Whiskey & Women: Meet Country Artist Maddie Rean
She just moved to Nashville from South Carolina to jumpstart an already successful music career. Her song “Whiskey & Women” went viral on TikTok and she has since been adding more new songs to her collection. She’s got grit, a no BS attitude, is talented and ready to take Nashville by storm!
Sue Bonzell
She just moved to Nashville and she has a new album out. I am excited that Maddie Rean is here in the up and country studios. Welcome Maddie.
Maddie Rean
Thank you for having me.
Sue Bonzell
I’m so excited. Because so we met virtually last year. We did a little virtual interview before. And this is when you’re in North Carolina, right? Oh, South Carolina south or south Carolina. Yeah. Yeah, north south, you know,
Maddie Rean
we’re cousins.
Sue Bonzell
And we had such a great time. I loved meeting you. And now you’re here in Nashville. Tell me about the move. This is exciting stuff.
Maddie Rean
Oh, we it was very fun. We are in the middle of just getting married, fixing up our home back in South Carolina, and then packing everything into my drummers enclosed trailer. That was literally our house. We had a yard sale too, though. And we met a lot of cool people there. And just pretty much put everything in there took our Furbabies and drove two states away. But you mean she’s got to come a lot farther than that. Cross country?
Sue Bonzell
Well, I think we’re both pretty happy to be here.
Maddie Rean
Yes, I’m I love it. We live on right outside of Nashville about 20 minutes on the opposite side of the aisle. And it’s beautiful. It’s like home with mountains. We don’t have mountains at home. So it’s pretty cool to see that and be in. It’s kind of a different, but it’s the same. It reminds me at home. I love it. I really do. I don’t want to leave my house is so cozy. And I’m like, Okay, you have to get up and do stuff today. You know?
Sue Bonzell
Yeah. Get a little little motivation. Yeah. Now you talked about doing the yard sale. Did you find it’s not this happened to me, too. Did the yard sale and that I finally met my neighbors. Yes. Yes. Now I’m moving.
Maddie Rean
I learned a lot of things. It’s actually the second yard sale that we did. We we did one the first year, a couple years ago, just because we had so much junk. We had too much crap. And we had to get rid of some stuff. And then we did one. Right before we moved. And the first one we did, we met some people that actually their dad was the one that built our house. And it was like double the size and it had burned down. And then he rebuilt it with block. And he was like it ain’t gonna burn down now. And it doesn’t. I mean, we, you try. Be my wife, we’re destructable let’s just read tear things up. And that house is still up. So God bless that. But yeah, we’ve met all kinds of people at the art. So some really, like we met at a mechanic. We met one guy that RVs and I was like, good to know you. Yeah, there you go. I need that for when I you know, that’s on one
Sue Bonzell
day. Oh, that’s on the list. Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah, she’s gonna have the tour. It’s the tour bus,
Maddie Rean
right? Yes, for sure. I have not been on my mini parole that I used to have my little church ban. Oh, yeah. Rip. Oh, should it make it?
Sue Bonzell
Okay, but the RV is on the list for sure. Yes. Now you’re here in Nashville, you released a new album in may tell us about the new album. I’ve listened to a lot of the songs you got a little bit of everything, which I love.
