Visit Owensboro and Owensboro Times are partnering to present a series of exclusive interviews, ranging from behind-the-scenes content to heartfelt stories. This installment features Janelle Arthur, a Top-5 contestant on American Idol and a rising Nashville star.
Janelle Arthur will perform alongside other Nashville-based artists Ryan Larkins and Jamie Adamson at 7 p.m. tonight on the outdoor stage at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum. (Click here for tickets.)
To watch Arthur’s full video interview, click here.
Arthur’s became serious about music at just 8 years old after scoring the role of young Dolly Parton in a production of Dolly’s life at the Dollywood theme park. Little did she know, meeting Dolly Parton and playing the role of her as a child would foreshadow Arthur’s bright future in the music industry.
Arthur recently collaborated with Parton on one of her own songs called “Hand Me Downs.” Arthur says she didn’t have Parton in mind while writing the song, but once it was done she had to make sure it reached her.
“This feels like a song she would love,” Arthur said. “It feels almost like a modern-day Dolly song.”
Parton was once a young aspiring musician from east Tennessee herself, and after hearing the song was sold on collaborating.
“She could’ve said ‘well that was such a cute song, you tell Janelle I’m proud of her’… but she wanted to be a part of it,” Arthur said.
Arthur said she began writing at a very young age, even before she could properly write.
“As far back as I can remember I was trying to sing and write songs,” she said. “I would find karaoke tracks and write melodies to those tracks. Songwriting is really what made me move to Nashville.”
Arthur’s career began taking off in 2013 when she scored a spot in the 12th season of American Idol. After auditioning four times in three seasons, she made it all the way to the top 5.
“It’s continued to open doors for me to this day so I’m really grateful for American Idol,” Arthur said.
After officially making the move to Nashville, she went on to tour with American Idol and was even invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
One of Arthur’s favorite songwriting stories is behind her single “Chasing Ghosts.”
“I heard this line on a TV show, ‘You can’t spend your days chasing a ghost,’ and I immediately wrote it down. There are so many different ways to go with that,” Arthur said. “You never know when you’re going to be inspired. You have to be open all the time.”
Arthur said she’s written and with tonight’s co-performers Adamson and Larkins.
“We’re so excited to do this show,” Arthur said.
