In an industry where polished personas often take center stage, Jody Blaine Watson is a refreshing reminder of the raw, unfiltered heart that beats at the core of country music. In our conversation, Jody opened up like never before — sharing the highs and lows, the lessons learned, and the deeply personal stories that have shaped both his music and his life.
With a voice that carries the weight of real experience and lyrics that speak straight to the soul, Jody doesn’t just sing country — he lives it. And in this candid interview, he strips away the spotlight to reveal the man behind the music: honest, vulnerable, and as genuine as they come.
Get ready to step inside the world of Jody Blaine Watson, where every word comes from the heart and every story strikes a chord.
You said that writing a song was a way of talking to people without having to talk to people. But you seem to like to talk to people….
Yeah, I like to talk to people. It’s my passion. I created it to make people feel good or to make myself feel good. One of those things where you can create whatever you want, whenever you want and however you want.
I like what you said. That it was a way of talking to people.
I can create all day. But if it doesn’t resonate with the listener then I’m wasting my time. If they can’t feel what I’m feeling, then I may as well just tear it up and throw it away. We’ve got too many people out here that are making music that don’t put no feelings or meaning behind them. They are just creating supply and demand. They’re not taking the time. Like the Eagles back in the seventies they made the albums and LPS and everything was loud and real and you didn’t have AI. Everything was wrong. I’m kind of more old school that way when it comes to music. Because I like for people to be able to resonate and to feel what I have to say.
Music is therapy. Music is healing. Music is a way to speak when you can’t speak. If you can’t speak music is going to speak for you. If you can’t talk the music is going to talk for you. That is just the way it goes as far as the music goes. I still do when I have the opportunity, I date women just to get my music. I’ve got an ex-girlfriend that we dated for 4 years and we are still friends to this day but whenever she says something to me it resonates and I’m able to create something. And she likes it. She always tells me she’s looking for her royalties. Her contract expired. It just wouldn’t work, I’m in Arizona and she’s in the Carolinas.
I remember playing the guitar when I was 5 years old. There’s a picture of me. But I initially started when I was 12 that’s when I started to like it. My niece and nephew they could pick it up and in 5 minutes get bored with it. You spend $50 or $60 on a toy, and it may last for 5 minutes. That’s the way it goes. But for me, it’s forever. One day when you’re not here it continues to grow. It continues to touch people and to change lives. It continues to make a difference in the world you live in today.
When you write a song, what is your process? Do you write the music first or the lyrics first?
Oh, you want the secret sauce. What it is, it is inspiration. Like a divine inspiration in your soul or your spirit. Most of the time I write by myself. Because nobody feels the way I feel in that moment. With me being out here in Arizona there’s going to be a whole lot of songs I could write because I’m in a whole new place. I feel a different way. I act a different way. Just being in a different time zone.
If I write a slow song, I usually take a walk late at night and have a recorder in my hands. I will talk and say some words. Or how I’m feeling. Or I may shed a tear thinking of something that happened in the past. I’m going to play the guitar and just write a song off the top of my head. The creation of a song for me, a full song, I am like the Lionel Richie of country music. I like to write slow songs because I think it touches people more. We create the song and the melody, and the words usually come out at the same time.
Now if someone gives me music and asked me to put words behind it sure I could do that. But if you ask me to create something raw right then and there when I play the tune then I create the words and the lyrics. Or if someone is playing, I can make up the words right then and there too. The song in itself has to have something to grab onto. Those words have to have meaning behind them. It can’t be repetitive like rap music. Rap music is okay as an art form, but people get tired of it. The way I look at it is if the women feel it they will buy it. Men like the music but women set it in stone.
In other words, in this lifetime if a woman don’t like it, it ain’t going to happen. Most of the women like to slow dance. Those are the kind of songs I like to create. I can create fast songs too but the magic behind it is being able to put yourself in a spot. Bring your feelings to life. And have that resonate with the audience and people around you. If you look back 50 years you know who Don Henley is. You know who the Eagles are. Why do you know them? Because they were heartfelt powerful and meaningful. So that’s what I like to do create something that you can remember me by. You have to have that chemistry with a guitar and songwriting. Sometimes you’re up late at night and you just need to write the song. It resonates with me and it keeps me up all night to write that song. You may write two or three songs at night and get it the way you want it rather than it takes you the next 4 to 6 months to get the song you wanted. But when it happens it doesn’t matter who’s around or what’s around you have to stick the pen to the paper or your voice on the recorder. That’s the way it works for me in a lot of different ways.
What was your childhood like growing up in North Carolina?
You want to be a redneck? Well, I’ll play the part. What was my childhood like? I have a song you never heard of before. I wrote it in 15 minutes. I had been chasing what I’m doing for years. Everything I do resonates back to the music. Because that’s all I do. But my childhood was a good childhood in some aspects and not good in others.
Well tell me the good part first.
What’s important is I had loving caring mom that worked three jobs to take care of me and my brother. She made sure we had clothes on our back, food to eat, and a place to stay.
What’s your brother’s name?
His name is Jason.
How old is he?
He will be 50 this year. He’s 5 years younger than I am. We had all the things that people have growing up as kids, cuz Mama worked her butt off to make sure we had it. Without Mama being there we would have been dead or in foster care. That’s where that song comes that I wrote in 15 minutes on my porch back in North Carolina. It was called “Thank you God for my mama.”
Where’s your dad?
Right now? My dad is dead right now. He died about 11 years ago. Dad was never around. He was an alcoholic and drug addict. He used to beat me all the time. I used to have to protect my mom cuz he would come in and try to get on her and I would step in the way so instead of hitting her he would hit me. He was not a good provider. He didn’t do things right. He was always abusive to us.
My brother was younger, so I don’t think he went through quite as much as I did. My dad was in the Floor Covering business. My mom was a waitress for the school system. As a Pre-K teacher. What is funny is that my mom and dad even though they divorced and went their ways, they never actually got a divorce. My dad never did come to any of my ball games or my wrestling. Whatever sport I played he never was there. But my mom was there. I did have some help from some family members at times. That’s why I still take care of her today. She lives with me in Arizona. My brother is down here with the grandkids. It was one of those things that I would say to people you have to watch who you date and who you marry because I believe it was a good thing, but also a bad thing with my dad. But he did make me the man I am today. I appreciate people. I love people. People get on my nerves sometimes. My mom still gets on my nerves today. And I threatened to take her to the nursing home LOL. She just turns around and tells me to shut up. My mom makes me mad a lot, but I just have to let it go because all the stress she’s done when you look back on it. My mom, to put clothes on our back she wore a jumpsuit all her years of her life so we can have something.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I would like to make a difference in the world. I would like to tour across the country. Make more music. It’s not about the money as much as making a living so that you could take care of yourself. Being rich is not about money and possessions. I would like to write albums with some big people. Continue relationships. Grow my fan base. Be able to help others. Maybe do some volunteering. Write a book. Write more music. I want to be the best person I can be.
I think you’ll be good on stage.
I am good on stage. You can put me on stage and people will never want to leave. You know why? Because I captivate them. I take them to another level. I give them just enough so you want to know what’s coming next, but you don’t get it.
Stream the Tribeca Records debut single “Living It Up Down In Mexico” by Jody Blaine Watson here:
https://found.ee/jodywatson_livingitupdowninmexico