Maddie Rean
It’s kind of like my playlist. I have a little bit of country a little bit of rock, a little bit of blues, you know, all mixed into one Southern rock. And it was kind of just a diary of the last, I guess you could say five years of my life because that’s how long it’s taken me to get this album out. And it went from like, heartbreaks to not necessarily me, but just people around me that I knew or, you know, relationships that you know, didn’t work, whether it was a friendship or business relationship or whatever. And then, you know, whiskey and women was just out of nowhere and that was a joke. I put up a video on Tik Tok. I was sitting at rushes, which is like a local place back home. And they have amazing hotdogs. They have Barbecue, barbecue, fried chicken, all kinds of stuff. But I was sitting in the parking lot because this was during the pandemic, you couldn’t go inside and I’d gotten some food and the drive thru and then I went sit in the parking lot ate my dogs. And I was like, I’m gonna post this video. And it was me on my voice memo playing guitar singing whiskey woman. And two days later, I’m skiing for my brother in law’s 21st birthday. And I have like 60,000 followers, and I had, I think 200 the day before. Yeah, so I was like, What the hell? So? That was pretty
Sue Bonzell
great song. Yeah, I love this song. And that was like, that was where I found you, too. I saw that. I know. And I was like, damn, this girl’s good. I want to talk to her. So that songs on the album, right? Yeah,
Maddie Rean
so that one’s on there. Um,
Sue Bonzell
I want to hear about the song gray. Because this is kind of more of like a little more Baladi, right.
Maddie Rean
Yeah, a lot of my friends were like, you know you that shows a different side of you that not everyone gets to see unless you come and see me like maybe acoustic would like our acoustic performance. Because I don’t know why if you see me with my band, I like to jump around at full, I like to add crazy. And my neck hurts the next day because I’m whipping my head around, like I’m a rock star or something. But I’ve just enjoy, you know, expressing myself that way. But Greg is to show this other vulnerable side of me. And a lot of my friends were like, Dude, your voice is just sounds like so like, you can just, you can feel it in your voice. And that really meant a lot to me. That song is probably the most important song I’ve ever written and never will right
Sue Bonzell
now. I did not do this song. You played this at your wedding?
Maddie Rean
Yeah, I didn’t sing it at my wedding because I was too scared.
Sue Bonzell
You had other things going on that day? They were kind of it’s kind of important.
Maddie Rean
Yeah, fake eyelashes that. Like, let’s just put that down in the book. That doesn’t happen. And I told my wife, I was like, never again. I did like them, but too much work one day, that’s all. I’m really bad liar. And I’m terrible at keeping secrets. And for the longest time, I had to keep these secrets from her that I did this song going to Nashville to record a song. And I share my music with her because I want her opinion on it cuz she will tell me the truth. And I was, you know, so when I recorded that, she was like, Oh, well, let me hear what song you just recorded in Nashville. So I had to do another song. So I could cover up that I did that and so on. And so So I recorded rearview mirror when I was out there with her, or what I was out there recording that song for her. And I was like, Oh, man. Oh, yeah, rear view. This is what I recorded. That song is about a heartbreak leaving someone but in reality, they’re one about willing to grow with you, you know? So that was really funny. And I my band, and my dad, my brother and like my co writers on that song. We were all there and I was like, do not tell her. Do not. Do not. We’re recording review and they’re like, okay, okay, okay. Okay, great. Doesn’t exist. I was like, No, not yet.
Sue Bonzell
Yeah, not yet. No, no. Have I heard that you’re getting requests to come and play that song at other people’s weddings?
Maddie Rean
Yes. That is pretty cool. Well, I just got back from our console. No kidding. I just played a wedding. They found me on Tik Tok. Probably, I mean, probably because of you. You probably helped me with that. You’ve helped me a lot. My tic tock. And that was really amazing. I was hired by this lady or woman named DESA. And she had a friend Sydney, who called me or emailed me and was like, Dude, my friends wanted me to sing at their wedding. And they wanted me to sing your song, but I was like, why don’t you just get the person that actually wrote it and sing it? And I was like, that’s amazing. I would love to do that. And so they hired me. And this was now wife, Kindred had no idea. And so while they’re getting dressed, taking their pictures, because you know, you take a lot of your pictures before right? You get I didn’t know that until I got married. But you do that. And so Kendra was outside taking pictures. Maddie like she’s getting ready. We’re talking and we have to go out there do a soundcheck set up. And my friend Taylor who actually co wrote gray with me, she came with me and played the guitar for me and sang backup with me and we’re like trying to hurry and I’m not used to playing weddings. So I’m used to wearing this right. This is what I wear to shoot. I was so nervous, but I really loved my dress I was or the
Sue Bonzell
cool. So now you did you tell me you moved here with your band? Are you all y’all living together?
