BELLES has never been one to play by the rules — and with her debut album, Midwestern, the rising country singer is making it clear that’s exactly the point.
Released this past Friday (October 16) via East Music Row Records, the 12-track collection is a love letter to the Nebraska native’s roots, her sharp-witted approach to songwriting, and the country legends who helped shape her sound. From the relationship drama behind “I Think You Like My Boyfriend (a little too much)” to the Dolly Parton-assisted “Son of Jolene,” BELLES is bringing a little old-school storytelling, a lot of personality, and her own modern twist to country music.
“I’ve really grown into doing things my own way, telling the truth, and never being afraid to be a little crazy,” BELLES tells Celeb Secrets. “I think this album is what happens when you finally learn to trust yourself.”
That instinct has helped define Midwestern, a project inspired in part by a question BELLES couldn’t seem to escape after moving to Nashville: Where was her accent from? The answer eventually became much more than a conversation starter. Between the wide-open prairies of her home state, the cowboys working its cattle ranches, and the unmistakable influences woven into her music, she realized her Midwestern identity wasn’t something to leave behind — it was something to lean into.
And lean in she did. The album arrives after BELLES made history as the first woman from Nebraska to make her Grand Ole Opry debut, a milestone that brought a few personal memories to the surface. Among them was a painful high school moment when a teacher publicly questioned her dream of becoming a country singer. Years later, standing inside the Opry’s legendary circle, she couldn’t help but wonder what he might think now.
“I have to admit, that was a pretty sweet feeling,” she recalls.
Of course, Midwestern also carries a connection to one of country music’s most beloved icons. With “Son of Jolene,” BELLES joined forces with Dolly Parton to reimagine the story behind the legendary “Jolene” — a collaboration that has become a defining moment in her career. And while singing alongside an artist she’s admired for years was surreal enough, the advice Parton shared has stayed with her long after the cameras stopped rolling.
“Dolly once told me to follow my ‘God gut,’” BELLES says. “That’s advice I carry with me every single day, not just in my career, but in every part of my life.”
That spirit is taking BELLES across the pond, too. As she celebrates the release of Midwestern, the singer recently appeared on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, performing “Jolene” during a special tribute to Parton. It’s another major moment for an artist whose own story is still unfolding — one built on honoring country music’s past without losing sight of the sound, stories, and perspective that make her different.
And if there’s one thing BELLES wants listeners to know, it’s that she isn’t trying to fit neatly into anyone else’s version of country music. Whether she’s turning a real-life love triangle into a cheeky singalong or drawing inspiration from the women who paved the way, she’s following her instincts and letting the songs speak for themselves.
The best part? Some of the stories behind those songs are even wilder than the lyrics suggest. From the real-life inspiration behind her most personal tracks to a behind-the-scenes secret involving the legendary RCA Studio A, BELLES is giving Celeb Secrets the inside scoop on Midwestern, her Dolly Parton memories, and what’s next in her fast-rising country career.
Keep scrolling to read our full Q&A with BELLES below, and don’t forget to let us know if you’re loving Midwestern by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
Celeb Secrets: There’s a lot of identity in your debut album, as you’re Omaha-born, Nashville-based, and now introducing the world to Midwestern. Can you tell us more about this project’s story and what people can expect from it?
BELLES: “I think the idea for this project really started with people in Nashville constantly asking me where my accent was from. It happened so often that I started to realize I had this distinctly Midwestern accent that sounded different from everyone around me. Then I realize that my music kind of sounds Midwestern too!
I’ve always loved the western prairies of my home state, the cowboys working on huge cattle ranches, and those wide-open spaces. Somewhere along the way, I realized all of that was just baked into who I am, and naturally, it was coming out in my music.
Becoming the first woman from Nebraska to make her Grand Ole Opry debut really drove home just how proud I am of where I come from. So when it came time to name my debut album, Midwestern just felt right. It’s such a huge part of my identity, and this record feels more like me than anything I’ve ever made.”
CS: If someone listens to this album and walks away understanding just ONE thing about what it means to be BELLES, what do you hope that is?
B: “I think being BELLES means being unapologetically yourself. This album doesn’t try to be ‘old country,’ and it doesn’t try to be “modern country.” It just follows my own weird country music loving brain wherever it wants to go. I’ve really grown into doing things my own way, telling the truth, and never being afraid to be a little crazy. Dolly once told me to follow my ‘God gut,’ and that’s advice I carry with me every single day. I think this album is what happens when you finally learn to trust yourself.”
CS: You’ve built a reputation for taking situations that are maybe a little messy, a little dramatic, and turning them into seriously clever country songs. Are you usually the one bringing these wild song ideas into the writing room, and what’s the most outrageous real-life situation that inspired a song on Midwestern?
B: “Yes, I am absolutely the one bringing the outrageous real-life situations into the writing room. I’m not sure if I should be proud of that or not (laughs). There are quite a few on this album! ‘Other Girls’ was inspired by an experience I had with another songwriter while I was in the process of writing songs for the record. The song itself didn’t make the album, but the experience definitely did. I just moved the whole situation to a bar.
