Jenny Tolman continues to captivate fans with her latest release, “Show Pony,” and its dazzling new video, and in our latest interview at CRS in Nashville, she opened up about the story behind the song and the unforgettable concept that brings it to life.
The official music video brings the track’s sharp wit and biting storytelling to life through a dazzling 1920s circus-inspired world, complete with vintage glamour, carousel horses, and theatrical spectacle.
Shot and edited by Randy Shaffer at the Carousel of Dreams, the visual leans into glittering illusion and playful nostalgia while reinforcing the song’s deeper themes of appearance versus authenticity.
With Tolman stepping into the role of both observer and performer, the video cleverly mirrors the metaphor at the heart of the lyrics, creating a world that is as glamorous as it is cutting.
The Meaning Behind the Video
In a press release, Tolman explained why the carousel became the perfect visual centerpiece for the song. “I knew I really wanted to play into the ‘show pony’ theme, so I thought a carousel was the perfect metaphor of something beautiful on the outside that keeps you going around and around in circles, never really moving on,” shares Tolman.
She also spoke about how meaningful it was to include her live band in the visual. “I also wanted to include my band, because this song is so fun to perform live, and that’s really why I make music at the end of the day – to play it live for people – so it was super special to have them involved!”
That live-performance energy translates naturally into the finished video, adding even more sparkle and personality to an already vibrant concept.
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A Song Rooted in Storytelling
Penned by Tolman alongside her husband Dave Brainard and Matt Willis, “Show Pony” delivers a sharp-tongued, unapologetic look at heartbreak, ego, and the complicated emotions that follow an ex moving on.
During our interview, Tolman opened up about how the song first came together. “So I wrote show pony with my husband Dave Brainerd, and our good friend Matt Willis. Matt brought this title in, and I thought it was so fun, because I love writing songs and I like the character-driven storytelling world.”
She went on to explain the emotional core of the track. “And so it kind of evolved into, I like to say it’s like my own personal version of, ‘I’ll Think of a Reason Later,’ by LeAnn Womack, because it is a song, honestly about jealousy.”
The tongue-in-cheek edge of the song is what makes it especially compelling. She continued, “You know, finding out that your ex has a new girl and she’s calling her she Oh well, she ain’t nothing but a show pony. But in reality, it’s kind of like this tongue in cheek way of like, Well, are you actually trying to convince him of that, or yourself? You know?”
That layered emotional honesty, paired with Tolman’s signature wit, makes the song feel both playful and deeply relatable.
Continuing to Shine Beyond the Song
Tolman’s momentum continues well beyond this latest release. Last fall, she was selected as one of 12 contestants on The Road, the CBS and Paramount+ docu-style music competition series produced by Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan.
Each week, contestants performed as opening acts for Keith Urban, gaining national exposure and valuable live performance experience.
She is also preparing for the 5th annual Cowgirls at The Cowboy, the nation’s only all-female country music festival, held at the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.
As curator, host, and performer, Tolman continues to champion women in country music while building a world that is distinctly her own.
A Voice All Her Own
With critically acclaimed albums There Goes the Neighborhood and Married in a Honky Tonk, Jenny Tolman has established herself as one of country music’s most original storytellers.
“Show Pony” is another perfect example of that voice: funny, fierce, stylish, and emotionally sharp.
The song and video continue to dazzle while proving once again that Tolman knows exactly how to command the spotlight.