Maddie Rean
Yes, pretty much my. So my bass player and my guitars, um, they stay back in South Carolina, but they they make a bass player was just here for a month. My guitar player, he’ll come out here whenever we have gigs and whatnot. But primarily it’s me. My drummer. He’s over there. But yeah, um, he, his mom actually was like, Hey, I’m tired of y’all always wanting to go to Nashville. And I’m gonna buy a house and y’all can just move in there and live there and I was like her a lot. Yes, yeah, she was gonna come today but she had some other stuff going on. So because I was like, You need to come and meet You names and and Amos and shout out. She’s amazing. And she’s the reason we’re here in Nashville and she is like an angel sent from above. And they’re all my family. We’re not blood, but we are. We are family.
Sue Bonzell
I know what that’s like. That’s awesome. So now Okay, let’s talk a little more about the music now. So you’re kind of like a rocker girl. I mean, like you said, you get up on that stage. You’re rockin, rockin rockin? Because some of the songs I was listening to, I’m like, Well, this is kind of like at first I’m like, kind of more rock than country. But then you start singing and I’m like, nah, nah,
Maddie Rean
she’s confused, confusing people. I know. Like, what is what is going on now? I don’t know. I love rock and roll. And I love country music. And I just like music, you know? And that’s kind of it just kind of comes out that way. I don’t really mean to and it just happens.
Sue Bonzell
So on the Okay, on the new album, so and it’s called parental advisory explicit content sticker. Yeah, I need some explaining. I need to know what’s going on.
Maddie Rean
I think that’s funny that they put that on there. Because like, Am I allowed to curse? I don’t know. Yeah, okay. Hell yes. Okay. Yes. I’m trying to be good. You know, my mom might be watching. Um, no, but yeah, like I say shit, and one song And damn, and ass. And hell, and I think you’ve picked all
Sue Bonzell
the best words. Yeah,
Maddie Rean
I mean, it’s how you write songs, man,
Sue Bonzell
a little harsh on the front.
Maddie Rean
I don’t know. I guess that’s why and so I was like, I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be cool. And put it on the front of my. Yeah, album cover, cuz you’re a badass. So that’s one that’s on there. And I know when I was a kid, I always wanted to buy those. My mom was like, I was like, come on. I saw that on there. I was like, I like you don’t even know what the song is. I can listen to that. Yeah, for sure. So yeah, that’s the only reason I put that on there.
Sue Bonzell
No. Songs. Beers away. Oh, okay. This is like summer anthem. Yeah, so I know we’re in the fall at the moment. But getting there. You know, we had a pretty good summer. And I your video for that look like a hell of a lot of fun.
Maddie Rean
It was a lot of fun. It was very hot.
Sue Bonzell
It was summer,
Maddie Rean
we thought it was a good idea to go to sandy beach, which is a local beach back home on Lake Mary in South Carolina. And we were like, Let’s go out there at 7am. And let’s film a scene on the beach. And Raul she bringing your drums. Really you bring your amp and your guitars? Let’s do it. And they were all looking at me like they normally do and like I’m crazy. And they and they’re like, Okay, they’re always down. They might they might yell at me later and be like, this was not a good idea. But we’re down. And that’s what we did. And we all were black. And I had my hair straight that day. Why? I don’t know. By the end of the day, it was in braids. I was like, no, yeah. And let’s come
Sue Bonzell
to your look though to your braids.
Maddie Rean
I love I love Agnes, I can’t braid worth a crap. So my wife has to braid my hair for me.
Sue Bonzell
Maybe she can bring mine I can’t bring you
Maddie Rean
did I did practice because originally, I was supposed to come to Nashville without her for a year. And I was like, I’m gonna have to learn how to do my braids without you forget that you’re going yeah, that was like, I’m gonna have to fly home for a day and like braid them and then stay like that for a week. Now. That doesn’t work. But I wish it would. So
Sue Bonzell
so now that you’re here in Nashville. What are your your big plans for being here you have like kind of a big goal. Since you’re here now kind of moving forward with your career, what’s your kind of your big career goal?
