Mae Estes won’t ever forget the life-changing advice that Ashley McBryde delivered to her.
The “Mr. Fix It” singer recently joined the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast to discuss her latest project – The 90’s Called – and how she feels about other artists dipping into the sound of the “Golden Era of Country.” The country singer also talked about how much Dolly Parton meant to her as an artist (and inspired her to move to Nashville), and even touched on how she strives to be her authentic self even in the midst of occasional criticism.
Estes has been in Nashville for over 10 years now, and she knows the ins and out of “Music City” and the industry she worked incredibly hard to break into. For years, Mae has stayed true to her sound and herself, and has kept the faith in her process and her output. There’s no doubt that she’s earned her spot in Nashville, but it took advice from two mentors of hers to make her really feel comfortable as an artist.
She told us that both the late, great Jeannie Seely and Ashley McBryde gave her the same piece of advice, so Estes knew it was something she was supposed to hear. For years, the country singer couldn’t help but feel like she didn’t belong:
“I struggle with imposter syndrome, that’s the best, common phrase I know to use. I’ve been in town a long time, screaming my name from the rooftops, making the same kind of music as when I got here, and singing about the same.
So when those doors that you’ve been bloodying your nose on because you keep running into them trying to get them open… when they open, I think its fair psychologically to say, ‘Well what do I do now?'”
Estes was getting access to rooms she dreamed of getting into during her early days as an artist. But every time she was in one, she felt out of place, or not worthy. She assumes that comes from her background in production, where she got used to cleaning up after artists… not brushing shoulders with them.
It was only when Ashley McBryde provided her with a bit of a wake up call that she started walking into those rooms with more confidence. Estes remembers the moment like it was yesterday. She was on an award show with Ashley McBryde, and the two were sharing a dress room.
One question from McBryde later led to words of wisdom that Estes still holds close to this day:
“You talk about honest and transparent and holds her integrity really close to her, I respect that so much. She was like, ‘How do you feel about these award shows?’ I was like, ‘Honestly Ashley, I’m just tickled to be here. I can’t believe I’m even here.’
She really got stern pretty quick and said, ‘You know the happy to be here bit, you are gonna have to give that up. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t belong here, and you are gonna have to start acting like you belong here.'”
Well said.
Estes said that advice was invaluable, and much needed during that time of her career. Since then, Mae has made an effort to remind herself that she’s just as deserving as any other artist to be in those rooms, and all of the work that she’s put in for years on end act as the foundation for those feelings.
It just took some stern words from the one and only Ashley McBryde to unlock that part of herself.
You can hear about all of that and a whole lot more from Mae Estes by checking out the interview on YouTube or making sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff.”
We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts.
Cheers, y’all.
