and brandy, you're all going through right now, isn't it?

Hailey Benedict  30:15  
Yeah, it was a it was a huge shock for our family, it just so she has stage three melanoma, and I'm we're happy to say that it's stage three melanoma that's been resected. So she had a surgery, and she's still on treatment till February, but her last PET scan was clear. But with melanoma, you you have to keep going for PET scans, so for five years before she can officially be in remission, they all have to be clear for five years. But yeah, it was about December of last year, and and hers was atypical. It didn't it didn't show up normally. It was a bruise on her side. And so really, none of us were really thinking anything of it. And then we got this, you know, huge diagnosis, and it was metastatic as well. So just learning all about that, and our mom is, my mom's really like the rock for my whole family, and what also the people didn't know at the time, and now I've been starting to, kind of to share, but the day that we also found out about the cancer, earlier, earlier that day, I had just signed a record deal with big, loud and local hay records, and just signed the contract. We were all celebrating, and then, literally, a few hours later, we just got this heavy dia or her heavy diagnosis. And, yeah, it was just a lot of emotions. And the first thing I was like, I can't I've just signed this deal. Like, how am I, you know, how am I supposed to leave my mom in the most difficult time of her life? But the first thing she said to me and my sister was like, You guys aren't putting anything on hold because of this. And say with my dad, like we will, I it would make me feel worse if you stop chasing your dreams. And, you know, my mom's usually right about everything. But I was like, I don't know about this mom, like, but even then, like, she's always been so selfless. But even in that moment, she was, you know, when I'm sure, so many so scary and so many feelings. Like she was even selfless then, and I think that just speaks to like, what a beautiful person she is, and like, my sister and I have a lot to look up to with her. Like, are just so grateful to have her in our lives, and we're very grateful that, like, yeah, obviously that this, the scan came clear, like a month ago, and hopefully that trend continues. But, you know, it's cancer really affects so many people. It's not even just the person that that has it. And my mom said, This lots. It's, it's such a ripple effect. And my mom is kind of like it did, like we all have, the cancer just shows up in different ways. And the more I've kind of, we've talked about the story, we've also, you know, come across all people that have gone through similar things, and it really does impact so many people. So, yeah, it was, it's been, it's been quite, quite a year, and a lot of, a lot of emotions, but we're really grateful for where her health sat right now,

Terry Evans  33:22  
your little five minute video that you had on your social media to express what was happening in your life and your family's lives at that time was so heartbreaking and powerful. All at the same time as I was getting ready to talk with you today, I found like combining, you know, the you plan when you were 12 years old at at the wind benefit, and then the seeing the video of you opening your Christmas gift, and then the video, watching the video of of you talking about the the record deal And and your mom's diagnosis, I was a mess. It's not the first time that you've done that to me, either. Oh,

Hailey Benedict  34:06  
I'm sorry. I should send you some clean exercise as I'm sorry gift. But yeah, it's been, it's been quite the journey. And I think, I think it's also important as like artists, you know, and obviously like sharing this all of my mom's blessing and everything, but to also know that, you know, there's as much as there's these incredible highs, and it can, especially social media, we can look at it all and just be like, wow, like everything looks like it's going so, right? But I think especially for me, at least in my journey, I've always wanted to showcase all the parts of the human experience, and part of that is some of the awesome things, but also there's other parts that are happening simultaneously that can be really difficult, that, you know, everyone goes through different battles and journeys, and I think it's important to to show all the different, you know, facets of that you

Terry Evans  34:58  
and you were talking. About your mom. You said, you know your mom said, Don't you dare let this hold you back. Yeah. And then you made reference to something that you know, you know your your mom's usually, usually, right? And I know that the song was written before that instance, but you talked about the record deal with big, loud and local hay and things my mama said, which again, that's I even sent you a message on your Facebook page saying I'm sitting here at my desk. Which is you sent me the two Thank you emojis. But you know, so exciting to have your first single on on big, loud and local Hey, and it's like when I talked about, how's your October? Because just the other day, we find out that it's the most added song in Canadian country music for the week on Canadian country radio. Yeah,

Hailey Benedict  36:03  
so wild and yeah, this, this song is definitely one of the more personal songs I've ever released. Sometimes I write from, you know, things I've seen or experienced, but this was, like, this was as true as it could get for me. And so when I originally wrote it, I just I didn't think that it was, you know, gonna even go anywhere, but I start to play it live and just seeing how people are resonating with it and the label really loved it, and so I was really grateful that they also wanted to support me putting out something that was so personal and that I was, you know, really proud of, but that was real and honest. And so the fact that, you know, that's being celebrated, and other people resonating with that on on, you know, Canadian radio is has been, has made my heart really so full. Because, I mean, that's kind of the cool part about releasing music, is it's really personal to you writing it at the time, but then once you release it, it's not yours anymore. It's for everyone else. And so just to get to even hear people's stories about how they're relating it to their relationships with their own moms or mother figures, has been really special

Terry Evans  37:15  
at sometimes. Do you have to just kind of grab your head and stop it from spinning?