Maddie Rean
I just want to get my name out there in the national scene. And I want to get known in the riders, partially as well and just meeting people, you know, just just getting around and talking to people and letting them know who Maddie is. And so I can make more friends and I think back home we’ve grown a really good following and I’m very thankful for my following my family, my friends and my mad dogs, my fans. I love that. And if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am and my tick tock I’ve grown so many fans from my tick tock and that’s it’s crazy. It’s still I still don’t wrap my head around it. It’s insane that I have people that are on there that are in other countries that want to listen to me play music. So that’s really amazing. I’m so thankful for that. And I just want to I want Nashville to kind of see that, you know, see who we are. And I’m just here to I’m here to meet some people and make some noise and do it.
Sue Bonzell
Now so did you that you auditioned for which which show did you audition for?
Maddie Rean
I have auditioned for the voice and American Idol.
Sue Bonzell
Well, there you go. And how did that go?
Maddie Rean
Well, you didn’t see me on TV. So you I’m the voice audition for that when I first started playing music, which was about five years ago, I was like, green, and my brother he sings too. And he tried out. He actually made it to LA. Oh, nice. And he did. He did good. And my friend McHale book, he was on the show. He actually I don’t know if you know who that is. But he’s amazing, dude, check him out. He’s amazing. He’s from North Carolina. And he made he made it to, like on TV. And he did great. I did not did not do good. audition in a room with a camera like this one right here we’re looking at, and I was on the X about that big and I was standing on and they’re like, don’t move off the X. And I saying I feel a sin coming on by pistol. Annies Oh, nice. And they were like, You have a great, great voice. But it’s just not gonna work today. And we were like, me and my buddy Roy was playing guitar for me. I was like, alright, and you know, I don’t know if anybody’s watching who has audition. But you know, when you you suck ass. It wasn’t good. And so, yeah, you know, and I think the worst part about that whole audition was, that was like a private audition that you get. I don’t know if y’all know those exists, but they do. My booking agent at the time had gotten that for me. And I was like, Oh, cool. I didn’t know anything about I barely could play guitar at that point. I didn’t know anything. So I’m the worst part about the whole thing was I walked outside, walk to the car and my daddy’s sitting in the car, Chelsea sitting in the car. And my buddy Roy’s wife, Christie, my brother’s inside auditioning. Still, he was behind me. And if you did not make it, you had to leave the premises, you could not stay on the property. So they didn’t play no games for real. And I was walking out. My dad’s looking at me. And he’s like, I can see him in the windshield. But by the front windshield, there’s there’s like a windshield and I can see his face. I can see Chelsea’s and Christie’s. And they’re all looking at me. And they’re like, and I’m like, no, no, I
Sue Bonzell
walking back to the car. I cry. I’m
Maddie Rean
like, oh, so yeah, as I was like, the worst part about it. I get in there, like do you make you? I’m like, no. Oh, I was I was like, Satan still in there. So he, he might have a chance. And he did. So. When I tried out for American Idol. I did that when I was 27. You can’t try out for that after you’re okay, once you get 28 That’s the age 28 You can’t sing anymore? I don’t know. I don’t know what happened. I don’t know. They have their reasons, I guess. But um, I was like, Well, it’s a Monday. I don’t have anything to do. And this was a public audition like for everyone. And it was at home and a lot of my fans and my family and friends tagged me in it. And I was like, Alright, we’re gonna go. So I went. And I got a golden ticket. And I got to go in the back. Met some really amazing, talented people. There was people that were my opinion, way better than me that didn’t even get in the back. And I was like, but they have an agenda and they have a certain audience they want to get and they wrote Oman rock rocker. And I played I love rock and roll and stuff. And so they liked that. That’s the only reason I think they fit after that. I didn’t make it any
Sue Bonzell
well, they were accurate in that Right? Exactly.
