NowVIZ / HANNAH ELLIS by NowVIZ magazine

INTRO

INTRO AD

Curb Records recording artist and country music singer / songwriter Hannah Ellis on location in Nashville. Cover photo by Andrea Mead Cross.

INTRO

INTRO AD

FIRST STORY

STORY

SECOND STORY

STORY

THIRD STORY

STORY

INTRO

INTRO AD

STORY

+ COMMENTS

HANNAH ELLIS SINGER / SONGWRITER

BMW X NIKITA GALE FEATURED ARTIST adidas + BECKHAM

BUDDY JOHNSON DALLAS COWBOYS

STORY

STORY 1

STORY

STORY 2

Adidas and David Beckham unveil the adidas x David Beckham Predator 24. Two years in the making, the limited-edition Predator breaks new ground by featuring—for the first time ever—the Trefoil on a Predator boot. Inspired by adidas’ origins, the Predator 24 includes a classic two-tone colourway, with a predominantly white upper alongside bold premium detailing in the adidas Originals iconic blue pantone.

adidas Predator 24 signature Originals apparels collection.

Accompanying the Predator 24 drop is a signature Originals apparel collection, designed in collaboration with David Beckham and inspired by iconic 70s style silhouettes. The collection pays homage to the vintage look of the era but is brought up to date through contemporary and unique design hues, making it the perfect off-pitch collection for today’s fashion-conscious individual.

Each article is crafted with attention to detail, using high-quality materials and featuring design elements that are both timeless and modern, from bold prints and vibrant colors to unexpected details and clean lines.

adidas PREDATOR

“I’ve loved designing this special Predator boot and collection with adidas. It’s great to finally share what we’ve been working on with fans of the adidas Predator and Originals. For the first time ever, this Predator features the iconic trefoil—I asked the question and they said yes… and I’m so proud of how the collection has turned out. It’s fantastic to celebrate 30 years of the Predator and with that, look back at many amazing on-pitch moments for myself and so many others.” —David Beckham

Sam Handy, SVP of Product and Design at adidas, said, “We’re always looking at how we can break new ground in the world of football, and what better way to do so than with one of our longest serving and most iconic partners! A name so synonymous with Predator, it was only right we handed over the creative reins to David to enable him to bring his vision to life through an adidas lens. This boot is a true reflection of on-pitch performance combined with luxury lifestyle, elevated to a level never seen before with a Predator boot.”

The adidas x David Beckham Predator 24 will be worn during the European club competition by top players including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Paulo Dybala, and Rodrigo De Paul Éder Militão. Alessia Russo will wear the boots in her home league game.

In New York City Louis Vuitton pop-up store for dog lovers.

Louis Vuitton is letting all the pups into its new canine-friendly pop-up boutique for its Men’s Spring/Summer 2025 Pre-Collection, “Dog LVERS,” in New York City’s Soho neighborhood.

The pooch-packed spot is stocked with the entire pet-inspired collection, complete with bespoke dog accessories, puppy-centric hard-sided pieces and a full ready-to-wear line for human companions. Dreamt up by Pharrell Williams, the pop-up looks to celebrate the “cosmopolitan culture of dogs and the humans who walk among them”.

On the shelves, the “Dog LVERS” collection is packed with collectible items, like monogram collars, furry friend-sized bandanas, iconographic water bowls, leather harnesses, mini velvet berets, and bulldog and shiba-faced poop bag carriers. For humans, the French luxury label has unleashed a fresh lineup of formal and casual menswear, pooch-shaped pouches, bone-like coin bags, as well as keepalls, messengers, trunks, and more with paw decorations.

short story

story

The pop-up’s interior draws from classic English-style dog show aesthetics. Warm wood accents and argyle motifs elevate the boutique’s canine theme. In a playful tribute to man’s best friend, the columns are reimagined as oversized, clawed canine feet. Designed to delight both dog lovers and style aficionados, the boutique feels like a celebration of creativity.

Accessories with a canine twist!

The pop-up also offers in-store engraving for custom dog tags. Visitors can leave with a personalized piece that celebrates their bond with their pets. This SoHo boutique is an homage to the playful relationship between humans and their dogs, crafted with Louis Vuitton’s signature flair.

