Carolyn Miller wrote a song that has moved people so much that they are using it at their weddings! She wrote the song “When I Say I Do Today” for her own wedding and she is so touched by the response from her fans. During the interview we talk about her favorite Mexican food – the Margarita (yes, that counts as Mexican Food), and her wild premonitions that oddly seem to come true!
Sue Bonzell
You share the stage with the likes of Sam hunt, Chris Jansen, Ashley McBride, and so many more. I am excited. Carolyn Miller is here. Welcome, Carolyn,
Carolyn Miller
hello Thank you for having me
Sue Bonzell
Of course. Okay, you were just like such high energy. I love your energy. I’m excited that you’re here. Now you have a new song I do. Okay, so this is the song I’ve been watching you on like Tiktok and Instagram and all the things. And so this is kind of like a wedding song. So this is the we’re calling it like the wedding song, right? Is this the one? This is
so the wedding song is kind of like my Tiktok one that went?
Sue Bonzell
That’s the one that just
Carolyn Miller
came out not a wedding song, but it’s a long term relationships all going to maybe married couples so it can work. Okay, well,
Sue Bonzell
I want to first of all talk about the wedding. So okay, let’s do it. Okay, so I have seen that a lot of people are using this song. Yeah. At their wedding. Yes. How does that make you feel?
Carolyn Miller
You know, it’s so crazy. Because when I wrote this song, I wrote it as a gift for my husband, the month of our wedding, it was purely just to be a gift for him. There was no intention to record it and release it. And so when I wrote it, I really wrote it from a place of just like, What do I want to say to Kevin, my husband on our wedding day. And then when the pandemic happened, and I discovered tickety tock, as so many of us did, and then spent way too much time on the app, as so many of us did. Yeah, one day last year, I was just like, you know, let me share a clip of the song just for fun, and was not expecting it to get 300,000 views in a matter of few hours. And then it went to about a million and then there were 10,000 or six 8000 comments and people being like, when are you releasing this release a song. And so I just thought, man, maybe I have to do something with it and put it out at charter really high. And so to see brides using this song all over the world to walk down the aisle to is number one so unexpected, and wasn’t, you know, intention for a commercial release. But it makes it even that much more special that people resonated with this song in such a way that they want it to be a part of their special day. And so I get tagged in videos. South Africa, someone walked down the aisle to in South Africa. Just last weekend, someone got married in Ireland and they had their wedding band perform it as she walked down the aisle. So I get to I got tagged in a video in Malta, I don’t even know where multiple was I had to google it. Like it’s off the island of Croatia, you learn something new every day. I didn’t know that. But I mean, the incredible thing with these social media apps is you can reach anyone in the world. And the fact that it’s just resonated has has been just mind blowing, and so special.
Sue Bonzell
It was so cool. Now you have a there’s a video, and the video is from your wedding, right? Yeah, these are these are clips from your wet um, yeah. It’s a beautiful video. It really is. I mean, not only are you an amazingly beautiful bride, but the video itself is just really, really well done. Yeah,
Carolyn Miller
it was so exciting. So when the song went viral, and I was like, I need to do a music video and what am I going to do I call my wedding videographer. And I said, this is really random. My song went viral on Tik Tok, and I need to make a video of some sort. Can you give me one little vertical clip so I can share it on Tik Tok. And then we also do a horizontal one so I can put on YouTube or whatever. And he’s like, Sure. And so he went through my wedding footage and spliced together. So I got like two wedding videos out of it, because I got the one from when I got married with the song that I picked. And then we remade it with my song. And the video actually starts with Kevin my husband opening the bag and like seeing the recording that says play me and listening to it for the first time. So that’s all the real authentic footage of him listening to that song himself. And it’s really special. It will forever be my favorite song that I ever get to do just because of what it means.