Maddie Rean
We can build jam forum solely based on Rawls. He’s the one that taught me that song. So
Sue Bonzell
So okay, so thank goodness, I’m going to say thank goodness you did not get on either one of those shows. Because now you’re here in Nashville, you’re ready for bigger and better things. And I know that you brought your while your drummer who also plays the guitar today. You’re gonna sing a song for us? Yes. Yes. Which song you’re gonna sing.
Maddie Rean
I guess we’re gonna do gray. Okay,
Sue Bonzell
so when we come back Maddie Ran is gonna sing her song Great.
Maddie Rean
Hey guys, Maddie ran here and my boy Ross Vegas. We’re gonna play great for y’all hope you like it swings his mother’s day to get home to mom. Do you want the bed day? raft on the GIG are? You have me wrapped around your vein to Yoli please. mammaries coming they go. But there’s one thing I know. I’m gonna love you. A bill way to be with you tonight. And now thank God every day in another 20 I can only imagine maybe having some babies calling us mom and mom tell him all the stories from Marguerite de here we were wowed and crazy but it wouldn’t have it any other way because mammaries come in and they go but there’s one thing I know I’m gonna love you to be with you tonight and thank God every day you know when I see you good memories coming they go but there’s one thing I’m good going to be with you every day Zack Cray with you
Sue Bonzell
all right, that is Maddie read with her new song Gray. Thank you so much for playing that such a great song.
Maddie Rean
You’re welcome. I love playing that song and sharing it with people and and I hope you’ll go find it. Listen to it. stream it?
Sue Bonzell
Yes. All the things you can do. You could find it everywhere, right? Oh,
Maddie Rean
yes. Everywhere. Everywhere. We’ve got some cool videos out there of our music videos and wedding videos of it too. Nice.
Sue Bonzell
Okay, well, before I let you go, we have to play my world famous game called Truth or truth. Are you ready to play?
Maddie Rean
No. That’s true.
Sue Bonzell
But you’re gonna win everybody wins. It’s a nobody loses. At this game. Good. You know, our our viewers. They win too because I get to learn a little something about
Maddie Rean
a long one. Which is your favorite country? Chris? A lot of them. Chris Jansen. Chris Young. I don’t know that one. Who is that? Chris? Ledoux. Yeah, I don’t know that dude. Oh my god. He’s watching. I’m sorry.
Sue Bonzell
It’s okay.
Maddie Rean
Oh, god. Oh my lord. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for his family. I’m Chris Stapleton. I’m terrible. This is terrible. Okay, that’s a hard one. Um, I’m gonna say, What’s crazy is I’ve actually met two out of the four on this list. I’ve met Chris Jansen. He’s super nice guy. Really cool. And I say I met Chris Young, but I just kind of saw him at a bar. And I was like,
Sue Bonzell
I didn’t really meet him. That’s how I mean most most celebrities. Like they were right there.
Maddie Rean
Yeah, I don’t know who that is. No. And then Chris Davidson. I have not met him. I will say Chris Stapleton. He’s amazing. And I look up to him a lot because his career took off later in life. I feel like I mean, I know that he’s been playing forever. But um, you know, the world started to really know who he was when he was older in life. And I love that because I know I’m 30 years old and it gives me like hope you know,
Sue Bonzell
I believe me. I’m looking for hope myself. I’m a little older than you. So hey, you know? Hope here. So now have you ever played covers of Chris Stapleton? I’m sure you probably have and you probably sound amazing. Because you oh you kind of got that you know you got that voice. You can really like dig into it.
Maddie Rean
Yeah, he we do you know, Tennessee whiskey. Everybody does that song but one of my favorite songs is fire away. Really? That’s all, you know, suicide awareness. And I have a lot of friends and family that I know, you know, have dealt with that or I have friends and family that have been through that and it’s tough and that’s amazing. So that music video had me crying like a little baby.