Upon first meeting Buddy Johnson, he portrays a quiet demeanor and even larger presence. His conversation is warm yet gracious, and he’s humble when asked about his accomplishments. But you also know that somewhere underneath it all this same individual that suits up on game day and steps onto the field, is fearless. It’s one of the many reasons why he’s one of the best in the National Football League (NFL).

To be able to play football in the NFL Buddy’s story began in Oak Cliff, Texas, a small neighborhood in South Dallas. “My whole life I would think about the NFL and wanted to be part of it,” said Johnson. “I was always the kid playing football in the back yard.”

He grew up with two older brothers and his mom. “I didn’t have a father around growing up,” said Johnson. “My mother was my mom and my father. She did everything to make sure we had a roof over our head and food on the table. It was me, my two brothers, and my mom, a single parent working super hard to raise three knuckleheads.”

Michelle Stephens, Buddy’s mother, was the force that he needed growing up to guide him, support him, and learn how to make good decisions.

“I instilled in him,” she said, “to try not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, watch the company you keep. He knows. I am trusting in him. It’s hard but he listened to me. He is a good young man. He trusts me and I trust him to make good decisions.”

Buddy is forever grateful to her.

And worth noting, making it to the NFL is considered extremely difficult. Only 7.3% of high school football players make it to the NCAA level and only 1.6% of college players make it to the league. That breaks down to only 259 players being drafted each year. It’s a slim percentage that can actually plan on making a career in the NFL.

In 2021, Devodrick “Buddy” Johnson, was called on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. When his phone rang it was Head Coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers and at that moment all his hard work had paid off. “It was an exciting time,” said Johnson. “There’s so much more that goes into this story than what people see. We work our whole life for this moment and nine times out of 10 this is the ultimate goal. When you get that phone call it’s one of the best feelings in the world.”

But as each persons story goes, it’s not always a straight path forward. In Buddy’s case after several injuries that caused short stints with not only the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, and the Chicago Bears, he decided to pause, take a break and heal. And only afterward did he ultimately land with his dream team—the Dallas Cowboys.

“Everybody wants to play for America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys, and being from Dallas, the heart of Dallas, Oak Cliff, Texas, it’s amazing! Everyone in my family is a long-time Cowboy fan, even my grandma is a huge fan!

You could call it full circle or call it fate, but it’s Buddy’s story. It’s what Buddy has worked his whole life for and now he’s living it. It may not be his last stop in the NFL, you never know what can happen in this league. But one thing is for sure, he’s working hard to make sure his stay in Dallas is a long one.

“I try consistently to go hard and be mentally locked in and focused.”

NowVIZ: Tell us about Buddy Johnson, the person and pro football player from Dallas, Texas.

Johnson: I grew up in a single-parent household. My mom did everything to keep a roof overhead and food on the table. I am forever grateful and thankful for her. I never really had a father in my life, but I always had a father figure—my coaches, mentors, my older brothers, my uncles. And my whole family pretty much played football. I just tried to be like my older brothers. It’s kind of how I found my way.

My older brother was recruited out of high school, and it gave me hope that one day I could be recruited. I mean, he got recruited by D1 colleges and I was like, dang, so I watched him and studied what I had to do to get there.

Then a year later, it was my turn, and I had all the schools coming to my high school. I went to a small school called Dallas Kimball that was really known as a basketball school, but I think now they may have had three players go to the NFL.

So, like I said, my older brother gave me hope and confidence. I was recruited and played at Texas A&M and my first year, the head coach was fired, and a whole new coaching staff came in. That meant I basically had to win the new coaching staff’s trust all over again.

I remember the defensive coordinator coming up to me and saying he needed me to be a leader. A lot of guys looked up to me and he wanted me to be more vocal so the guys would follow. He said I had that natural leader instinct. So that’s pretty much what I did. I ended up becaming the captain for the next two years and it was pretty cool.

I did have to deal with a couple surgeries in high school which sidelined me for a year, and in college I had a couple small surgeries, but missed only one game. So, I feel very blessed to be playing in the NFL.

And I graduated with a degree in Sports Management and my mom was so happy! She wanted me to get a degree before I went to the NFL. So that was really great!

BTS

ACTION

NowVIZ: Would you talk about your transition from college to pros?