Sue Bonzell
You know? Yeah. Oh, man. Okay, well, we’ll have to have you haven’t watched the video? Go watch the video? Sure. It’s called when I say I do today. Okay, that’s exactly Okay. Now. So tell me about this new the new term relationships are not the wedding. Yeah,
Carolyn Miller
yeah, exactly. Exactly. Yeah. So this is called newer off. And it’s essentially about when you get to a point in your relationship where the new might have worn off a bit, you know, and I think it’s normal for relationships to go through lols you know, where you get lost in a little bit of the hustle and bustle in life. And some people I think, in this day and age mistake that is like, Oh, we’re not in love anymore, and you throw the towel and people quit and walk away or they break up or whatever it is. And instead, this is like, Okay, you’re acknowledging, like, you gotta you gotta prioritize each other a little bit. You got to work on this, like love is work, it is a choice, right? And so this song is celebrating, like, you know what, let’s block off our calendars. Let’s just have date nights and figure it out. And because you know what, we can get this back and you know, I’m not going anywhere. And yes, the new might have wore off, but we’re here for good and I just think it represents, it caters to a group of people, which is like the long term relationship people or they’ll marry folks who, you know, don’t always get songs like that. So puts a little bit of a spin on it, which I love. Well, I
Sue Bonzell
love that. Okay, so that’s the new song. Yeah. Okay, so now we talked about some of the stages that you have shared, so I want to go I want to expand on this list. Okay, I got a big list here. So I’m gonna do the whole list. Sam hunt, Dustin Lynch, Chris Jansen, Chase rice, Ashley McBride. and Walker Hayes. I mean, those are some pretty big names. That’s pretty impressive. So when you’re on stage, and you’re looking out at the sea of people, because there’s a sea of people, oh, yeah, you know, those are big names. Like, how does that feel for you?
Carolyn Miller
You know, the bigger the crowd, the better. The bigger the space, the more people the even more I’m like, you know, in my element, it’s, it’s so special. And I have to say, country music fans are just so welcoming and inviting. And I think people get excited about going to see openers or looking up who is the opener because I think everyone knows, you know, Sam Hunt was an opener at some point. You know, Garth Brooks was an opener at some point. And, you know, the future are the people who are the openers and stuff. And so what I’ve learned is, like, people might say, I didn’t really know you before the show, or before this festival, but I looked you up, I now know all your music. So they come to the shows, even though never knowing me previously. But then knowing the song, and then they wait to meet you after at the merch table and like so, you know, you start to put names to like usernames or DMS, you finally get to meet people. It’s, it’s really, it’s just so special. And I mean, I’ve got so many incredible memories with all of those artists, and every venue and show is so different. That, you know, it’s just you love them all for different reasons. It’s special.
Sue Bonzell
I mean, so this is I mean, that’s, that’s kind of a big thing. And as a new newer artist, like at what point do you feel like, oh, wow, this is really my career. Like, I’m, I’m doing it? Yeah. Like, what was that moment where you were like, Okay, well, this is it. Yeah,
Carolyn Miller
great question. So, right before the pandemic, this was December 2019, I was part of New York’s country 94, seven stars and strings show at the Barclay Center. And that’s the show, I got to share the stage with Sam hunt and Chris Danson, and they were a part of the show. And the head of the station called me and they’re so incredible. And you know, they’re, they’re not anymore, but they were a large market station. I was one of the only independent artists that they put me in rotation and played on the radio, which was really special. And so they’ve been so supportive. And so they called me and they said, we’ll use sang because it stars and strings honoring military and veterans. They said, Would you sing the national anthem at the Barclays Center for 15,000 people in your hometown arena? And I was like, Oh, of course. And the thing that I will never forget is right before I walked out, I was backstage. I had the mic there like, you know, get ready. The program director John Fox, he said, Barclay Center, please welcome country star and hometown girl, Carolyn Miller. And so to get that I have like, a very, like sticking every now. And so to get that intro, and then be handed a microphone and go out on a stage and sing for 15,000 people in the one of the New York City arenas. Right before Sam Han takes the stage and this one to stick with that intro was just like, okay, you know, it’s like, yeah, yeah, that was where it was like, wow, we’re doing it. We’re, we’ve done done it.
Sue Bonzell
You know, you’re done. Done it. Done it. Well. I mean, I can I can send I’m not seeing you prefer Yeah, live, which I actually would like to. I would love that because I can tell with your energy. I can see that you you really do love performing. Yeah, like you can just you can tell from this energy. I mean, my goodness. Now I know that you have a cute little doggie at home. We have to talk about the dog.
Carolyn Miller
Yes, please tell me about it. Okay, his name is Archie. His nickname is Archibald. Also known as goober for some reason we call him that too. He is two years old and he’s a little eight pound Cavapoo puppy. So he’s part King Charles Cavalier and part poodle. And he was supposed to be between 15 and 20 pounds but he clocked out at a mean eight of my husband like yeah, at my husband’s like we did not sign up for a dog this little. Like we got this little white fluffy thing. He looks just like the emoji the dog emoji that has like the brown is literally a spitting image. So if you want to know what he looks like, and he also has his own Instagram page, because obviously obvious so it’s Archie underscore Cavapoo if you want to follow him too. So not obsessed. Not a crazy,
Sue Bonzell
but yeah, but yeah, you got yourself like a perch about where to call him a purse. A purse,
Carolyn Miller
pooch. Yeah. Now you can you can fit it in your little bag. Yeah, like he’s, he’s high energy too, though. I don’t know if he would sit like and chill. Like, he wants to like, go out and see everyone. I was always like, that was
Sue Bonzell
like, There’s no way like with any of my animals. They were always like psycho because I think maybe they’re more like me. Yeah.