Hailey Benedict  37:20  
Yeah, it's hard because I think, like, especially as artists or like, creative individuals, we're just like, so excited to be like, Okay, what's next? What's next? And I'm really trying to take moments and reflect on all of it, because while it is so busy and Nadia, as you called it. It's also really important to, like, soak these moments in. And I, and I always try and think of that little girl that, you know was singing with our pink tutus and too big of a guitar. If I could tell her now like that, this is what's happening, you know, to remind myself of, like, why I'm doing this. Like, I just, I can't imagine what her reaction would be like, you have your own place in Nashville, and you're making it work, and it's gonna be a lot of, it's gonna be a lot of ups and downs, but it's going to be worth it. And, yeah, I think it's important to take those moments every once in a while, to just soak it in, because it's so easy to just get caught up in all the, all the craziness and stuff. So, yeah, I'm, I'm really grateful for everything that's happened. And, you know, I know also, this is also just like, it's like the next phase, you know, it's like the next start. This is just the beginning of, like, really putting the groundwork in. And now this is kind of like the next level of, you know, even more hard work and all of that. But I really believe that if you have a passion for it, then you'll make it work somehow it's but it's not always gonna be easy.

Terry Evans  38:50  
That's a really great point, because, you know, okay, yeah, you've you started with a guitar at six, and evj songwriters 10 to at nine, and then, you know, main stage at 2021, and you got a record deal with big, loud and local hay and, but that's a great, such a great point, because you got the record deal, that doesn't mean you're done. That means you have starting blocks now, yeah, keep going on the next Yeah,

Hailey Benedict  39:21  
I think people also think like, oh, like, you're gonna get the record deal, and then everything from there is like, hopefully ever after and but it's like, that's not how, how it works. I mean, I love Lainey Wilson's story, because she she came to Nashville, I think, like, when she was really young. I don't want to say, like, I could be wrong on this, but like, 1415, she was here for like, 15 years plus, before things finally started happen for her. And even when she signed her deal, like she was putting out music, she put out a whole record that was doing well, but like, certainly not to the extent of what her new stuff is at and so, yeah, I just think. It's a good reminder, like, the the grind never really stops. And it's just like, it's just new, yeah, it's just a new chapter now. And, and you have, like, I'm so grateful that there's these resources in place, but it's also now that there are these resources. You have to be even more a little bit smart on how you're gonna, you know, move forward with that. And, and, and, really, you know, try and make the most of the opportunity that's that's been presented.

Terry Evans  40:29  
We'll be right back. Reluctantly, you mentioned that you're in your apartment. I was going to ask you, so are you apartment shopping in Nashville or but apparently you beat me to it. You're already there. Yes,

Hailey Benedict  40:44  
yeah, it kind of came a little bit like I knew I wanted to be down here more, and so I was looking at opportunities. And then one of the places that I was supposed to stay kind of fell through last minute, so I had little I didn't even get to see this place in person, like I toured it on Zoom. And I just started with, like, a three month lease, and I loved it. And so now, now I've got the one year lease, which is really exciting, and it's it's been slow start, like I literally, I just built a TV stand yesterday. There was a two person build, but I did all by myself. I got two patio chairs from Amazon, and, of course, the most like essential apartment need an air fryer. So it's been, yeah, slow start, and it's been hard because, you know, with my mom's health and stuff, we're not sure what it's, what she's able to travel and everything. So nobody's actually seen my new place. So it feels weird to like, have this, you know, this, this place here, without any of the people closest to me not seeing it or contributing in some way. I'm not great with, like, the decorating or anything either. But it's also been really exciting to like, take those steps forward and and just start to, like, create a little bit of a life here, which is, I

Terry Evans  42:05  
was gonna say, I was, I'm looking behind you. You could use some of your some of those posters where, yeah, and that's another thing. I was gonna bring up, these festival posters and so on that. Something else that happened over the course of this summer and into the fall is Your name isn't last on the festival poster anymore. That's

Hailey Benedict  42:25  
wild. Yeah, that was something crazy this summer. It's usually, usually, sometimes it's, you don't even make the poster, like, you come in like, the week before, you'll get like, and also, and it's like, in the tiniest letters, and like, my parents are like, I need my glasses. It was good to be like, okay, like, we've moved up. Like, actually moved up, and I've got a little bit bigger font my parents. That's how you know you've made it if, if your parents don't need their glasses to read your name on the lineup, but no, even just beyond the poster and like, What's also been cool is, like, the shirts and everything sold at these festivals like that was, that's a really cool keep safe for me. It was getting the Big Valley shirt that had the lineup and my name's on there. It's just, it's pretty surreal.