Johnson: I love telling this story because everybody’s journey is different. So there are the guys that will only play in college, and there’s another small group that’ll make the league (NFL). During my senior year my coach told me they were giving me a fourth round draft grade. But he also said he wanted me to stay in college another year. (During COVID they gave all seniors an extra year.) But I knew I really needed to leave and go to the draft. I knew it would be a great opportunity and also give me the ability to take care of my family. So I ultimately made the decision to go to the NFL draft. And I just had my daughter a couple months prior, so it was perfect timing.

So I declared for the draft, worked out, and trained. And during that time, I also had to have surgery on my wrist. I ended up doing the required “NFL Combine test” with a wrapped up wrist. I busted my butt and remember after the Combine, my defensive coordinator said, “I’m not even going to BS you. That may have been one of the best Combine performances I’ve ever seen by any of my players!”

ACTION PIC

And so when the draft went to the fourth round I got the call from the Pittsburgh Steelers. I spent a year with the Steelers and ended up dealing with a plantar fasciitis injury for two or three years. I ended up getting cut from the Steelers and went to the San Francisco 49ers and stayed for eight weeks.

I ended up leaving there because I was still injured and they needed the roster spot. I then went to the Houston Texans practice squad. The Texans wanted me to resign on a twoyear deal, but because I was still dealing with my foot injury I couldn’t. So I left and took the time to get the surgery. And after the surgery I signed with the Chicago Bears. Played two games in the pre-season and during the second game, I tore my hamstring…and was sidelined for another eight weeks. I left Chicago and asked my agent to reach out to the Cowboys. He said he had and they weren’t interested. I was like, dang, my hometown team isn’t even interested in me. Two days later, a few teams started reaching out and during that time the Cowboys reconnected showing interest! Lol! They wanted to bring me in for a workout and I went and crushed it. Dallas initially signed me to the practice squad and four weeks later I was elevated to the travel team and haven’t looked back!

Like I said, everybody has a different path. And if I can give anybody advice, confidence, or hope, it would be: don’t try to follow others because your story may be totally different.

“Everybody wants to play for America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys, and being from Dallas, the heart of Dallas, Oak Cliff, Texas, it’s amazing!”

ACTION

BUDDY JOHNSON behind the scenes with photographer Andrea Mead Cross.

PIC

NowVIZ: Being from Dallas and now playing for the Dallas Cowboys! What’s that experience like?

Johnson: Everybody wants to play for America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys, and being from Dallas, the heart of Dallas, Oak Cliff, Texas, it’s amazing! Everyone in my family is a long-time Cowboy fan, even my grandma is a huge fan! Yeah, I think it’s unbelievable, because not many guys make it to the NFL period. So, to be able to play for your hometown pro team?! It’s crazy! And it’s just huge for my family. They come to the games. It’s amazing to me. And when I first left Dallas, I got homesick. So I just feel like I’m having fun again being back home. And when you’re relaxed and comfortable in your environment, the sky’s the limit. So, I’m super-happy to be back home!

NowVIZ: How do you prepare yourself mentally for game day?

Johnson: I always listen to music just to get me going. But at the end of the day, I personally feel like I’ve prepared in every practice; I approach them with the mentality to get better each time I’m on the field, not to waste time. So mentally, I think the way you practice is the way you want to play on game day. I try to practice with great effort and let my energy be contagious to ignite the guys around me in the hope that they get better. Football is a team sport, so what good is it if I’m the only one getting better? I try consistently to go hard and be mentally locked in and focused. In the NFL, it’s like 80% mental and 20% physical. It’s about how fast you can process. For example, when you’re watching game films, you see the plays we practice over and over, and it helps to trust your instincts and ultimately build confidence.

I had a coach named Coach Santucci. He’s a defensive coordinator now at Georgia Tech. But back then he was always on my butt in college! Lol! I used to tell my teammates, “my coach IS tripping!” He was always on me about running to the ball and the little things. And, you know, some things really had nothing to do with the game itself, but it was about the extra things he was teaching me that the other guys weren’t doing. And now I look back, and I’m forever grateful to him, he helped me turn into the player I am today. He definitely helped me be accountable.

