Jennifer Nettles Shares Her Love of Performing In New Episode of “Front and Center”

With public television’s Front and Center now in it’s seventh season, the live music series has teamed up with the CMA to feature country’s consummate performer, Jennifer Nettles, as part of their CMA Songwriter’s Series for a new episode.

Jennifer is no stranger to performing. The Georgia native performed as one half of the super group Sugarland, enjoys her own country solo career, performed as Roxy Hart in the Broadway production of Chicago and most recently starred as Dolly Parton’s mother in NBC’s Coat of Many Colors and Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.

“My love of performance actually comes from a love of live performance,” Jennifer says in the show. “So if it happens to translate through a camera or a recording, I love that. I love that we have the technology to record performances and repeat them as many times as we want to—in our cars or in our headphones or on our televisions, whatever it may be. But really for me in how I grew up—I started out singing in church and as I started to write original music and played out in clubs and I really cut my teeth in the club scene—for me the live performance is what it’s all about. I love that connection. It is a moment in time that you share from the stage with the audience. For me, that is thrilling.”

Filmed at the Iridium in New York City, Jennifer takes the stage to perform songs from her current album, Playing With Fire, including “Drunk In Heels” and “Stupid Girl.” Jennifer is also joined by Brandy Clark to perform Brandy’s single, “Love Can Go To Hell,” off of her 12 Stories album and Amos Lee, singing on Sugarland’s “A Very Last Country Song.”

Additional performers that have appeared on Front and Center include Cheap Trick, Dawes, Shawn Mendes, Southside Johnny, Kaleo, Southside Johnny, The Cadillac Three, and Rob Thomas.

Jennifer’s episode will air nationally on public television. Check local listings for air dates and times.

Check out a clip of Jennifer on Front and Center.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63HVlaOeVAg

Photos by Jim Belmont / CMA