Terry Evans  43:19  
You go to these festivals and perform, but you are as much a fan of the other performers, oh yeah, as anybody else in the crowd, right? Absolutely,

Hailey Benedict  43:31  
I, you know, I'm a music artist, but I've been a music lover first and always. And the I mentioned earlier that my, you know, my parents tried to give us more experiences growing up, and so, like, one of the gifts that we got when we were kids, it was my very first concert, was Justin Bieber concert when I was, like, six or something. But it was, and it was, like, last minute kind of thing that we went, but I just like, fell in love with just like, yeah, being being a fan and being a listener. And I love getting to perform at these festivals, to get to watch these other artists, because to me, that's just like, it's like a master class in the sense of, like, all these artists from across Canada or beyond, and getting to see how they connect with artists. I just think they're so art with the fans. I think there's just so much to learn from watching other artists do what they love, and and, and also it's just, it's just fun. I love to get to experience music, especially live music. There's, there's nothing like it, since you're

Terry Evans  44:39  
talking about going to concerts, let's hear. Listen to this. What's the dream job in life?

Unknown Speaker  44:44  
We gotta get to our zone.

Hailey Benedict  45:00  
Oh, wow. How's it going? Really good. How have you been great? You had asked me what I want to be, and I said, singer songwriter, and you can give me that opportunity. That kind of ignited my career and most catalyst since I just signed my first publishing deal Nashville and a record deal

and inspired me. And I just want to say, thank you. I trust it wasn't me. Would have been somebody

Unknown Speaker  45:37  
else. When you're ready,

Terry Evans  45:38  
you're ready again, that I get emotional because it is so unbelievable. Yeah,

Hailey Benedict  45:47  
that whole experience, yeah, unbelievable. Perfect word. And I remember, I'm pretty sure after that, I came to do, like, an interview with you on air, like, after that, and that was pretty cool, like, just getting to go to all these different stations and talk about what happened, but yeah, don't want to support that. When I was 14, with my sister and I, and we just made, like, guitar shaped sparkly signs. It didn't even say, because lots of people were like, oh, did it say? Like, I want to sing with you. Like, we just, we just made signs because we love the album. And we did know that, like, sometimes he points them out, and sometimes we, like, you might bring you up on stage and, like, give you a hug. So we just thought, like, That night he pointed them out. We're like, oh, that's gonna be like, the highlight of our year. Keith Urban saw our, you know, posters from the stage, and we'll go home, and that'll be everything. And then he brought us up, and then, you know, and then that happened, and it was completely surreal and crazy, and then he shared it on all his social media pages, and it just like it snowballed into this thing that none of us could have ever expected it was going to be. And then at Big Valley Jamboree, yeah, it got to be reunited with him, and something I've always wanted to kind of be able to do is thank him and and give him an update on my career, and I got to kind of spill the beans about my record deal to him. And it was such a special moment, because I think without that experience like it just it really showed me that it was possible to do music as a career and to give me that stage and take a chance on that 14 year old kid, like, when he handed me that guitar, like, I could have went up there and, like, Absolutely, like, bombed it, like it could have been so bad, and but he just gave this wide eyed dreamer kid, you know, a guitar and a chance to sing, especially their own song at that too. And that was huge for me. So I was always been so grateful for him and that opportunity, and so to get to share him this update like I probably wouldn't be here today without that. So yeah, it was really special for people

Terry Evans  47:53  
listening or watching. You can go to Haley's Facebook page and just scroll through and you can see that video. The greatest thing is the look on McKenna's face, your sister's face, when he says, Let's get her a guitar. And that, that split second, right, there was everything, oh,

Hailey Benedict  48:13  
I know, I still watch it, because I just, like, her reaction is, like, the cutest and like, it's so funny, because you can see, like, he's like, Can we get a guitar and, like, all the blood, like, leaves her face, because she's like, in shock. And then if you watch the whole video, it's like, the sweetest thing, because he's got his arm around her, and she's like, singing the words in the background, like, nervously, she she knew the words to my song, and so she's like, you talked about it afterwards. She's like, I was like, panicked that you would like, somehow forget it. So she's like, nervously singing, hoping that I don't forget any of the words. And and her and I have been always like, best friends. Like, yeah, we're I, like, Kenna and I are just like, tied at the hip. So it was really also cool that we got to share that moment together, and her reaction is my, my, one of my favorite things in the world, and I'm so lucky that's captured on camera to watch that.

