Meet Leigh Hetherington

We recently connected with Leigh Hetherington and have shared our conversation below.

Leigh, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience was passed down in my family roots… I am a descendent of an adventurous pioneer that ran the Oklahoma Land Run in 1889, and also of Cherokee Chief Red Bird, Chippeway. My grandfather, legendary football coach, Homer Rice, taught me at a young age to learn to “Adjust” on the playing field of life, and also to “never quit”. I was raised in Oklahoma with red dirt under my feet and a huge expansive sky above me. I was always a dreamer, and I was fortunate at a very young age to know my passion and calling in life is to sing, write songs, and tell stories. My hometown of Edmond and near-by Oklahoma City both have a rich and active theater scene, and I was blessed to perform in shows non-stop starting at the age of 5. I got to perform in The Sound of Music with legendary Broadway, TV and movie star, Kristen Chenoweth, one of our big Oklahoma success stories. I was also blessed to be in a recording studio from ages 3 until 8, singing on Christian Children’s albums my Mom wrote, recorded and produced through Melody House Records in Oklahoma. My Mom says I wrote a song for one of her albums when I was 4 years old. Growing up, I could hear a train whistle through my bedroom window, and I knew that comforting sound was calling me to leave Oklahoma one day for my own adventure to pursue my dreams on a bigger stage. When I was just 18, I moved to Los Angeles to do just that. I could have never imagined or predicted the ups and downs and life adventures that lied ahead: I starred in the Broadway show, RENT, opposite Neil Patrick Harris, I lived homeless in my car after leaving a horrible relationship, I was the first “I’m Lovin’ It” singer on the McDonald’s international commercial campaign, I busked on Venice Beach, singing for my supper, I fronted bands, performing up and down Sunset Blvd, I went through a string of heartbreaks, then thought I had married the love of life, to then shockingly become a single mother to my daughter when she was 2 years old. I went through 10 years of immense struggles as a single mother in L.A. before I was able to relocate my daughter and myself to Tennessee to finish raising her in a beautiful, peaceful town, and to pursue my dreams as a Country Music songwriter in Nashville. Experiencing so many different chapters of life taught me resilience. Every time I was knocked down, stretched to the limit, and felt hopeless, I knew that “quitting” was never an option for me, so I picked myself back up every time, and kept taking steps towards what needed to be attended to in my life, and also any action and creativity I could possibly put towards my dreams. I feel I embody the spirit & fight of a persevering, scrappy, never-quitting Underdog, which is why I named my debut Country album, “Gospel of the Underdog”. My debut album of 12 original songs of mine is a collection of heartfelt country songs that celebrate the human spirit. Inspired by personal experiences of overcoming adversity, this album tells the story of resilience, hope, and the unwavering belief in one’s ability to rise above challenges. My intention is to have my album invite listeners to embrace their inner strength and find inspiration in the journey. “Gospel of the Underdog” is available on all streaming platforms. Also look for the tribute song to Lisa Marie Presley I am releasing Nov. 15th, 2024, called, “Lisa Marie”. This song tells the story of Lisa Marie’s resilience and journey as a mother and woman born & raised in the largest spotlight as Elvis’s daughter and only child. I felt inspired as a fellow single mother and female artist to write a song about her story after her tragic passing at such a young age. Music and songwriting have also taught me resilience… there is never an end-point with learning and growing as a songwriter and singer.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am new to the Nashville music scene, and it is incredible to be surrounded by the best storytellers, songwriters, and musicians here. On any given night, you can step into any bar or venue in Nashville and hear the best songs, singing, and stories you’ve ever heard. I have just started sharing some of my songs in Writer’s Rounds here, and I can’t wait to be able to connect more with fellow songwriters and Country Music Fans. I can be found on my website and socials as: LeighHetheringtonMusic. I am passionate about sharing stories of other resilient, persevering “underdogs”, so please join my Underdog Community. I also do shows for survivors of abuse in shelters, assisted living homes, and memory care facilities. I love doing intimate house concerts in anyone’s living room or backyard as well. Music is uniting and healing, and I am passionate about sharing it, connecting through it, and singing from my heart for anyone who will listen.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Throughout my journey of overcoming adversity and pursuing dreams, I think what has continued to carry me through it all is my commitment to always be grateful, show up & take action, and just never quit. I encourage others to never let go of hope or give up on a dream. So many success stories begin with the simple fact and act of never quitting. If you just show up and take any action towards your dreams & desires, you will get somewhere you weren’t the day before. I think the process of pursuing dreams is a co-creation. You have to take action out in the world in any way to then give God any opportunities to align people, places and experiences to further support your dream and take you on a journey. You have to do your part by showing up and taking action. I also feel that living life with a chosen attitude of gratitude paves your way to more peacefully enjoy each moment, each day, and each step of the journey. Choosing to acknowledge what you are grateful for each day, helps you stay grounded in what is truly important in life as you pursue dreams and positive changes.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

I am committed to being an example of how a full time single mother in a mature stage of life can go for dreams and succeed. My greatest joy and honor in my life is being blessed to be a mother to my amazing teenage daughter. I am very committed to being present and available to her, and to be the best example to her I can possibly be. Working a day-job, along with single-parenting, always feeling exhausted and steps behind… all of that doesn’t leave much time or opportunity to play out in Nashville, perform, make social media posts, and pursue my dreams. I am in the process of figuring out how I can take the most action towards my dreams as possible each day, without compromising my commitment to my daughter. I am working towards finding a balance between pushing through the exhaustion and time constraints to take any creative action possible each day, and between surrender and trust in divine timing and in being proud that I am doing all I can each day as a mother, provider, and artist. My immediate challenge to overcome is figuring out how, as a single mother, I can start playing my music out live around Nashville in the evenings and weekends. I know I have to sing live and interact with other songwriters and music fans to start to build a community of support in the Nashville music scene.
I know I will never quit pursuing my dreams and trying to figure out how to in my life situation. I am determined to be an example to others of building success and of dreams coming true when a path towards that doesn’t seem to exist. I believe in myself. I would bet on myself. I know I am here to sing, write songs, inspire, and connect with others through music and storytelling.

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