Sitting together on a park bench behind Madison’s Chapel of the Cross, the girls of Sweetwater Jade look more like three typical teenage friends than the rising stars of Mississippi’s country music scene. That impression gets stronger the more you talk to them. They’re humble. They’re not driven to be famous. They’re not rushing into anything. They just seem so, well, normal.
There’s the social butterfly, Whitney Hennigan. She’s an 18-year-old freshman at Hinds Community College who loves to hang out with her friends and also likes to paint in her spare time. Kelsey Carroll, 16, is more quiet and reserved. She’s a Madison Central junior who likes to read and is obsessed with TV shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives.” Jeanna Upchurch, 19, goes to Holmes Community College. Her personality is somewhere in the middle. She keeps a journal and likes to scrapbook when she’s not spending time with friends.
All three girls have green eyes. That’s where the “jade” part of their name comes from. Whitney has red hair. Kelsey is blond. Jeanna has dark hair. If Sweetwater Jade ever makes it big, there’s surely a major shampoo endorsement contract in their future.
But, for now, the girls of Sweetwater Jade are content playing dates throughout the Deep South, working hard to build up a fan base. Nashville is even starting to take notice, following their appearances last June at the Country Music Association’s Music Festival, which showcases up-and-coming acts.
Considering their ages, it’s hard to believe the trio has been singing together for nine years. As young girls, Whitney, Kelsey, and Jeanna all took voice lessons from the same voice coach who, recognizing their talent, decided to put the girls together as a group to sing at the Mississippi State Fair.
Something clicked that night. The girls wanted to keep singing together, and they became passionate about performing. Their parents were eager to help them along, too, arranging shows at malls, restaurants, and anywhere else that would let them sing. “When we were younger, our parents would ask us every year: ‘are you sure you still want to do this?’” says Carroll. “When we started going to Nashville, they realized this wasn’t just a little kid’s dream.”
In fact, one of their first trips to Nashville became a major turning point for the band. The girls were in town for a music competition. They had planned to sing “Proud Mary.” But then, a chance meeting offered them an opportunity they couldn’t refuse. “We got in with someone who had a random connection to Renee Grant Williams and Kim Wood Sandusky,” says Hennigan. They had scored an audience with two of Nashville’s biggest voice coaches, ladies who had earned the trust of superstars like Tim McGraw, Beyoncé, and Miley Cyrus.
But “Proud Mary” would have to wait. As Upchurch tells it, “They said you really don’t need to put yourself out in Nashville right now. You’re not ready.”
The girls took the criticism to heart. When they came back home, they knew it was time to get serious. They began to step up their practice schedule, learn to play instruments, and work on their songwriting skills.
It’s a rigorous schedule by any standard. Practices three times a week. Weekly lessons on guitar and mandolin. Any free time is spent writing songs. And, as if that weren’t enough, the band plays three or four shows in a typical month, although October was especially busy with five.
The hard work has clearly paid off. Sweetwater Jade has defined their style, a blend of country, rock, and bluegrass. The band has a self-titled album, available on iTunes and CD Baby. They have their own official website and also pages on Facebook and MySpace.
It’s all added up to a lot of attention for three teenagers from Mississippi. Recently, they’ve shared the bill at music festivals with stars like Randy Travis, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, and Jason Aldean. They even got to open for one of their biggest influences, the 18-year-old country sensation Taylor Swift. “We’re all around her age, and she’s an amazing songwriter,” says Upchurch. “She knows the business backward and forward. That’s why I love her so much. She just knows what she’s doing.”
The girls are inspiring their own fans, too. “A lot of people who listen to our music are younger girls. They can relate to our songs,” says Hennigan. Carroll adds that sometimes “moms come up to us and say ‘my daughter looks up to you in so many ways. Thank you for being there.’” The girls appreciate the positive attention; however, they don’t consider themselves role models. “We’re who we are. We’re just like everyone else,” says Carroll.
While it hasn’t been easy balancing school with the demands of being in a popular band, it’s clear the girls are having fun. They’re best friends, a fact which makes the time commitment much easier to bear. “I’m glad we have each other,” says Upchurch. “Without Kelsey and Whitney, I don’t think I could do it by myself.”
Having parents involved in the band makes it easier, too. “We have a big support system. Our parents help a lot,” says Carroll. Jeanna agrees. “Being in Sweetwater Jade is almost like having six parents. I have my parents, Kelsey’s, and Whitney’s. I’m not just learning from my parents, but also two other sets of parents.”
While the girls are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, they’re taking things slowly. “We make little goals for ourselves. And when we reach them, we make another little goal,” says Hennigan. “So far, for every goal that we’ve made for ourselves, we’ve been able to work hard and get where we wanted to go.”
As for the future, they just want to be successful doing what they love. “We’re not looking to be famous,” says Carroll. “We’re just taking one step at a time. Whatever happens, happens.”
Randy Lynn is a Ridgeland writer, husband, and father of two.
