What do you do when you find yourself at an event where you don’t know many people? Start singing old country songs with Chris Stapleton, of course. At least, that’s what Erin Enderlin did.
They both attended a dinner prior to the Grammy Awards where self-proclaimed “socially awkward” Enderlin approached Chris to find some solace from the crowd. “Do you mind if I just stand here next to you and we can pretend like we’re hanging out?” she asked. Rather than just make small talk, he suggested they start singing. “He just breaks into old country songs in the middle of a fancy restaurant. So I just went with it.”
The end result was a great story that both can remember for years to come. Enderlin thrives on great stories and uses them in the songs she writes for others, as well as herself.
Enderlin has written for many popular artists. She wrote “Last Call” by LeeAnn Womack, Alan Jackson’s “Monday Morning Church,” Luke Bryan’s “You Don’t Know Jack,” and also wrote for Terri Clark, Joey+Rory, and Randy Travis, to name a few. She even fulfilled a lifelong dream of writing for Reba with “The Bar’s Getting Lower” for her upcoming album Stronger Than the Truth.
Reba was the first female artist she discovered on the Ralph Emery show when she was a girl. “She was one of my very first favorites,” Enderlin said. Up until then, she listened to country artists with her grandfather, but his collection was lacking a female presence. When she heard Reba, she knew she wanted to be involved with the country music world someday.
When she was five years old, she started taking piano lessons, but you won’t catch her going on tour as a pianist. “I’m still a very terrible piano player,” she admitted. In fourth grade, she began writing songs to play for other kids. When Enderlin turned thirteen, she learned to play guitar and that’s when she became more focused.
Eventually she was able to do what many people only dream about: become a successful songwriter and artist.
Recently, she co-wrote a song for Rhonda Vincent that was released and debuted at the Opry. Enderliin was thrilled for this partnership with Jeannie Seely and Bobby Tomberlin. She wanted to work with Seely for a long time and said, “I’ve been lowkey stalking Jeannie for years trying to get her to write a song with me.” Seely heard her on the Opry and decided to do it. After writing “Like I Could,” Seely sang the song for Rhonda Vincent and she fell in love with it.
Enderlin is a masterful storyteller with intriguing characters that make you feel what they’re feeling. She draws inspiration from many sources, like books she’s read, conversations overheard in a coffee shop and movies.
Multiple EPs in 2019
Enderlin released her EP Chapter One: Tonight I Don’t Give a Damn in April and set the audacious goal of releasing four EPs in 2019, plus an album. The first EP features the songs “Broken,” “Til It’s Gone,” and “Tonight I Don’t Give a Damn.”
Jamey Johnson co-produced the EPs and Enderlin spent time touring with him as well. “He loves the real music that grabs you right in the gut,” she said.
The next EP, Chapter Two: I can Be Your Whiskey, will be released on Friday. Enderlin will release two more EPs, along with a full album at the end of the year. It will include songs from the EPs, as well as bonus tracks. Enderlin invited a handful of special guests to appear on the album, including Dillon Carmichael, Alison Krauss, Terri Clark, and Vince Gill.
To learn more about Erin Enderlin or sign up for her mailing list, visit https://www.erinenderlin.com/