“My motivation is my family. My close my mom, my brothers, my girlfriend Everything in that circle is my motivation. After that, it’s my teammates.”

close family— girlfriend and our kids. motivation.

NowVIZ: Every top athlete seems to have a mentor, friend, or someone in their corner to offer guidance. We wondered if you do, and how have they helped?

Johnson: I would say my mentor was a guy named DeMarcus Brooks. We call him Coach Brooks. He intially started his own program to help the young kids go on college visits because some of us, you know, our parents worked and weren’t able to take us to the visits. You get to see the teams, the uniforms, and all of the other recruits.

I remember, it was a Sunday, and I was at the stadium, throwing with one of my receivers (because I actually played quarterback in high school), and there was a group of guys working out on the other side of the field. We went over introduced ourselves and asked if they wanted to work out with us. Coach Brooks let us know they trained guys every Sunday, high school guys, college guys, NFL guys, and that’s how I ended up training with him. He also told me after we started training together I’d end up playing linebacker or safety. And I was, like, man, no way! I’m a quarterback!

But I’m forever thankful to Coach Brooks, he was always there for us. He was that role model I needed to help push me. He’s always been there for me, and I’ve always been that guy he could depend on, and that’s super cool.

NowVIZ: What’s your motivation when you’re off the field?

Johnson: My motivation is my family. My close family—my mom, my brothers, my girlfriend and our kids. Everything in that circle is my motivation. After that, it’s my teammates. I know every day how hard I work to provide for my family. So, at the end of the day, I do feel we’re all trying to do our best and, at the same time able to provide for our families.

NowVIZ: Would you talk about your foundation, “Everbody Needs A Buddy”?

Johnson: I actually came up with the name myself! The basis of the foundation is everything I needed when I was kid. It helps kids with things they might not have, such as a father figure, a friend, a coach, an uncle, a role model—whatever it is, we try to provide. We had our first annual football camp this past summer and there was a great turnout. We got the guys custom jerseys and the whole nine yards! And right now, we’re getting ready to have a coat drive for my former middle school. We try to bring the kids together to be together, work together, and grow together. It’s what I needed when I was younger. It’s tough nowadays, and it’s nice to be able to provide that support. And now that I’m in a position to help share my experiences and guide them, it’s been an amazing feeling.

I try to go back as much as I can to let them know that I came from this same place, I sat in the same chair, I wore the same shoes. And I feel like if I would have had this same opportunity it would had given me the confidence early on, because if you don’t have confidence in yourself, you have nothing. It’s about keeping a good work ethic, continuing to show up, and eventually all those little things you do pay off.

indian

indian AD

short addition

An interview with Artist Nikita Gale who worked with BMW i7 designers creating an installation for BMW Open Work that reaches far back into the history of the automobile and the electric guitar.

addition story

For over ten years, Nikita Gale has been designing artwork that has been creating a buzz all around the world. This includes the “DRRRUMMERRRRRR” sound installation, in which water and percussion equipment interact, and which was last seen at Kunstraum Kreuzberg in Berlin, Germany in 2021. Or the “PRIVATE DANCER” moving light installation from 2020, Gale’s first solo exhibition at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles, USA. The artist repeatedly stages everyday objects and viewers are always left with fresh impressions.

And for this project, Gale focused on the BMW i7 and electric guitars for the BMW Open Work by Frieze initiative. It was a collaboration with BMW i7 designers called “63/22”, and premiered at the Frieze art fair in London.

The installation “DRRRUMMERRRRRR” by Nikita Gale was shown as part of the exhibition “Wild Frictions: The Politics and Poetics of Interruption” at Kunstraum Kreuzberg 2021.

child quickly came instruments. concerts and during college. a bachelor’s exhibitions and

Nikita Gale young

An electric car and five electric guitars, how did you come up with the idea of bringing these different objects together?

