Emily Nenni

About the artist:

Emily Nenni has a confession: she didn’t always plan on being a performer.
“I thought I was just going to be a songwriter,” she says. But fate had other plans. With a sound rooted in classic honky-tonk and laced with country, soul, and rock ’n’ roll fire, Nenni has become one of Nashville’s most exciting new voices. Her lyrics are sharp, sassy, and real—singing about heartbreak, hard living, and late nights with a wink and a punch.

She’s spent the past few years lighting up smoky Nashville clubs, growing into a commanding bandleader and confident storyteller. Her newest album, Drive & Cry, is the culmination of that journey—a bold, deeply personal collection of songs that put her unique voice on full display.

A shift from 2022’s On the Ranch, written while working on a Colorado ranch, Drive & Cry is pure Nashville. The record opens with the rollicking “Get to Know Ya,” a celebration of post-work freedom and wild, music-filled nights. From there, Nenni takes us to Santa’s Pub—the legendary dive bar that shaped her early years in town—with “Greatest Hits,” a twangy, Dolly Parton-inspired love letter to the scene that raised her.

“Santa’s was the first place I saw people my age making this kind of music,” Nenni says. “It taught me that it doesn’t have to be perfect—just real and fun.”

Produced by John James Tourville of The Deslondes, Drive & Cry is Nenni’s first album written entirely solo—except for a closing cover of Terry Allen’s “Amarillo Highway.” “I had a few quiet weeks alone and just wrote everything I’d been feeling,” she says. “This album is truly me.”

Across twelve tracks, Nenni blends girl-group harmonies, outlaw country grit, and honky-tonk swing. From the anthemic “I Don’t Have to Like You” to the country-funk title track where she jokes, “Don’t you worry ’bout me / I’m gonna have a bawl,” it’s clear she’s found her groove.

“I do cry a lot,” she laughs, “and I love to do it while I’m driving.”

With Drive & Cry in tow, Nenni is hitting the road. “I love being on tour. I love my band, I love the crowds, and I love making people feel something. That’s what makes me happiest.”

She smiles. “I never planned to be a performer—but I’m so glad I am.”