Carolyn Miller
They do say they imitate their own website, huh? Yeah, I’d be sitting still for anything.
Sue Bonzell
So okay, so you know, you’ve you’ve been on stage with these amazing artists. You’ve got this career going? Is there anyone that you would want to collaborate with that you maybe have a vision where you’re like, man, that would be a great collaboration.
Carolyn Miller
I’m Shay Mooney of Dan and Shay. Ah, yes, I mean, or Dan and Shay. But I think just getting on stage with a microphone in my hand and then shake his hand and us just put Our singing something out I think would just be so thrilling. And you know, our our I think our voices in style would just be a really fun match. And yeah, so if you’re listening,
Sue Bonzell
so there you go, Dan and Shay, you just got called out. We’re looking for collaboration here. Right, exactly. So now, when you came in, and we talked a little bit about your favorite foods, we had a question from our audience, our live audience, who said, Okay, what’s your favorite foods? So we got to talk about that. Yeah. So you said,
Carolyn Miller
Mexican hands down. Specifically, my favorite food is a margarita.
Sue Bonzell
And that’s when I determined that she’s my new best friend. Yes.
Carolyn Miller
And we’re getting margaritas after this. Yes.
Sue Bonzell
So there you go. So yes, gotta have the margaritas
Carolyn Miller
right the Glock the chips, maybe a taco case idea depending on my mood. We love an enchilada the burrito if you’re skinny burrito bowl sub brown rice, because then doesn’t count. But then my husband’s always like, because we’ll go to like, cute over Chipotle and I’ll be like, Oh, I’m gonna do a bowl today. Brown rice. And then we get like to like the fixings from like sour cream. Cheese to Yes. Queso. Yes. And Kevin’s like, you know, you just killed that in your. I was like, listen, there’s some salad and brown rice in there. It’s tell us how
Sue Bonzell
exactly they cancel each other out. It’s good. Yeah, right. Yeah. Minus calories. Perfect.
Carolyn Miller
Yeah, you go negative that way.
Sue Bonzell
Well, are you ready to play a little game?
Carolyn Miller
I love games.
Sue Bonzell
Okay, good. Well, I have my world famous game that we play on up and country. It’s called Truth or truth. I’ve got a couple of questions for you. Okay, I’m ready. Okay, hold on. Let me get my my handy dandy little bag. Right there. Yeah. Okay. You get to pick your own questions.
Carolyn Miller
Okay. not cheating. Okay. What’s the most disgusting thing you’ve ever done?
Sue Bonzell
Now we’re getting ready to tell some secrets.
Carolyn Miller
I don’t know. Honestly, though. I’m I’m from New York City like Long Island, New York. And I’m a really girly girl. So I don’t feel like I don’t get out in the wilderness in the woods. A whole lot to like, really? I don’t the most disgusting thing I’ve ever done.
Sue Bonzell
I mean, do you like to like get your your toes in like mud and squish in mud? You know, she’s like,
Carolyn Miller
No, I’m a girl gets my nails done every two. I mean, I enjoy like blooming I enjoy like running around playing sports and doing some friends. But I don’t know discussing like, I’ve never been hunting like I’ve never like I only held the gun for the first time a few years ago. Like, you know, I don’t know, the most disgusting thing I’ve ever done.
Sue Bonzell
And how was that though? For like, your first time with a gun?
Carolyn Miller
Well, they weren’t me. Like they threw about six towels on my shoulder because they’re like, the kickback is a real thing. And then when my other friends were shooting, they’re like, Hold your ears and I’m like, well, and then I was like, Oh, I get it. I get it now. I don’t know. I don’t really I don’t know if I have disgusting things.
Sue Bonzell
She’s not discussing. We’ve Okay, we just determined Carolyn Mueller. Not disgusting. Yeah,
Carolyn Miller
I don’t know. I don’t know. Yeah, I don’t have one. Okay, can I get a redo? Yes, I’m
Sue Bonzell
gonna do a couple of days for sure.
