Emily Ann Roberts arrived to the 2025 SESAC Nashville Music Awards last weekend looking every bit the “bam girl” she claims to be: classic, vintage-inspired glamour delivered with the confidence of an artist who knows she’s having a moment. But behind the sparkles, the East Tennessee standout is exhausted in the best way possible. Her year has been packed with sold-out shows, massive arena tours, a fast-rising new project, and now, brand-new music — and she’s not slowing down.
“It’s been so busy,” she told Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder on the red carpet, laughing at how fast her world has been moving. “We’ve been on the road like crazy this year… and I’m finishing up my second album right now. It’s kind of a continuation of Memory Lane, so we’ve been in the studio and writing like crazy and touring like crazy.”
And if you’ve seen her live, you know all that “crazy” has been worth it. Emily kicked off November with two back-to-back, sold-out homecoming shows at Knoxville’s iconic Bijou Theatre, where the same girl who once played the Blue Plate Special is now greeted by thousands singing her lyrics back.
“My hometown has given me my accent, my love of country music, my favorite memories, and so much love,” she shared in a press release. “I never dreamed I would make it this far. It’s a crazy feeling now to hear two sold-out crowds sing my lyrics back to me.”
Touring with country powerhouses has been another highlight, and fans noticed when videos of Emily onstage with Blake Shelton blew up on TikTok.
“We’ve been out with Blake [Shelton] and then Cody Johnson and Megan Moroney. I try to be like a sponge wherever I am,” she told us. “Blake has been so good to show me that you’re never too far along to reach out a helping hand. Cody always reminds me to stay true to myself. I’m so inspired by Megan [Moroney]. She’s incredible, and she has built such a culture with her fans.”
Those experiences clearly shaped her SESAC performance, where Emily honored Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Jim Lauderdale and Steve Bogard by delivering soulful, modern-country renditions of “Carried Away” and “Hole In My Head.” It was a proud, polished moment that reminded the industry she’s not just a powerhouse vocalist, but a student of the craft.
But that polished moment didn’t come without the “bam girl” touch she’s perfected.
“I started working with a stylist, which is normal for hoopty-do people,” she joked. “I love looking a little throwback… very classic but still ‘bam girl.’ I always go for that — just a little extra, a little bam.”
On November 21, Emily dropped “Come Home to You,” a vulnerable new track she didn’t write — which, for someone as autobiographical as she is, says everything.
“I write about my life so much… but sometimes I hear a song that just takes my breath away,” she said in her statement. “Marriage can be so happy but it can be so hard. I hope you don’t relate to this song, but if you do, I want you to know you’re not alone.”
The song taps into the kind of aching honesty that’s quickly becoming Emily’s sweet spot. It also hints at the emotional depth coming on her second album — one she confirmed is already in the works and tied to the themes she explored on Memory Lane.
What makes Emily Ann’s rise so special is that she’s doing it her way, which includes sewing, canning, crocheting, selling out theaters, and out-singing the room with pure classic-country power. She’s building a career that’s not just shiny, but real.
“My proudest moment has to be going out on the road and seeing how this music really touches lives,” she said. “When you’re on stage and look out and see people singing along… that’s what you work for.”
For all the stages and studio hours, Emily is most grateful for the people who keep her grounded — especially her husband, Chris.
“This year has had a lot of ups and downs, and I wouldn’t have been able to make it through if it wasn’t for him,” she told us. “He’s my best friend… he’s the strong one.”
That warmth extends to her fans, too, especially the “Yeehaw Meemaw” squad. Her crochet-and-country charity event in Knoxville raised $10,000 for Street Hope TN and drew more than 16,000 ticket registrations. Yes, Emily Ann Roberts had 16,000 people trying to crochet with her.
“I used to feel like an outsider because of my love of old-timey stuff,” she shared. “Now I feel so blessed to get to introduce these lost traditions to my generation.”
With C2C Festival on the horizon, new music in the pipeline, and her momentum building by the month, Emily Ann Roberts is stepping into 2025 with purpose and a whole lot of bam.
For more on Emily Ann Roberts, make sure to watch our full interview from the 2025 SESAC Nashville Music Awards below.
Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity.
