Motherhood has given Hannah Ellis a whole new perspective, and she’s ready to turn that fresh outlook into her next chapter of country music.
Since welcoming her son, Huck, last November, the singer-songwriter has been soaking up life as a new mom while finding her way back into the rhythm of writing, recording and performing. It’s a balancing act that hasn’t always come with a perfect playbook, but as Ellis tells Celeb Secrets, she’s learning to embrace the beautiful mess of it all — and the confidence that’s come with it.
“Oh my gosh, life has just been a whirlwind, but it’s been so amazing the last year getting to spend so much time with my son, but then also being able to go back to work and start to show him what it’s like to have a mother that’s gonna take care of him, but also go out there and get it,” Ellis told Celeb Secrets during an exclusive interview in Nashville last week.
And she’s certainly been getting after it.
After spending much of the past year navigating motherhood alongside her career, Ellis is gearing up to share a new batch of music in 2027, with songs shaped by her evolving identity, newfound confidence and the little boy who’s changed her world. But before she gets ready to open this next musical chapter, the country star has another important date on her calendar: the return of her Officer Down Golf Classic on Monday, October 19, in Nashville.
The second annual tournament follows a successful inaugural event in 2025, which raised an impressive $27,220 for Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the families and coworkers of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. For Ellis, bringing the event back is about far more than a day on the green. It’s a way to honor her late cousin, Officer Daniel Ellis, while helping other families navigate a loss her own family knows all too well.
As Celeb Secrets previously reported, Daniel was killed in the line of duty in 2015, a devastating loss that inspired Ellis to write her song “Officer Down” shortly after his funeral. A decade later, she revisited the deeply personal track with a 10th-anniversary version released in October 2025, turning a painful chapter of her family’s story into a tribute to Daniel and the officers who continue to put their lives on the line every day.
“Last year we raised, you know, almost $30,000 to donate, which was just incredible,” Ellis said of the inaugural golf classic. “That so far exceeded what I was hoping for.”
The response wasn’t just meaningful because of the money raised, either. As a longtime golfer who regularly participates in tournaments, Ellis wanted to create an experience that brought her Nashville community together while giving back to a cause close to her heart — and it sounds like she hit a hole in one.
“I got so many texts, whether it was from artists or businesses or friends that played in the tournament saying, ‘This is one of the best tournaments I’ve ever been a part of,’” she recalled. “And obviously, that meant so much to me because I play a lot of golf, I play a lot in tournaments, and I really wanted to bring a high caliber experience to all of my friends here in Nashville, and to also honor the COPS organization, which is who we are raising funds for, and to honor my cousin Daniel, who was killed in the line of duty, and I think that we really did that.”
This year’s tournament promises more of the same community spirit, with Ellis teasing “some really fun surprises” and “incredible guests and artists” joining the festivities. And while she kept the guest list under wraps, she did make one particularly ambitious pitch when we asked who her dream celebrity attendee would be.
“I didn’t work up the courage to ask Jake Owen in to play,” she admitted, laughing about spotting the singer/songwriter at a golf tournament recently. “But maybe next year. There’s still time.”
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Beyond the golf-course fun, the mission behind the event remains the heart of it all. Ellis knows that the grief surrounding a line-of-duty death doesn’t disappear when the headlines fade, and the continued resonance of “Officer Down” is a reminder of just how many families are living through that reality.
“The fact that it’s still resonating with people and new people every day is actually a very heartbreaking fact,” she explained, reflecting on the song’s ongoing impact. “And, you know, I obviously hate knowing that, but at the same time, I think music is insanely healing. I know it was for me and my family, and I hope that just for these three and a half minutes of the song, that these people can feel a little bit less alone.”
It’s a sentiment that feels especially fitting as Ellis enters a new season of her own life. While she’s always poured her heart into her music, becoming a mom has shifted the way she approaches her time, energy and ambitions.
“I feel like motherhood has changed everything. It changes your priorities. It makes you care so much more about how you spend your time and where you put your energy,” she said, adding that being more intentional has benefited her both personally and professionally.
Of course, finding that balance is easier said than done. Between family life, friendships, travel and work, Ellis is learning that giving herself grace might be just as important as checking everything off her to-do list.
“I think that having the right mindset and knowing that, like, you’re only one person and saying, ‘Okay, I’m giving as much of myself as I can to each of these things,’ it takes a lot of the pressure off, and it makes both more enjoyable,” she shared.
And if Huck’s first year is any indication, he’s already getting a pretty front-row introduction to his mom’s world. The little one has traveled internationally with his parents and even made multiple trips to Europe this summer as Ellis continued playing shows and attending events. A songwriting session, though? Not quite yet.
“He has not been to a songwriting session yet, but he has traveled the world with us playing shows all summer,” she revealed. “I think he’s gonna be very spoiled when someone asks him to pay for a ticket to a show one day.”
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As for the music itself, fans have plenty to look forward to. Ellis revealed that she’s been writing from a different perspective, with motherhood and her growing self-assurance bringing a new energy to the songs she’s creating. While she’s keeping the details of her next project under wraps, she confirmed that a project is already finished and ready to arrive at the top of next year, with another in the works.
“Being able to write from this new perspective of, you know, motherhood and just newfound confidence has really been incredible,” she said. “I’ve always felt like I have been a relatable artist, but I think we’ve just hit a whole new energy in this new batch of songs.”
That confidence extends beyond the recording studio, too. For Ellis, this chapter is about becoming more comfortable in her own skin, trusting her instincts and letting go of the pressure to have every part of life figured out.
“I think I have become more confident in myself and, you know, getting more comfortable for asking less permission for being who I am,” she said.
Her biggest takeaway? You don’t have to have all the answers to keep moving forward.
“I don’t have it figured out, but I’m more comfortable than ever about not having it figured out,” Ellis explained.
It’s a pretty fitting mindset for a singer-songwriter navigating a growing career, a new family and a mission that’s deeply personal. As Ellis prepares to welcome friends, artists and supporters back to the golf course on October 19, she’s continuing to build something that reaches beyond her own story — honoring Daniel’s memory, supporting families who have experienced unimaginable loss, and using the power of music and community to make sure no one has to feel alone.
For more on Hannah Ellis, her Officer Down Golf Classic and upcoming music, make sure to watch our full interview below.
Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity. For more Country news, visit CelebSecretsCountry.com.
