Dallas County Living Well Magazine Winter 2014 | Page 32

LOVING…AND LOSING
Today, the Georgia native has never looked better or sounded stronger, especially on
the lead single of her new album. “’PrizeFighter’ is definitely autobiographical,” she states
about the empowering song, which is one of six new songs that sits amongst 10 of her
career-defining hits on the new album. “When I first heard the song, I found that I related
to it on so many levels. I lost my mom to breast cancer three years ago and she was my
first thought that went through my head. She was just so brave and graceful through it all.”
Indeed, the loss of both of her parents has somewhat forced Yearwood to find her strength
amongst life’s most certain of tribulations as she has gotten older. And while the untimely
deaths of her parents periodically had Yearwood losing her footing for a bit, she ultimately
found an inner power she never knew she had.
“I lost my father nine years ago, but I still had a parent left and you really do pour yourself
into that parent because it’s hard for them to lose the love of their life…I mean, my parents
were married for 45 years,” she explains. “But the moment you lose both of your parents
is one of those moments where, for the first time, you truly feel alone, no matter how
supportive your husband or your family is. You really become an adult that day. My mom
told me from a very young age that it’s the natural course of life. It’s not that you get over
it, but you learn to live with it. She always told me it won’t be easy…and it hasn’t. But she
also told me that I would be alright.”
And in case you were wondering, Yearwood is more than alright.
“I have my mom and dad’s blood in my veins…they remain my strength and I remain
committed to being the best version of me that I can be for them and for everyone around
me,” she says.
SINGING HER SONGS…ADORING HER LIFE
Becoming the best version of herself has not only come from an inner drive inherited by
her hardworking parents, but via an innate ability for Yearwood to find songs that truly
represent who she is both in and out of the studio. A self proclaimed ‘junior high poetry
writer’ who has actually never written a song she has ever recorded, Yearwood continues
to represent where she is in her life via her songs.
And the songs of “PrizeFighter” are no exception.
“My musical influences have always been people like Linda Ronstadt and Patsy Cline, who
were truly great interpreters,” she explains of new songs such as “I Remember You” and
“End of the World.” “Ultimately, it’s my job to make you believe a great song…and badger
songwriters to give me some great songs. If I believe it, I can sing it.”
FUTURE ENDEAVORS
The dreams of Yearwood’s childhood always included instruments and microphones and
stardom. But never once did they include cookbooks.
“The television show and the cookbooks were a complete surprise to me,” says Yearwood of
her two New York Times Bestselling cookbooks “Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen”
and “Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood,” along with her Emmy award-winning Food
Network series “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen.” “With both, I said I would try it out and see how
it felt to me. It was fun. You should always feel good about your decisions and always take

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NORTH DALLAS Living Well Magazine | WINTER 2014