Free Diva NashVegas by Rachel Hauck

More hard questions. I haven’t talked about them in a long time. [eyes glistening] Yes, my parents were cutting edge for their day. My father was a prolific songwriter. Growing up, we had all kinds of music in the house— old-time gospel, Motown, ’60s rock and roll, ’70s pop, country, classical. I loved Daddy’s Bread album because they had a song called “Aubrey.”
    Scott: I know the song. Did it inspire your name?
    AJ: My heart says yes. I always meant to ask them about it, but . . . [her voice trailing off] Anyway, Daddy hung out with guys like Keith Green and Michael W. Smith. They were very passionate about their message, but doing it with musical excellence. He wanted to incorporate different sounds and rhythms into his songs.
    Scott: Was he a performer?
    AJ: A little, but Christian audiences are very different from, say, a rock audience or a country audience, especially in the ’80s. They attend concerts to be lifted up or touched by God in some way.
    To worship. Entertainment was secondary.
    From my parents . . . [hesitating, pressing her hand over her eyes for a second] From my parents, I learned how to give my all for every concert. No matter how big or small, the audience deserves my whole heart.
    I remember one summer when my brother, Peter, and I traveled with them, we got to this one dinky, tiny church in the middle of Texas. Our booking agent told us it was a big Baptist church, but it turned out to be an old Baptist congregation and, like, five people showed up. But we gave them our best show.
    [pausing, smiling softly, then shifting her glassy gaze] Daddy used to say we’re all only playing for an audience of One anyway.
    Scott: Jesus?
    AJ: You’ve heard the saying?
    Scott: Yes, from a friend of mine, Shawn Bolz, pastor at Faith Community Church. AJ: I know Shawn. He was my pastor, too, years ago.
    Scott: Tell us about the FRESH! sponsorship. How’d you pair with a bottled water company?
    AJ: [pointing to Zach] My genius manager. It was his idea. He called my lawyer, Skyler Banks, and my business manager, Eli Davenport, and pitched the idea of finding a sponsor.
    More and more artists are partnering with corporate sponsors. We wanted something different. Not typical country products like trucks or beer, boots or hats. Zach suggested FRESH!. We kept a cooler of FRESH! on stage for every concert. Gave away bottles before and after the show. It was a great partnership. Still is.
    Scott: Then it was your idea to pull together an all-girl band.
    AJ: Yes, my genius contribution to the project. [laughing] After a bunch of years on the road with guys, I wanted to eliminate the hassle of groupies. I mean, how do you look a guy’s wife in the face when you know he’s shagged a girl or two along the way?”
    Scott: Can’t be easy.
    AJ: It’s horrible. Touring has a way of lulling a person to sleep. Week after week, traveling from city to city, it’s easy to find yourself in this surreal world of sleeping by day and performing by night. Makes a person feel disconnected from real life. Sociologists should study the social ramifications of a touring band. They’d get all kinds of goodies. It comes with its own set of rules and moral code, and if you’re not careful, it can be as if home and hearth never existed. All your values and standards get suspended in this I’m-on-the-road mentality.
    The girl band was my dream team. Vickie and Melanie were already with me, so we added a female drummer, Keeta, and keyboarder slash fiddler and steel guitar player Laura. Keeta introduced us to Alexa, who added so much to the percussion sound we love.
    In my insane, warped little mind, I imagined a bunch of women on tour would be like a rolling slumber party.
    Scott: [laughing] Sounds good.
    AJ: Not so much. It started out fun, then PMS hit and we had it for six months. Good grief. I felt sorry for the few men on the tour— my tour manager, my