A Conversation with Mindy Smith (continued)

PM: What are some things you've got coming up? There's a CNN thing coming up, right, or did that happen already?

MS: I don't know about the CNN thing--I know that they were going to use me in something about 2004, like who to look out for.

PM: People to watch kind of thing.

MS: People to watch, yeah. But we got booked for Conan [Late Night with Conan O'Brien] yesterday, for February 3rd.

PM: Wow! February 3rd on Conan. Oh, wow! So who will you do that with, the house band and Lex?

MS: No, no, no. Kenny Vaughan is going to come, Shannon Forest, and a number of other musicians. I think we booked Victor Krauss.

PM: That's amazing. I'm a catch that.

MS: And I've actually gotten booked to open four days with John Hiatt, I think in March.

PM: Wow. Where will they be? What part of the country?

MS: D.C., I think in Alexandria.

PM: Oh, beautiful. Yeah, I mean, this is going to be an unbelievable year that's about to happen for you.

MS: [laughs]

PM: What's the first single?

MS: "Come To Jesus." Some people get a little freaked out by that. I don't get it. I mean, that's the least of our worries, right? [laughs]

PM: Yeah, right.

MS: I mean, there are people like Osama Bin Laden running around out there.

PM: Yeah, don't be worried about the word Jesus, be worried about the word bling-bling.

MS: That's right. A guy went so far as to say, "I won't play it because I don't play hymns on my radio station."

[laughter]

MS: Whatever.

PM: So aside from the big doings that are ahead and that Vanguard is intending, what are your plans? What are your aspirations? What would you like to see happen?

MS: I guess I haven't really thought about it. [laughs] I just want to build a following. I want to be able to go out ten years from now and still have an audience, and still be able to write a new song every now and then. I would also like to see a lot of my friends excel through these resources and contacts I have. People that I believe in, maybe I'll be able to help people out, make their life a little bit easier than it was for me.

PM: Yeah, it's true, because we have so many talented friends in Nashville.

MS: Exactly.

PM: There are so many good people here. I know it's really a busy time for you, but are you finding time to listen to other people these days? What are you listening to?

MS: I'm really excited about this artist Mack Starks [see our review]. Also Julie Lee, and Kate York.

PM: Yeah, we like that Kate York. What is she up to?

MS: I think she has a show the 24th. She's going to open for Sarah Siskind coming up. Sarah is very well known around town.

PM: Yeah, we like her. [again, see our review]

MS: We are all supportive of each other, and we get to visit with each other at each other's shows. When I get to get out, I'll go out and support people like Amelia White or other people that I like to listen to.

PM: Well, I'm glad that, with all the hubbub that's going to happen for you this year, we may be the first people on the web or in print to put you on the cover. [Actually we were beaten by a few days by at least one of the free Nashville music papers, The Rage. We like them.]

MS: Sounds like it. I think you probably are.

PM: Good. I hope we beat the other sons of bitches to it.

MS: Me too, because I like you, Frank. [laughs] I'm really fortunate there are good supportive people around me. And thank you. You've always been so supportive. Always. I hope we can continue to have this kind of friendship/other thing, you know what I mean? This is a new part, talking about interviews and stuff, because we've never done that before.

PM: Yeah. It's great. I think you're going to get really screaming famous.

MS: [laughs]

PM: And I think you really, really deserve it. Thanks for spending your lunch hour with me.

MS: And let's get together and have a cup of coffee soon.

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