Introducing Amy Jack

Oklahoma native Amy Jack recently released her debut album Introducing Amy Jack. With the helpful guidance of the iconic Merle Haggard and her expertise in the industry she has established, Amy brings passion and heart to each of her songs, proving her music can bring together all corners of our culture. COWGIRL caught up with the singer to chat about her new releases, future plans, and working with the country music legend.

Many people may not know that Amy was raised a cowgirl. She grew up on a 200-acre ranch with Hereford cattle and quarter horses. Growing up, she wanted to be a barrel racer and showed my cattle, cows, heifers, and steers. "I could ride horses with no bridle and my dad said that I had a way with animals, especially horses and cows. I really was a cowgirl and I worked very hard. I would work cattle on horseback and on foot, and I could carry a 65 pound feed sack when I weighed not much more than that," she says with a laugh.

She majored in radio, television, film, and broadcast journalism at the University of Oklahoma in hopes of becoming a TV news reporter. "I was a talented writer in college and was fortunate enough to have one of my essays that I wrote about my professor be read at the National Press Photographers Convention," she recalls. "One of my professors at OU used to be a movie director and suggested I go to Hollywood to pursue screenwriting."

But then she met Merle Haggard, and decided she wanted to be just like him. "I noticed that we had the same Oklahoma accent influence in our voice and that made me realize that a lot of country singers did as well. It was Merle who got me excited about music and made me realize I wanted to be a singer." She got a call one summer afternoon in July of 2013 letting her know that Merle had built a million-dollar recording studio. They asked if she wanted to come record, and the rest is history!

Of working with the iconic country star, she says, "Well, Merle was on another level. His gifts were from another world and his humility and grace was on just as high a level as his talent. And as far as I’m concerned, he was never wrong."

Her new music is inspired by living life like Merle. "He brought something new and fresh everyday. For example, although the songs “Bounce Back” and “Dip in the Pool” weren’t big hits, they were fresh and inspirational. They built people up. That’s what inspires me to make new music."

"Be proud and feel blessed if you live in the country or on a ranch and live the country lifestyle because this is something that afforded many people in the world to have their own room to roam and their own air to breathe. Their own birds singing, crickets chirping… it’s really what life’s all about."

Listen to her new single "Worked All Week For This" here! Make sure you connect with Amy, she loves hearing from her fans, friends, and our COWGIRL family!