Terry Evans  49:09  
Well, yeah, and you'll have it forever. It's awesome. So you, you were 14 at the time, Kenna would have been 1212, okay, so leading up, we saw what happened. When Keith Urban brings you up, he hands you guitar, you sing a little bit of your song, and everybody goes bananas. It's 20,000 people. It's and was that not like the first concert at Rogers

Hailey Benedict  49:33  
place? Yeah, it was. It was the very first concert open night Rogers place, which is wild, and it's funny, I had this, like, bet with my family, like I had this reoccurring dream that I was going to play Rexall, which was the old stadium there in Edmonton, Arena in Edmonton. And I would always say, I'm going to play I'm going to play Rexall. I'm going to play Rexall. And, yeah, right. And then, and then Rexall was. Going down and and literally, like, this is a conversation we had at my dinner table, and my family's like, Well, you didn't get to play Rexall. And I was like, I'm gonna play Rogers and I play the opening night, which is crazy. So I feel like maybe I like spoken out into the universe, or there's some sort of weird manifestation with that,

Terry Evans  50:20  
your sister, McKenna, two years younger than you, and I've seen videos, multiple videos, of the two of you seeing together. Was there ever was there? I mean, you sound beautiful together. The harmony, the voices just match up so nicely. So there's just that little bit, I don't know if it's an entire octave or if I'm even just grabbing it properly, but accentuate each other. So well, have you, Have you recorded together? Or is it a consideration, or did she go down a different road? Was it because she was in gymnastics? Was she not? Yeah,

Hailey Benedict  50:52  
so she was a competitive gymnast, so she's always been the athletic one. I did not get that gene, but she's also been, like, a huge music lover. Like, she same thing as me. Like, when we go to concerts, like we go together her and I just, we just, and sometimes I like, I think she even loves it more than I do. Like she's, she listens to it, whether she's in her car, clean the room, like, all the time, but and she, she's always singing around that house, but she's wanted nothing to do with being on stage or anything like that. And I've always thought like she's got, like, she's never had a lesson or anything, and she just has this naturally, like, really cool, like, lower, raspy voice. And so it started with my tick tock, and I just was like, I she can't pick up the harmony, but she can always sing like, the melody. So I was like, I'll just sing the harmony. So I just, like, sneakily, like, sing it on top of her when she was, like, singing in the shower. And then she's like, what's going on? And so then, yeah, but tick tock. I was like, Okay, let's just film it. We don't like, have to post it. She's okay, well, I don't want to be in the frame of the camera. And I was like, okay, especially,

Terry Evans  52:09  
especially if she's in the showers, kind of like, elf, remember?

Hailey Benedict  52:18  
Yeah, yeah. I was Buddy the Elf, exactly like that. But, yeah, no, this was, this was actually in our kitchen. And so then I was like, you don't have to be in the camera, but like, I'll just sing over top of you. So it started off, and I was like, I sang harmony on top but I was like, Kenna, this sounds good. And she's like, No, no. And I was like, Can I post it? She's like, she's so scared. And so I said in the like caption, like, here I am harmonizing with my sister. She doesn't want to be on camera, but like, show her some love. Like, basically to like, show her like, this is awesome. And that was, like, one of my very first viral Tik Tok videos. And so then ever since then, she was like, oh, okay, maybe I'm not as bad as I think. And then slowly I was like, I got her from being off camera to then being in camera, but then she'd be closing her eyes the whole time. And now, now she's at the point where she's like, can we do, can we do, like, a little cover of something on on your tick tock? And she's fully in camera, she's smiling. And I've even at Big Valley jamboree this past year she went, and it's just been like a bucket list item for her. She wanted to get up and just do the like, karaoke there. And they usually have that karaoke competition. She didn't enter it, but she got up and sang, and they loved her so much that they were like, we'd like to she didn't even enter it, but they were like, we loved you so much. Want to send you right to the finals and see McKenna. And then she dropped out of the finals. Yes, I was like, Dude, you know, like, how that that's so impressive. Like, there's people that, like, are actually, like, really trying to get in, and you just walked up and got in. But she, she's, she was like, this was she'd never sang on a stage before, and she was like, it's way harder than I thought it was gonna be. Like, oh my gosh. Like, and it's funny, because she's always like, why do you do this on stage? Why do you she's like, I get it now, but maybe, who knows? I'm just thinking it's just like, in slow increments. Maybe I can, like, work her up to doing either something on stage or in a recording like that would make my heart so full. But who knows. I'm just glad I gather on some 22nd tick tocks at the moment. So

Terry Evans  54:30  
start with the hair flip. Yeah,

Hailey Benedict  54:31  
exactly yes.

