If you follow country music, then you surely recognize the name of Jennifer Nettles. She and mandolin/guitar player Kristian Bush make up the band called “Sugarland.” The group originally included Kristen Hall, a singer/songwriter from Sugarland, Texas. But she dropped out of the group early, deciding to stick with writing songs instead. Read this informative article and learn some little known facts about Jennifer Nettles you’ll find interesting!
Her Early Career
Jennifer Nettles was born on September 12, 1974 in Douglas, Georgia. As she grew up, she loved performing at school, at her Southern Baptist church, and at every venue available. Besides singing and acting, she loved being a majorette in her high school marching band.
After graduation, Nettles enrolled at Agnes Scott College, a liberal arts school in Georgia. A little known fact about Jennifer Nettles is that she started her first band, called “Soul Miner’s Daughter”, while in college. She hooked up with friend Cory Jones, a Classical guitarist. Soul Miner’s Daughter recorded the folk albums, The Sacred and Profane (1996) and Hallelujah (1998).
Later in 1998, Jennifer Nettles started her own self-named band. They recorded five albums, and won the “Independent Musician of the Year” award from Musician’s Atlas in 2000.
Sugarland Is Born
In 2003, the country group, Sugarland, was born, and the group has enjoyed riding high on the wave of musical success. Their debut album, Twice The Speed of Life, was released in 2004 under the Mercury Nashville label. The following year, Sugarland won the “Favorite New Artist” award at the AMA Awards. Their second album, Enjoy The Ride, was released in 2006, and turned Platinum in 2007. Nettles and Kristian Bush also won the “Duo Video of the Year” for “Want To” at the 2007 CMT Music Video Awards. And that’s just a part of their successes so far!
She has come a long way since she began writing and singing her own songs when she was seventeen years old. A little known fact about Jennifer Nettles is that the first royalty checks she earned paid her college loans off and bought a house in Georgia.
It’s interesting to see that Nettles has come a long way in her songwriting abilities as well. The first song she wrote was titled, “He Couldn’t Give Up the Bottle So She Had to Give Back His Name.”
Stepping Out and In
In 2006, Jennifer Nettles also stepped out of her role as Sugarland’s lead singer to record a duet with Jon Bon Jovi. He and Richie Sambora wrote “Who Says You Can’t Go Home?” for his 2005 album, Have A Nice Day.” The country version of the song was set to be recorded by Bon Jovi and Keith Urban. A little known fact about Jennifer Nettles is that she stepped into Urban’s part after it was decided that a female voice would sound better with Bon Jovi. Their version reached the number one slot on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart and won a Grammy.
Her Life Today
Jennifer Nettles and her husband, night club owner Todd Van Sickle, divorced in 2007. She keeps busy touring, writing songs and recording with Sugarland. A little known fact about Jennifer Nettles is, the three essentials she says she needs when on the road, are a pair of “broken-in jeans”, Listerine Whitening Quick Dissolving Strips, and light makeup that doesn’t run when she’s on stage.
Another little known fact about Jennifer Nettles is, when she has the time at home, she loves to cook. She especially enjoys seafood like Scallops and Marinated Sea Bass.
Nettles always makes time for Yoga. She says this ancient art balances her mind and body and builds up her immunity system. She also drinks healthful Green Tea.
Nettles believes in lucky charms and symbols, is thankful to “the Universe and Creative Spirit”, and has the word “Believe” tattooed on her wrist.