Gale: During my college years, I discovered that in the late 50s and early 60s, the Gibson guitar company hired American automotive designer Raymond “Ray” Dietrich to design what became one of the most iconic electric guitar bodies ever made: the Gibson Firebird! The overlap between these two forward-looking industries impressed me. The inspiration of the guitar industry was to inject the ethos and attitude of car culture—individualism, freedom—into ideas around the genre of rock and roll. These collaborations blurred the lines between technologies of sound and technologies of speed and motion and the two forms began to visually echo one another. It was the start of mass production of electric guitars and the beginning of rock’n’roll developing into a music genre of its own. But it’s also a time of huge social and political upheaval in the United States. Many racial tensions surfaced, especially in the music industry. In this context, rock’n’roll functioned as a conduit for black self-expression and had a coded language with automobiles being explicitly used as metaphors. One of the first rock’n’roll songs is “Rocket 88” by Ike Turner, which was also the name of a very popular automobile model at the time.

was born in Alaska in 1983. The Gale family moved with their to Atlanta, USA. Gale’s mother is a music teacher, so Gale came into contact with sounds, and later learned to play various instruments. In the artist’s early 20s, Gale was taking photographs at and delved into photography, videography, sculpture and painting college. Eventually, Gale completed various degrees in the arts and bachelor’s degree in anthropology. Prizes, scholarships, numerous and projects followed.

You teamed up with three BMW i7 designers for your installation. What exactly did the collaboration look like?

Gale: The team consisted of one designer for Interior, one for Exterior and one for My Modes, which is a special program installed in vehicles with BMW iDrive and Operating System 8. It can be used to control sound, light and other features, creating an individual feel-good mood—the car can adapt to the way you feel. I asked each of the designers to create three or four guitar sketches. These needed to show their wildest fantasies, but at the same time think about how they could develop the design history of the electric guitar. You need to bear in mind that the guitar has more or less retained the same shape over the last 60 years. I think the last big innovations were probably the offset, non-symmetrical electric guitar body, and Annie Clark’s “Music Man St. Vincent”—an electric guitar specifically for people with breasts.

What is it that interests you about redesigning

the guitar?

Gale: I’m fascinated by the question of why certain objects look the way they do. There’s this great line from an essay “Technology & Ethos” by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka) from the 70s that says “nothing has to look or sound the way that it does.” But what does it look like then? For example, how can these guitars be designed with different values and tastes and bodies in mind?

What actually attracts you to automobiles?

Gale: I have always been interested in automobiles. When I was a kid, my dad had this really cool navy-blue Nissan Datsun 280ZX. At some point I started thinking about what the relationship is between the body and the vehicle, the object, the technology. An automobile is so ubiquitous that it feels almost invisible. It’s just always there.

What happened next with Open Work by Frieze?

Gale: We met, looked at the designers’ really great proposals, and passed them on to Ian Malone in London, a great guitar maker. We received extra materials from the BMW i7, such as paint colors, to experiment with. All the electric guitars ended up looking very different from each other. And in fact, the electric guitars will be played live at the exhibition.

These sorts of auto shows automatically conjure engines in your mind. I guess these were likely missing

up the sounds of roaring missing there?

Gale: Exactly! You know, this is something that really fascinates me! It’s an incredibly exciting time for the sound of electric vehicles, as automakers have become very experimental. Until these vehicles went into mass production, the sound of an automobile was nothing more than a consequence of its internal mechanism. The sound is that of the automobile. But now that sound could be anything. First, though, we need to learn this worldwide—what this sound stands for and what it does not. So a new sound for an exhaust has to become more or less an industry standard.

Was the music from the result heard in the BMW i7 on display?

Gale: Yes. We basically turned the BMW i7 into an amplifier. We used My Modes Bluetooth technology to play the guitar music loudly. The electric guitars activated the technology, which amplifies the sound and sets the lights and other functions in the BMW i7 in motion. Visitors could also sit in the vehicle during the fair. That’s what’s great about electric cars—they can basically be parked anywhere since you don’t have to worry about the exhaust fumes.

isn’t as easy as it sounds. You have to work for it—earn it—one step at a time.

That’s the case with country music singer/songwriter Hannah Ellis. In 2015, she appeared in the blind auditions for season 8 of America’s most popular TV singing competition, The Voice, stepping out to a judging panel that consisted of Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, and Pharrell Williams. The end result wasn’t what she had hoped for, but who could deny her talent, the invaluable experience, and the incredible exposure—it fueled the fire.