Sue Bonzell
I haven’t seen the video. I’m gonna have to watch it. I cried. I cried it just listening to music. So you know,
Maddie Rean
yeah, you’ll cry. Okay. Yeah, it’s really good. I would love to I’d love to write with him. He’s, he’s amazing. And his wife, Morgan. She’s, she’s amazing. two beautiful boys too.
Sue Bonzell
Okay, so now we know Chris Stapleton is the top country Chris. For Maddie. Yep, okay, we found alary other Chris’s? They’re still equally as good. We still love you other Chris’s?
Maddie Rean
One of my best friends is Chris. Sorry, Chris. You didn’t make the cut. Let’s see. If you Oh, these are good. I don’t know. And like, you know, like, you’re gonna spy you don’t think of this stuff. Alright, if you could swap lives with anyone who would it be Machine Gun Kelly?
Sue Bonzell
Oh, okay. How come?
Maddie Rean
I like him when people were gonna be like, Oh my god. You like Machine Gun Kelly. But yeah, he’s one of my favorites. Similar to Chris Stapleton, I, I respect him and what he’s done in his music and where he’s come from and where he’s, he is now and I’m, I admire him. And he’s, he’s got like, his original people with him still, you know, I respect that.
Sue Bonzell
What would be the best part about being machine gun? Kelly, if you were you if you try to divorce
Maddie Rean
me, but Megan Fox, is
Sue Bonzell
there enough? That is an honest and truthful answer. And I appreciate that.
Maddie Rean
Now, she would know she’s she’ll just say, well, we’ll be a throwable don’t let her fool you. Because we’ve already had this discussion. Okay. She’s had dreams about this. I’m like, You need to calm down.
Sue Bonzell
Megan Fox is on the leg. And she’s okay, perfect. So you’re getting the full truth right now. This is full.
Maddie Rean
For one more. All right. Here we go. They’re ready for one more. All right, let’s see. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life. What would you choose? Great. Um, oh, man. You know, there’s a fine line. Because, you know, like, the definition of insanity is repeating something so I probably go insane. On that is I’m really thinking too far into this. Um, let’s just say Bohemian Rhapsody.
Sue Bonzell
Oh, yeah. Well, it’s got all the elements. Yeah, it goes from here. They’re everywhere. And it’s really long. Exactly.
Maddie Rean
So I feel like I wouldn’t go as insane as quickly. I take a little bit longer.
Sue Bonzell
It’s not exactly like total repetition. Yeah, I’ll take a little longer for you to go and say right
Maddie Rean
there. I mean, Queen is one of my favorite bands of all time. Like, like, if I could go and see anyone live. That has passed. That’s a you probably have that.
Sue Bonzell
You can answer Go ahead. Yeah. She’s
Maddie Rean
the queen. Janis Joplin. Yes. Um, there’s another one. What is it? Anyone else? Oh, totally. And nirvana? Which I know. You know, like, the original. The original. Yes, exactly. It’s catered. Okay. I’m doing
Sue Bonzell
a lot more. Okay. All the dead people. Yeah, I’m on that. I’m
Maddie Rean
sorry. I didn’t know about the other Chris. Malice to man.
Sue Bonzell
I’m gonna make you I’m gonna make you listen to some Chris Lydia. I’m gonna be like,
Maddie Rean
Oh, okay. And I didn’t want to say his last name wrong because I understand. It’s French. Yeah, you know? Yeah. I thought also, like, you know, Louisiana vibe or something.
Sue Bonzell
There you go. There you go. Well, I want to thank you so much for taking the time to come and be with us in person. I’m so excited playing your song. And for sure, everybody, go and download Maddie Rean’s. New songs the album, follow her on all the socials. And of course follow me too. So there you go.
Maddie Rean
Thank you for having me and had a great time. Thank you so much.
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.
Recent Comments