Nearly a decade after the meteoric success of Shania Twain, Jessie James is staking her claim to become one of America's marquee pop starlets. And looking at the current musical landscape, Jessie James may be the breakout star of 2009.
As with all new artists, comparisons are bound to arise—especially with the presence of best-selling artists like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. But Jessie James stands apart, however, through her songwriting prowess, which better suits an audience that would allow for pop chart dominance. Take "Wanted," Jessie James' lead single, for example, which is quite reminiscent of Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" years.
Although the future is unpredictable, call me clairvoyant. Ten years from now, the world will distinctly remember—and fondly address—the name of Jessie James. Upon the review of her self-titled debut, Jessie James managed to squeeze some time out of her busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry — reflecting on Bobbie Gentry, "Wanted," and the long road to Mercury Records.
Several sources note that you've been singing since the age of two and that you won your first talent contest at the age of nine. Do you recall the name of your victory song?
Yeah. It's called "I Want to be a Cowboy Sweetheart" and I had to yodel in the song! [laughing] It was great.
In the early years, what motivated you to pursue your musical passions? Was there a family influence or was this all personally driven?
I asked my mom about it. I had heard about the talent show. It was in Baker, Louisiana and they have one every year. I had heard about it through my grandmother. It was in the paper, I guess, and they were just talking about it happening again. I was like, "I really want to be in this contest." So my mom put me in the show. The good thing about my mom is that she was never that stage mother. It was always my decision. She never forced me to do anything that I didn't want to do. "If you want to do it, you can do it. If not, we won't do it." That was a good thing about her. I really wanted to do this talent show and it's a good thing that I did. I love being onstage.
On your road to Mercury, what do you consider to be the biggest obstacle you had to overcome, in order to secure a major label deal?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - wrhs
That interview is ridiculous. I went to highschool with Jessie and no one ever picked on her. The only drama she had to deal with was the lies she spread about people and the amount of bragging she did. We're all happy for her success we all know she is talented but no one will ever forget who she really is.
2 - ha!
Wow...Are you kidding me? Jessie WAS the bully in school. The only people who actually put up with her "I'm better than you" attitude were the ones who were hoping to use her if she ever got a record deal. She does have a nice voice, so congrats on to her on her success. I hope her voice at least gets her somewhere. However if it doesn't, her fake personality should.
3 - wrhs
i totally agree with never let people get you down, but i dont agree for a second that she was the one being put put down. im happy for her and all, she was never mean to me, but one of my friends got really close to her and ended up being back stabbed horribly. it was more like she was the one she is talking against in this interview.
4 - sbwr
I only hung out with her a couple of times and she always managed to make me feel like I was inadequate to the point that I didn't want to be around her anymore. I don't want to use this as beat on Jessie time though... I'm still very proud of her and will buy her CD's and support her all the way.
5 - ha!
she's pretty and im glad she's made it this far, but she always made me feel like i was a nobody. i won't buy her music.
6 - wr
yeah. i definitely agree with these comments. jessie and i were great friends until one day she just turned her back on me. complete b. i've always thought she was amazing and talented. I'm so glad that she is getting to do what she loves now and i know she will make it far, but i wish she would just stop with all the b.s. because its really getting old. she had friends and everyone loved her until she started talking about them behind her back. she always played the victim but truly was the cause of all the drama.
7 - WRHS
I also went to school with Jessie and i will agree SHE was the bully in school, she acted like it was an honor to be her friend, and for a good couple months i also thought it was an honor. But all she does is talk about people behind their backs and spread lies. Its sad, but i wish her the best of luck anyway.
8 - ha!
I only talked to her one time, but in that ONE conversation she basically told me that she already knew that she was going to make it big, and that she didn't have to "bother with things like college" (she was referring to me, as I had just told her I was in college). I didn't realize that college was such a waste. Maybe it's only good for us "not so important people".
9 - bwrhs
First I want to start off and say that I do think Wanted is a great song...I always listen to it when it plays on the radio. However, talent is not what you are remembered by when you actually do have the chance to get to know the person behind the curtains. I also went to high school with Jessie and although I wasn't a friend, I do have one memory of her I will never forget. She told one of my really good friends that she looked like an uglier version of Carrie Underwood, and meant it as a compliment. It's sad that a person with talent like Jessie has such a misconception of how people should be treated.
10 - wrhs
jessie and i were really good friends at wrhs in ga. i thought she was awesome and it was really cool being friends with someone so talented. until she started traveling and totally forgot about me. i really considered her one of my best friends and it was really sad to try so hard and get rejected like i was a nobody all of a sudden. i totally agree with these comments. we had a whole group we were all friends with and she found a way to make every single one of us hate her for a different reason each. it's really sad. she may be successful but it fades, who she is unfortunately never will.