Ellis has worked for every ounce of where she is now and has continued to pay her dues along the way. Growing up in Campbellsville, Kentucky, to extremely supportive parents, music was always a part of Hannah Ellis’s life. Spending her free time listening to country music, her parents encouraged her and her siblings to sing in church and enter music competitions. While it didn’t take long for Ellis to know she wanted to be a professional singer, she started her journey by first attending the University of Kentucky on a full-ride scholarship and graduating with a degree in integrated strategic communication (ISC). Music was still the dream and with her folks’ full support, she hit the road to Nashville – and never looked back.

In Nashville, she worked hard to hone her craft, make connections, and put out her first self-titled, self-financed EP. She signed a publishing deal with Curb Word Music Publishing for her phenomenal songwriting talent. And then in 2020 the partnership went to the next level as Curb Records offered her a record deal.

She’s written songs recorded and performed by artists, and featured as a vocalist on songs, spanning multiple genres, including: Russell Dickerson, Carly Pearce, for KING & COUNTRY, Danielle Bradbury, and Francesca Battestelli.

As she continued to grind, in 2021 Ellis made her Grand Ole Opry debut. A huge accomplishment on any country singer’s dream list. She has also toured with Gavin DeGraw, Carly Pearce, Martina McBride, Jake Owen, and has toured as part of the CMT “Next Women of Country” Tour.

2024 was an exceptional year for Ellis, showcasing her versatility as both a songwriter and a singer releasing her successful debut album, That Girl . She co-wrote all 13 tracks, collaborating with top-tier writers in country music, including Emily Weisband, Tofer Brown, Jason Massey, Hillary Lindsey, and her husband, singer/songwriter, Nick Wayne. The result is an album that offers something for every mood, from the soulful depth of “Still” and “Somebody Else” and the heart-rending moody melody of “Too Much And Not Enough” to the up-tempo sass of “Karma on the Rocks”.

And to justify her incredible talent, she received a huge nod from the industry as she was nominated for last year’s Academy of Country Music (ACM) New Female Artist of the Year Award in 2024, alongside Megan Moroney, Ashley Cooke, Kassi Ashton, and Kylie Morgan.

For Ellis, her story is just getting started. She’s worked hard to make her dream a reality and there is no place else she’d rather be than right here, right now.

Hannah Ellis behind the scenes with photographer Andrea Mead Cross.

NowVIZ: You were nominated for an Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award for New Female Artist of the Year in 2024, nominated for Rising Artist-Writer of the Year in 2024 at the AIMP Nashville Country Awards, named to Rolling Stone’s “Artist to Watch” list, and a stop on season eight of NBC’s “The Voice”. These are lofty milestones! Will you talk about your journey?

Ellis: When you put it like that, I can’t help but be proud of how far I have come since moving to Nashville as a starry-eyed college grad, and trying to get by on babysitting money and substitute teaching. I have known I wanted to do music my whole life, and each and every one of those accomplishments is a credit to years of hard work and not giving up even on the tough days.

NowVIZ: Your debut album, That Girl, released in 2024, you co-wrote each of the thirteen tracks! Will you discuss the process, your thoughts, and interesting moments?!

Ellis: People always say you spend your whole life writing for your first record, and I totally agree. The songs on that album range from 5 years old to 5 months old once they were recorded. My vision for this album was that anyone could listen through it, and by the end of song 13, be able to say they truly knew me. During the writing process, I think a very poignant moment was when we wrote the song, “Too Much and Not Enough”. It was really just a song I needed that day, to air out some internal thoughts and personal struggles. But once it was finished, it felt like a part of me that I just needed to share with people. A parting thought, if you will, which is why it was the last song on the record.

NowVIZ: You’ve toured with Martina McBride, Carly Pearce, Jake Owen, Dwight Yoakum, and Billy Currington, among others. What are some of your favorite moments and how has it helped you grow as an artist?

Ellis: An absolute highlight of my career was getting to open for the iconic Martina McBride. I sang her songs in every contest growing up, so to get to tour with her, and hang with her after the shows was such a full-circle moment. Eleven-year-old me would never have believed it! On the other side of that coin is the joy of getting to go on tour with one of my closest friends, Carly Pearce. She is so incredibly supportive of me every night, even inviting me on stage with her, and then we get to catch up and drink wine afterwards! Sometimes it’s hard to believe this is my “job”.

Hannah Ellis kickin it on stage!

