The story of Sugarland is one of those fairy-tale country music successes that just warms your heart. For one thing, it has the most idyllic of starts: an early morning round of coffee at an Atlanta Starbucks where Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush sat down and penned a list of their dreams on a napkin.
1.) Balance being in a band and having a family
2.) Get a Grammy nomination
3.) Sell a million records
Check. Check. And double check. In the two years since the Top Five single "Baby Girl" put Sugarland on the map, they've accomplished more than anyone ever expected, least of all Jennifer and Kristian themselves. With almost three million copies sold of their Mercury Nashville debut, Twice The Speed Of Life, an American Music Award for "Favorite Breakthrough Artist," an Academy of Country Music Award for "New Duo/Group of the Year," a Grammy nomination for "Best New Artist," six CMA nods, arena tours from coast-to-coast and appearances on national TV shows like The Tonight Show and Good Morning America, the little band that could did, in a big way. "Once we hit the million mark, that was a head-scratcher for me," says Kristian. "Anything past that, I never imagined."
Audiences clearly connected with Sugarland's honest-to-goodness approach to life, love and everything in between, a trademark not only of their songs, but of their entire existence. "Our purpose is to make emotions tangible," Jennifer reflects. "To celebrate the human condition with all its victories and heartaches and to have that moment when someone listens to your record or comes to a show and thinks, 'Man, we are the same.'" Adds Kristian: "It's like using your superhuman power to remind everyone that they're just human. Because it is a superhuman experience to walk on stage or to record yourself, but we're all about breaking down that wall and making a connection that resonates."
To that end, the fact that Sugarland's debut has remained a fixture on the country charts for over 98 weeks certainly proves that the band has made its mark on Music Row, while tours opening for the likes of Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn and Brad Paisley had the same impact on country music fans nationwide. And thanks to an appearance on CMT's Crossroads with Bon Jovi (the series' highest rated episode to date) and the resulting #1 hit, "Who Says You Can't Go Home," the band has even crossed over into pop territory. All of this makes Sugarland's follow-up, Enjoy The Ride, one of the year's most anticipated releases. But like their last-minute booking to close the 2005 ACM’s during which they filled in for an ailing George Strait, Kristian and Jennifer have no problem handling pressure. In fact, they thrive on it. "I love it," says Jennifer. "You can feel the engines revving. It's so exciting it makes my nostrils flare!"
True to that sentiment, Sugarland, with the help of producer Byron Gallimore (Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lee Ann Womack), deliver the same ferocity on Enjoy The Ride. From the catchy coming-of-age kick-off single and chart-topping "Want To," to the reflective rocker "County Line" and the hopelessly optimistic "One Blue Sky," the combination of Jennifer's powerhouse country-soul voice with Kristian's passionate harmonies and deep-rooted musicality hits home, even if these two road veterans, each with a decade of club experience behind them, hardly ever see theirs. "If we can't go home, we do in our minds," Kristian explains of their songwriting process, which on this record, includes collaborations with country artist Bobby Pinson ("Want To"), Brad Paisley's co-writer Tim Owens ("Settlin’"), old pal Jeff Cohen ("April Showers") and Nashville local Lisa Carver ("One Blue Sky," "Everyday America," "County Line," "These Are The Days"). "There's a sense of nostalgia," Jennifer continues. "You pull from the time when you were figuring out who you are as a person. Like in 'Want To,' it's not only a story of falling in love, it's about that moment or a choice that could change your life. And with 'County Line,' it's about a place where you have your first kiss or get in a fight or talk about football and that time when you felt most free."
But beyond words, freedom is key to Sugarland's formula for success. After all, the band was signed on the merits of their demos which, with a little polish and a lot of faith, essentially became their first record. "In retrospect, I now understand how deeply our label and manager trusted us," says Kristian, a former alternative folk-rocker who grew up on college radio favorites like The Replacements and R.E.M. "There are few people who would put their time, effort or reputation on the line so that you can make art. It was more than just saying, 'This is a good song.' It was like, 'I believe in you. If you decide to climb Mt. Everest tomorrow, I'm with you.'"
Jennifer concurs. "In the studio, I felt one hundred percent confident in letting Kristian guide the flow and it was really neat for me to sit back and watch him do his thing," she says. "He really stepped up to the plate artistically and I felt like I could explore how I'd developed vocally and even contribute to other parts. In the end, this album has the fun, sass and positivity that everyone expects from Sugarland with some pleasant surprises. And it all felt very organic, like a true musical evolution." "This is the twenty-ninth record I've made," adds Kristian, whose previous major label experience was as one-half of the critically-acclaimed duo Billy Pilgrim in the early 90s. "And probably the most rewarding yet."
Indeed, both Kristian and Jennifer can take comfort in the rousing cheers the new songs have garnered while recently on tour with Brooks & Dunn. "The response has been so overwhelming," says Jennifer. "The crowds love the stuff that's fast and makes your butt shake, like 'Settlin' and 'County Line,' and I also see them connecting with 'Everyday America.' I'm just chomping at the bit to get this record out there so people can hear it!"
Consider that a personal invitation to enjoy the ride that Sugarland is on, which isn't slowing down and hasn't even neared its apex. "We've been the underdogs from the start, so we have to bring it every time," says Kristian. "But you know how people say, 'Pray out loud?' Well, for us, we dream out loud." And in Jennifer, he's found the perfect partner for those reach-for-the-sky dreams. "Our relationship is so supportive and symbiotic," she says. "I'm thankful for it every day." Adds Kristian: "Who else could I sit across from in a rocking chair at the age of 70 and say, 'Hey, remember playing the Grammys, when Paul McCartney came up to us and said he dug our sound-check?'"
