24 hours with Ebie McFarland

24 hours with Ebie McFarland

When EBIE MCFARLAND enters a room the first thing you notice is her glow. Yes, part of that is her amazing skin (ONA SKINCARE and great genes), but her spirit also calms and warms you up, which is likely why she’s known as one of the best entertainment publicists in the industry. A Vanderbilt grad, Ebie launched her now wildly successful independent agency in 2007 after building a personal reputation among artists when working under others. One of her first signs, DARIUS RUCKER (and his band Hootie and the Blowfish), is still on her roster 15 years later. He’s not alone as she’s trusted with publicity and projects for some of the top names in the business. A few of her long-term clients include GEORGE STRAIT, KENNY CHESNEY, ERIC CHURCH, ASHLEY MCBRYDE, KELLIE PICKLER, LORETTA LYNN, BRANTLEY GILBERT, CHASE RICE, and a slew of other performers in all genres. Ebie and the savvy team she’s curated also handle special events and promotions for Gaylord’s properties such as the RYMAN and BLAKE SHELTON’S OLE RED venue.

While her business operations have shifted during the pandemic, she tells us she’s just extremely grateful for having such established, loyal clients that continue to need her services during an otherwise ‘dark’ time in the live music world. While pre-quarantine her weeks were often filled with red-eye flights for major network morning and late night shows or concerts (and crazy-early call times), she’s found balance in spending more time in Nashville with her staff and her handsome husband Jon-Paul at their West Meade residence. It’s given her time to listen to what’s happening in the world so that she can continue to shape the stories her clients need to tell in an authentic way that resonates with friends and fans. To say she’s the best at what she does is an understatement, as Ebie puts a thoughtful and creative touch on everything she produces. That even extends to the clever name of her business, ESSENTIAL BROADCAST MEDIA, which just happens to have the same initials as her name. Easy to remember and hard to forget—that’s Ebie in a nutshell.

8:30AM

“Starting my day off right, I pop into JUICE BAR BELLE MEADE and grab a Mean Greens or Green Smoothie. These are my grab-onthe-go essentials if we don’t juice at home that morning.”

9:00AM

“I’m off and running with my day. My typical schedule usually entails a series of strategy calls with clients, record label Zoom meetings (the new norm), virtual coffee and happy hours with booking agents or media writers/editors, and connecting interviews and calls with clients (whether in Australia or Bali—time zones be damned)!”

12:00PM

“Our offices are near Belmont and Hillsboro Village, and we often cater in lunch. Our current favorites are orders from PROPER BAGEL or TAQUERIA DEL SOL in 12th South.”

2:30PM

“Instead of an afternoon coffee pick-me-up, I like to pop into ONA SKINCARE for a cold 3 minutes of cryotherapy. It’s a quick way to boost my energy and makes me feel like I did something for myself.”

4:30PM

“I’m with DARIUS RUCKER on set while he films a performance for the upcoming CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS special on ABC Network. Between takes, we discuss his new video launch and upcoming taping schedule which formerly meant trips to LA, NYC and beyond. For now, it’s either via Zoom, Skype or Facetime.”

7:00PM

"My husband and I love to take our shih tzu to EDWIN WARNER PARK near our house for walks before the sun sets. After that, most evenings are spent on the back patio winding down with a glass of red wine. My husband is from Carmel, California, so we favor Napa reds (CHAPPELLET is a personal favorite)."

9:30PM

“I love winding down with a CENTR meditation. We helped launch CHRIS HEMSWORTH’S health and wellness app (Centr) in the U.S. The sleep stories are short, so it’s a great way to unwind if I’m not otherwise engaged in a novel or finishing up a podcast episode started in transit earlier that day.”