NowVIZ: Every top talent seems to have or has had a mentor, friend, or someone in their corner to offer guidance. We wondered if you do, and how have they helped?

Ellis: I think the list of people that have been and continue to be in my corner wouldn’t fit in this article, lol. But I grew up with incredible parents who made me believe I was special and could truly do anything I set my mind to. I am married to a man that will do everything from help me tell my stories in the songwriting room to help me figure out a caption for a TikTok. I have incredible artist friends like Carly Pearce, who take me on tour and are always there to listen or give advice about life on the road. And I have a record label full of champions that want to help me achieve every goal I set. When they say it takes a village, they mean it.

NowVIZ: Would you give us a slice of what you like to do during your downtime?

Ellis: This is an easy one. I LOVE cooking or hosting parties or dinner parties. And if I am not entertaining, you can probably find me on the couch with my cat, Ellie, and a good book.

NowVIZ: What motivates and inspires you to get up and going everyday?

Ellis: Honestly, my faith. I believe God has given me a purpose. I have been passionate about building community my whole life, and what better platform to bring people together than music? Whether it is lyrics that remind people that they are not alone, or a show that brings joy or reprieve from a crazy life, I think nothing can do what music does.

“People always say you spend your whole life writing for your first record, and I totally agree.”

NowVIZ: You’ve got such incredible personality in your songs; you side-step the norm, all while being confident in your direction. The singles on That Girl such as, “Wine Country”, “Us”, and “Too Much And Not Enough,” are undeniably from the heart. Will you talk about your inspirations and focus?

Ellis: One of the most important parts of my artistry to me is authenticity. I always want the song to sound like a conversation or a story in the way I would tell it. From the words to the melodies to the content of each song, I want people to know that I am not trying to be anything I’m not. I think that really comes out in this record.

NowVIZ: You are such a successful songwriter with songs recorded by artists such as Carly Pearce, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Danielle Bradberry, and Russel Dickerson, among others. Will you talk about the feelings when you hear the result?

Ellis: This is absolutely one of my favorite parts of my job. When I am writing for other people, I feel like I get to play a character. I get to say things in a way that maybe “Hannah Ellis the artist” wouldn’t. It allows my creativity to open up in a whole new way, and it is so incredible to hear these artists take these songs and make them their own.

NowVIZ: Would you talk about your song writing process and how you become inspired to write?

Ellis: This is something that changes constantly. Sometimes it is music I am really into at the moment that inspires me; sometimes it is something going on in my life, or that of a friend; some days it is just a cool title I heard in a conversation or a guitar riff someone played in the room. Sometimes it is this artistic creative process and sometimes it is simply knowing how to craft a great song. It is truly different every day.

CONCERT

CONCERT PIC

NowVIZ: You continue to roll out hot new singles! Will you talk about your most recent drops ”Once” and “90s Country”!

Ellis: I loved dropping these songs back-to-back because they both showcase different sides of my personality and artistry. “Once” is this fiesty warning about what happens if you commit that cardinal sin (which I unironically wrote with my husband, ha!). Whereas “90s Country” is a completely vulnerable moment pining over not only love lost, but the effect that heartbreak has on every aspect of your life, even down to the songs you used to love. It has been so fun to see these songs resonate with fans, and draw in new ones!

NowVIZ: Is there anything coming up or in the works we should know about?!

Ellis: There are things coming up and in the works that I cannot WAIT to tell you about. Just know that the music releases in the new year are going to be EPIC!

HANNAH ELLIS, SINGER / SONGWRITER

I’m all over the place! When I’m cooking, it’s French Jazz. When I’m running it’s NF. When I’m in the car, it’s Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, or Post Malone. When I wanna listen to an album, it’s Laci Kaye Booth or Kacey Musgraves. There is so much great music out there and I wanna hear all of it!

BUDDY JOHNSON, DALLAS COWBOYS

I listen to everything —country music, hip hop music, R&B, Christian music, Gospel music, the Blues! You name it, I can listen to it! I’m just that type of guy that can kind of fit in anywhere. I can adapt to pretty much any environment or sit in any type of room with any type of person. And that’s been very helpful. It’s another reason I try to keep good people around me, like my girlfriend—she’s my best friend.