11 - wrhs
Wow I clicked on the link to view her interview, I wouldn't be advertising this kind of publicity haha. I met her in Tennessee and she was a wench. Totally conceited it was sad, I even see it in this interview. People like her never last long.
12 - Jordan Richardson
Is her whole high school planning on dropping by and posting behind anonymous screen names?
13 - ha!
Not her whole high school, just the people that didn't like the way she treated them. :)
14 - wrhs
I didn't go to high school with her but I am guessing the people who did all have a point if they are all saying the same thing. I knew her from after high school and I feel the same way. I am guessing maybe these people, including me would rather not exploit their identity to the world, rather tell the world how she is if they're gonna be fans. Ive met many people that I thought were awesome before, and after meeting them I was no longer a fan, she was definitely one of them.
15 - Jordan Richardson
Why would "the world" need to know how she is (or was, according to you) if they want to be her fans? I don't understand the correlation, nor do I understand the obsession.
If you didn't like the way she treated you in high school, surely there are better ways to get over that than swarming an interview she's done.
Also, if you're hinging whether or not you're a fan of somebody on how "awesome" their personality might be, you're in for a lifetime of disappointment.
16 - wrhs
who ever said "need" to know? no one needs to. but you feel the need to defend someone that you obviously don't know. let her treat you the way shes treated everyone else on here. you wouldn't be acting like a hard ass then. and i believe the term swarm woulc account for one person posting all of these. and i highly doubt that is true. in truth my comment is just in reply to your naive one. im sure many people are dissapointed in people they have met that they were fans of, thats the cost of liking people you dont know. so why not give people a heads up, obviously you need one anyway, or maybe she just hasnt victimized you yet...
17 - wrhs
Thanks for the defense "wake up". I'm really not here to bash a girl's world but just don't lie in interviews where the people you hurt read them. It's mad to think she wouldn't have people angered by that.
18 - Jordan Richardson
Well, that went over your head(s).
19 - ha!
her rudeness covers up her talent.
20 - This is harsh-but true
I agree with all this. I get the impression that she thinks she's prettier than she is... I mean , she's a decent girl, but let's get real...not a natural beauty for sure. And there are THOUSANDS of other people out there who sound just as good if not way better. She portrays to be classy, but there isn't ANYthing classy about her. Def not a role model type - AT ALL. Lyrics are filthy. I def wouldn't want my little girl listening to her songs. Also sending nude pictures to people isn't classy either. And they will get out... ;) She'll last 5 minutes- 10 years from now ....no one will remember her name.
21 - This is harsh-but true
All this is true- I wend to high school with Jessie at WRHS...She was always trying to portray this "good girl" kind of image...just because you don't drink or party...doesn't make it okay to be a slut. She was such a whore. She'd do any guy that looked her way. I always felt like she was striving for attention because thats the only way she could get it... Pretty much BEG for it. I really feel bad for her...Maybe she doesn't get love or attention from her family- or mom and dad..so she try's to get it from others?? She has so much potential and I feel like she's wasting it on being a SLUT. There's still hope for her to turn her life around... But its hard for someone to change their ways after living one way for so long! But may God bless anyways... much love
22 - This is harsh-but true
went*
23 - Andrea just passin thru
wow to all the comments...I can see she has ticked off more people than pleased, and yes, personality is important in the industry as far as a loyal fan base. Shania was possibly the rudest person I've ever met for 5 minutes, (I was shocked and found out others had similar experiences with her) and if Jessie is like her then that is sad. Nobody is perfect and you can't please everybody AT ALL. But I hope if she sees this she will consider being more careful with how she treats the "little" people in the future and doesn't forget how blessed she is. I download songs I like, but I only BUY from singers I relate to and like in interviews and how they live and treat their fans. ie. Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson....NOT Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne.
24 - Andrea just passin thru
BTW, I am SO over every "celeb" claiming they were "picked on" and "bullied" in school and "look at me now!" Get over yourself. EVERYONE feels/felt that way at one point or another, but I HIGHLY doubt she was the victim nearly as often as she was the instigator of the trouble. Bullied is when you are a quiet, shy, self-conscious girl who gets talked about by cliquish groups because her teeth have a gap or her hair is frizzy or her clothes are cheap. And when she gets shoved down in the hall and then the people pretend they didn't do it and start laughing. And when people mimic her lisp or stutter while she's reading out loud. And when the yearbook staff cut her off of pictures. I saw my best friend in the world suffer that. Something tells me that Jessie does not know what it means to be "Bullied."
25 - Robert james
Well I am her Dad and it sounds like to me that she is just like her stuck up mother that thinks that she is better then GOD. Oh and as far as Jessica Rose James, she doesnt even talk to me and I am her father. [Personal contact info deleted]