Music has a way of taking us exactly where we need to be. We may not see the path beforehand but if we give in to the power of music, we will find ourselves in the right place. Our recent discovery D’Lee comes from a small town in East Texas but now finds herself in Nashville building momentum with her undeniable star power.
We caught up with the rising country star to get a little deeper into her story and introduce her new single “I’d Bet On You.” Enjoy the interview here:
First off, what is it that draws you to pour your heart and soul into your music?
I think music found me before I ever knew I needed it. I grew up in a little East Texas town singing in Opry houses where honesty and simple life mattered more than spotlights. Back then, I didn’t realize that little town and those folks were teaching me something sacred — that your word is your bond and happiness lies in what is real. Music for me is really just truth with a melody wrapped around it.
Three years ago, something shifted in me. Songs started showing up like old friends knocking on the door at midnight. I couldn’t ignore them anymore. So when I sing, I’m not trying to impress anybody — I’m trying to tell the truth as honestly as I know how. Some songs are heartbreak in high heels. Some are a little wild and dangerous. Some are hopeful. But every one of them has a pulse. I think people can feel when something’s real, and that’s what I want my music to be — real enough to sit beside someone on their best day or their worst one.
How would you describe the D’Lee sound?
I’d say it’s country music with lipstick on its collar and East Texas dirt on its boots.There’s traditional country soul in there — storytelling, guitar, heartbreak, grit — but there’s also this cinematic, smoky energy to it. I love contrast. Sweet and dangerous. Soft and strong. Pretty melodies carrying hard truths.
One minute you might get a song like “Everything Is Fine” that feels vulnerable and intimate, and the next you’ve got “Evel Knievel” kicking the doors open. I never want listeners to feel boxed in when they hear my music. I want them to feel something unexpected. At the end of the day, I want the “D’Lee” sound to feel timeless. Like something you could play on an old jukebox or blast driving down a highway at midnight.
With that said, who are some of your biggest influences?
I was raised around classic country storytelling. My Daddy was always playing Merle Haggard, Johnny Paycheck and George Jones. I had every Elvis album as a child also. I gravitated to female artists like Dolly Parton, Wynonna Judd, Martina McBride, and Etta James, but also artists in other genres influenced me like Prince and Whitney Houston as well. These artists definitely shaped the way I hear music. Dolly especially — she’s proof you can be whoever you want to be: glamorous, intelligent, funny, and deeply authentic all at once. That’s powerful to me. But honestly, some of my biggest influences weren’t famous at all. They were the people I grew up around in East Texas. Everyday, small town, working people living paycheck-to-paycheck. My family. My dad sitting with a guitar. The women who held entire families together without ever asking for applause. Those stories stay with me. And my father’s song “If There’s a Place” becoming the anchor of this album… that really changed me. It reminded me that music can outlive us. That’s a beautiful thing.
How does a song come together for D’Lee? What is your songwriting process?
Most of my songs start with a feeling I can’t shake. Sometimes it’s one line that shows up out of nowhere while I’m driving or standing in the kitchen making coffee. I’ll stop everything to write it down because I’ve learned songs are kind of like fireflies — if you don’t catch them quickly, they disappear. I write very visually — I want people to see the story, not just hear it. I’d rather leave a crack in the emotion than polish all the honesty out of it. Real always wins for me.
Compare starting up your music career in East Texas to now recording in Nashville, Tennessee.
East Texas gave me my roots. Nashville gave me wings.
My Daddy would always say that the reason he listened to country music was because it was real stories that meant something to real people, so I never tried to be anything other than myself. That’s easier said than done because you really have to figure out who you are before you can go anywhere or do anything real. I guess I would have to admit that I am a ‘late bloomer’ in the truest sense.
Stepping into Nashville was like walking into an electric storm. Suddenly, I was surrounded by some of the most talented people who live and breathe music every second of the day. It challenged me in the best way possible. But what’s funny is… the farther I go, the more important my roots become. That’s the heartbeat of everything I do. I think people connect with me because I’m still that small-town girl who was singing in that pasture — I just happen to be singing in bigger fields now.
New Single “I’d Bet On You” by D’Lee
Your latest single “I’d Bet On You” seems to be turning up the energy. What can you tell us about how this track came to be?
“I’d Bet On You” feels like confidence after surviving your own storms. When creating it, I wanted to capture a slew of emotions. I wanted it to feel like that moment when you look somebody in the eyes and decide they’re worth the risk. There’s a swagger to the song, but there’s also vulnerability underneath it. That balance is what makes it exciting. It’s flirtation mixed with faith. And sonically, I think it shows another side of me. The energy is bigger, the attitude is sharper, and there’s this live-wire pulse running through it. It’s the kind of song I want people singing loud with the windows down.
What do you hope the listener takes away from hearing your music?
I hope they feel seen. Whether somebody’s falling in love, barely hanging on, chasing a dream, grieving someone they miss, or just trying to survive another Tuesday — I want my music to meet them there. I also hope my story reminds people it’s never too late to answer the call on your life. Music wasn’t even part of my plan a few years ago, and now here I am listening to my songs on Texas radio. That still humbles me.
Talent lives in places people overlook every day. Small towns. Quiet people. Late bloomers. Dreamers who almost gave up. I want people to hear my journey and think, “Maybe I’m not too late either.” If my songs give somebody courage, comfort, or even just three minutes of escape, then I’ve done my job.
Give us a look at the future of D’Lee.
The one thing I have learned is to never limit what God can do in our lives. All we have to do is listen and be guided to our best life. I won’t dictate what happens next for me because I don’t want to limit the miracles that God could have in-store for my life. I’m humbled by how my life has evolved and so thankful to be on this ride he’s given to me. With that, the future feels wide open, and I love that. I think listeners are going to see even more layers of me moving forward — the strength, the softness, the wild streak, the storyteller. And no matter how far this goes, I want to stay connected to the people who believed in me before any spotlight showed up. I also appreciate those that are supportive now, who believe in me, who listen to my music, and cheer me along. The fans who stream the songs and have made this dream a reality. They’re part of this story too. I’m so fortunate and I’m living a greater life than I could have ever dreamed. Who could ask for more?
