Alice Chapter 3

AM: Tell me about how you fell in love with Nashville. Were you afraid to leave NYC
because of it being the mecca of everything cool here or were you ready for a change?
BB: I came to town via Shannon Pollard at Plowboy Records to sing on a tribute
album he was creating to honor his late grandfather, the great Eddy Arnold. It was
like an epiphany indeed. I just knew I needed to come to Nashville and refuel my
engines. I’m a Nash Yorker now because I need both energies to create and be happy.
Nashville is a speck of blue in a sea of red however it is one of the truly beautiful
meccas of artistic vibrance we’ve got left. It’s not for everyone but I was raised in the
South and spent my summers in North Carolina on my grandparent’s farm so it’s
part of who I am. I need magnolia trees and honeysuckle around me- I also need the
inspiration NYC gives me. It will always feel like home and with my daughter making
it her primary residence, it feels like family. The Northeast is my family haven. The
South is my harbor in the storm. Where I create now. I’ve formed some of the strongest
alliances of my lifetime in Nashville.
AM: I read about how you have some literary plans coming this year, what do you
plan on writing about?
BB: I’ve been silently working on the follow up to Rebel Heart (2001)... especially
when Madonna called her last album and tour “Rebel Heart”, I knew it was time, lol! I
started noticing on social networking a few of my fans started hash tagging
#originalrebelheart next to my name. That got the juices flowing on REBEL SOUL...
which turned into an idea for a one woman show. So, yes, let’s hope 2017 will see the
fruits of all this writing! I’m also busy compiling photos for what is to be a coffee table
photo book of my life featuring never before seen pictures and polaroids. There’s
also a beauty book brewing- alternative tips to letting your inner beauty reflect your
outer appearance. I’ve invented a great beer and powdered milk facial to boot!
AM: You are such an inspiration! I am in awe of how much you have accomplished
and how much you intend to still do! Have you ever had a time where you questioned
what you were doing, maybe questioned whether your heart was in something that
didn’t quite feel right?
BB: I think we all question why we’re here and what our lessons and journey are.
I also believe that we live the life we must live to learn the karmic lessons we must
endure. There are no short cuts. And if it doesn’t feel right in my gut, I run the other
way. That’s one of the blessings of getting older. You can spot the demons and takers a
lot faster. But I believe whole-heartedly in my art, in my work. I feel that what I’ve got
to say is important for women. For everyone. Important for people to stomp on the
“isms”= ageism, sexism, etc... there’s a great book you can read called “The Gift Off
Fear”. Listen to that inner voice- your guardian angels.