‘Aversion’ came from a really tough breakup with my boyfriend of over two years. And ‘I Think You Like My Boyfriend’ is 100% a true story. What’s funny is that I actually wrote that one back when I thought everything between us was going to work out. I was really just venting with some of my best friends in my writing circle.
After we finished it, I remember thinking I’d probably never release it because it felt so personal. Writing it had been such a cathartic experience. But then we broke up, and I thought, ‘Well, why not?’ I figured plenty of women could probably relate to that situation, and it turns out they absolutely could.”
CS: “Son of Jolene” took on a life of its own, especially with Dolly Parton joining you on the track. What did that collaboration teach you about songwriting, and is there a particular piece of advice or moment with Dolly that you’ll carry with you forever?
B: “I have so many precious memories from the time I spent with Dolly, but there’s one moment I’ll truly never forget. We were filming the performance video for ‘Son of Jolene,’ and while we were singing along to the track, Dolly was actually singing right next to me. I remember sitting there, hearing that beautiful, unmistakable voice in person, and just being completely in awe. She gave me so much wonderful advice, but my favorite was to always follow my ‘God gut’ when making decisions. I’ve carried that with me ever since, not just in my career, but in every part of my life.”
CS: Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and the golden era of country music are major influences in your sound, but Midwestern also has a fresh, modern edge. How do you balance honoring the women who paved the way with making music that feels completely and unapologetically BELLES?
B: “Thank you for saying that! Is it okay to admit that I honestly don’t know if I consciously try to balance the two? I grew up listening to the greats: Dolly, Loretta, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris. I think their music and their approach to songwriting just seeped into my consciousness. Those women weren’t afraid to tackle the social issues of their time with their own perspectives, a little spice, and a whole lot of humor. To me, that’s just what country music was supposed to do. So as I started finding my own voice as a songwriter, I naturally wanted to do the same thing. I’d like to think that’s how I honor the women who came before me. Not by trying to sound exactly like them, but by being as honest and brave as they were.”
CS: You recently made your own Grand Ole Opry debut, which is a major milestone for any country artist. What was going through your mind when you stepped onto that stage, and did the little girl who first dreamed of becoming a country singer ever imagine she’d get that moment?
B: “There were a million things running through my mind while I was standing backstage in the wings, but the second I stepped into that circle, I just wanted to enjoy it. I wanted to soak in every second because it was something I’d dreamed about for so long. It truly was a dream come true.
There’s actually a story from high school that I thought about that night. I had a show choir teacher in Omaha who knew my dream was to move to Nashville and become a country singer. One day, in front of the entire class, he said, ‘If I had no talent, I would move to Nashville and be a country singer.’ And everyone in the room turned and looked at me. It hurt my feelings so badly that I didn’t even audition for show choir again the following year. So I’d be lying if I said that, while I was standing on the Grand Ole Opry stage, I didn’t wonder what he might think of me now. And I have to admit, that was a pretty sweet feeling.”
CS: You’re currently taking your music across the country on your 45-city Songs & Stories Tour. Since storytelling is such a huge part of who you are as an artist, what’s something about you that fans would absolutely learn by coming to one of your shows?
B: “I tell the stories behind my songs at every show, and honestly, sometimes I surprise myself with what comes out of my mouth. I get pretty comfortable up there and occasionally forget I’m standing in front of a room full of people. So if you come to a show, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll learn something about me that I definitely wouldn’t put in print here (laughs).”
CS: We need to talk about “Hell I Won’t,” because there’s something so satisfying about a country song that knows when it’s time to leave a no-good cowboy in the rearview mirror! If this song were advice you’d give your best friend before she makes one last questionable decision, what would you tell her?
B: “‘Hell I Won’t’ was actually inspired by a very specific type of man you see hanging around the cool country bars in Nashville, places like Skinny Dennis. I’ve been around long enough now that I can spot that type from a mile away, just like the song says. So I’d probably tell my best friend, ‘Girl, think twice. We know this type, and we know exactly how this story ends.’
CS: You’ve already surpassed 100 million streams, built a huge social following, and now you’re gearing up to release your first full-length album. With so many milestones happening at once, what’s been the most surreal part of this chapter, and what’s something about the journey that people might not see behind the scenes?
B: “I think one of the most surreal and rewarding parts of this chapter is realizing how much I genuinely love the people I’m getting to do all of this with. From my manager and my label team to my producer and my publisher, everyone really feels like family. My brother is my drummer, my mom comes out and sells merch at some of my shows, and I’ve had the same guitar player by my side for two years now.
One thing that’s always inspired me about Dolly is how she surrounded herself with people who shared her vision, including members of her own family, and worked with so many of those same people for years. I feel incredibly blessed that I’m building something similar. The milestones are amazing, of course, but getting to experience them alongside people I genuinely love and trust makes all of it so much more meaningful.”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, do you have any fun behind-the-scenes secrets from making Midwestern that we wouldn’t know just by listening to it?
B: “Well, here’s a fun one! Half of Midwestern was recorded in a garage studio in East Nashville, and the other half was recorded at the legendary RCA Studio A on Music Row. That’s the same studio where Dolly recorded ‘Jolene’ and ‘I Will Always Love You,’ and where legends like Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson made music. So I guess I’ll leave it up to the listeners to figure out which songs were recorded where!”
