I grew up in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia on a winding road that twisted and dipped through the rolling hills of farmland. That back road was an accurate depiction of the twists and turns my life would take - from beautiful scenery to dips in the road that caused me to lose my breath.

The place I felt most at home in the midst of my ever-changing life circumstances was with family on my Grandmother’s Augusta County farm. When she passed at the age of 101 I simultaneously encountered the deepest of grief and gratitude for her well-lived life. During the pandemic, I had the privilege of living in and caring for her 1890’s farmhouse, which reconnected me with my roots after years of living in other states for music and ministry. That season of solitude gave way to songs that reflected on lessons learned from my elders and the beautiful legacy my family had offered me.

I named the project “Dogwood Tree,” after the state tree and flower of Virginia, knowing one day I would record the songs as a tribute to my family and the roots we have in my home state. In 2024, while living in Nashville, a dear friend extended an incredible opportunity to record these bits of family history in the historic RCA building on Music Row. Now, I’m releasing them to you one at a time, to share my story with you in hopes you’ll find pieces of yours within their lyrics too.