Carolyn Miller
Wow, I sounds so lame. Okay, what is something that no one else knows about? You? That’s a good. Okay. I’ll give you one silly one. And then I’ll give you one serious Okay. Okay. I would say more of a lighter, silly thing is I have a big background as a dancer. Oh, and I’m actually an award winning choreographer. On fact, it did teach some competition dance teams tap, jazz, lyrical, all the things. Oh, and this whole production number that I created based on a summertime which is ironic. So I have a song called summertime. But it started with High School Musical schools out into like itsy bitsy yellow bikini until like all this stuff. And it was an all ages number and it won first place at a national dance competition. That’s that’s something random and then I’ll say something a little more serious is I’ve been having crazy psychic dreams that have been coming true. Really, really. So this is this is this is like a little bit of a downer. But it’s crazy. Because I think this is like a just a wild thing. I had a dream about a plane crash. And I told my husband I was like, I had this dream. And in the dream I saw the plane go vertical straight down and it said east on the side of the plane. I don’t know why. So I told him the next day is like, I have a feeling there’s going to be like a horrible plane crash. And he’s like, I don’t know. And a day later, that was when the China East plane crash happened and stuck out like three or four months ago. And literally and the thing that’s crazy is plane crashes aren’t often caught on video. Yeah, they had a video of the plane come Oh, noes die, and the airline was China east. Isn’t that nuts? And then a week later, I had a dream with a an invitation to my cousin’s baby shower. I’m like Amanda’s not pregnant. My parents call me back saying Guess what? Amanda’s pregnant. I was like, Oh my God. I don’t know what’s happening. So like, I don’t know, I dream about good things and bad things. But I guess that’s another is that a fun fact? I don’t know if it’s fun. Interesting. Yeah. Like
Sue Bonzell
I’m like, I’ve been like, Hey, yo, Carolyn, what’s drew Bella? Yeah,
Carolyn Miller
so I had this I’m like, should I as I start falling asleep like should I try to start like channeling but then I’m all scared because I’m like, I don’t know good stuff. When the dreams come to me randomly. I’m okay with it. But I Don’t know if you’re tapping into this too much might be a little weird. You can
Sue Bonzell
tap in and be like, Oh, look, I saw myself in the circle, the Grand Ole Opry.
Carolyn Miller
Oh, yeah, that works. I’m gonna start like a tick tock channeling. You know how to Dasha. She’s got the cooking one. Oh, I’m just gonna, like sing a country song and be like, now I’m going to tell your future.
Sue Bonzell
Like, we’re just like that. I think you could get away with that. Yeah, maybe. I think you could. I would watch it. There you go. I was watching. Okay, we’ll do we’ll do one more against fun.
Carolyn Miller
This is great. Okay. Ah, okay. This is fun one who was your first celebrity crush?
Sue Bonzell
Oh, okay.
Carolyn Miller
I feel like I had a lot.
Sue Bonzell
I just got excited.
Carolyn Miller
I did. I did. I did. Okay, I would say my first two that I can remember as a kid were the so Josh Hartnett I loved him. I had posters of him on my wall big fan. I love you know the movie Air Bud. Do you remember like, basketball kid and like golden retriever dog? Yeah, the little 12 year old boy who like owned air, but I was like obsessed with him when I was like seven. And then the other ones were the three boys from a movie called ninjas knuckle three ninjas knuckle up, I think is like Jackie Chan or something. And I just thought those little boys were so cute. That was like seven like,
Sue Bonzell
Oh, I like cute boy.
Carolyn Miller
Those ninjas? Yeah, those were my first few. I don’t know who technically was first, but they were of the first category. Okay,
Sue Bonzell
well, good. We’re getting the inside scoop here. Yeah. Well, Carolyn Miller. Well, I want to thank you for being here today. Yeah, I think this was super fun. I definitely gonna be following what you got going on? Yeah. Go Go get the album, go download, get the song. Yeah, follow on Spotify, all those things. And we’re going to do more of this here and up in country. So this
Carolyn Miller
is so fun. And actually fun fact I want to share so, um, I know you said you want to come see a show. Yes. I have one here in Nashville. That’s gonna be happening pretty regularly. I wanna tell you about really okay. Yes. So I started this thing with my friends over at women of country. And so once a month, I’m hosting a residency here in town and it’s all female artists and songwriters. And we have some pretty big names pending for the next one, which is July 26. But it’s monthly here in Nashville. So I host performing there’s a whole bunch of amazing female artists so you’ll have to come and check. Okay, so now I just got really excited. Okay. And then we’ll have a margarita. Okay. All right. Good.
Sue Bonzell
margaritas are on there on the menu for sure.
Carolyn Miller
That’s right. Well, thank you so much. Thank you, Sue.
Sue Bonzell
Thanks for watching up in country. Be sure to like and subscribe and leave us a comment. We do new episodes every Tuesday. And be sure to follow up and country on Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook and you can follow me to add Sue Bonzell on Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok.
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