Terry Evans  54:35  
I just I know you recently did an interview with country in the UK. I'm not sure if it's a magazine or a digital magazine, or what it is. I'm not sure if you have also gone back and looked at it with their post. Did you see who your post, who you're beside?

Hailey Benedict  54:54  
Oh, I don't. I don't know if I did. No, if

Terry Evans  54:57  
you go on to their Instagram page, yeah. And you click on, you just open up their page. Yeah, don't click on your specific interview. But if you click on yours, yours is the most recent and decided is Jelly Roll,

Hailey Benedict  55:11  
that's crazy. Oh my gosh. So I didn't, I didn't see that yet. Oh my gosh. That's wild. And it's just crazy to me too, that that's my music starting to reach beyond North America. Like, I mean, I've always wanted to go to the UK, and that's somewhere that I've it's still, like, It's on my bucket list to be able to go there and play. But, yeah, that's wild

Terry Evans  55:36  
with your things. My mom has said the single with with the record deal. Is there an album in the works? How is that? Is there talks of that, or whatever? Do people record albums? Or is that, like, a boomer thing, or, like, what's happening?

Hailey Benedict  55:52  
That's another one of my dreams, is to, just like, put out sonically cohesive piece of work. But there's one thing like, you can't ever get back your debut album. And so I really just want to make sure that it's songs that I I love just as much as this, this recent one that I've put out. And so I've just been writing a ton, and that's mainly what I've been doing down in Nashville, is writing with, you know, all sorts of different collaborators, some old but a lot of new collaborators, a lot of young women my age, which has been really cool, that are really passionate about music and just as hungry for trying to have a career for them, more in the songwriting realm. So I've really just been experimenting and like finding my song or sound, and we have another song that might be in the bank recorded that I'm only excited to share soon, and, yeah, definitely working towards that, that first piece of art, and just making sure it's, it's the best it can be for, for when that all comes together. But I've been sitting on so many songs, so I feel like, feel like we're getting close. That's

Terry Evans  57:05  
great to hear. I'm I'm so incredibly proud of you.

Hailey Benedict  57:12  
Thanks, Terry. I

Terry Evans  57:13  
think it's terrific. And I wish you so much success. And I wish all the love in the world to your mom, Brandy, your dad, Jim, your sister, McKenna, McKenna, and everybody else in the family. And I can't wait to see you know, it's one thing to have a post on country in the UK Instagram, but I hope one day to see you sitting in a chair next to Jelly Roll that the Grammys or Country Music Association Awards or down in the States or something like that, because I've talked to a lot of people. There's so many people in your corner, so many people rooting for you and and they know exactly how determined that you are and passionate you are, and they can see it coming.

Hailey Benedict  57:57  
Oh, well, thank you, Terry. I really appreciate that. And thank you for being such a huge support of not only my career, but just live music. And musicians and artists like myself like to have people like you championing us throughout the years has really meant a lot. And like, yeah, you've been part of this thing from almost the very beginning. So I've just appreciated all all of your support along the way, and it's like we were saying before, it's fun, even getting like, seeing your son play Coachella and just all these things, yeah, but I really appreciate you, and I appreciate you having me on today. It's always wonderful getting a chat with you.

Terry Evans  58:35  
Okay, I'll let you go, get go to Martin's barbecue.

Hailey Benedict  58:39  
It's delicious. Yes, I do. Or peg like, worker, have you ever been there? No,

Terry Evans  58:44  
but I'm not sure if I've gone to that one. But the best barbecue

Hailey Benedict  58:49  
in Nashville, if there's anyone so planning a trip that's like, in my opinion, no offense. Martin's is good. But like peg, like porker is where it's at all, right?

Terry Evans  58:58  
Yeah. Haley Benedict, thank you so much for being here with me today.

Hailey Benedict  59:01  
Thank you for having me, Terry, this is wonderful. Reluctantly,

Terry Evans  59:06  
today's show brought to you by Haley Benedict, music.com Haley's first single on big loud records local Hey, things my mama says, available on all your streaming services right now, reluctantly.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai