We recently connected with Hadlie Jo Pritchard and have shared our conversation below.

Hadlie Jo , appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

It was 2020, not only the year of the dreaded PANDEMIC, but also my most challenging year…medically! I was born with a primary immunodeficiency, but was not officially diagnosed until I was 8 years old. My treatment requires weekly plasma infusions. In February of 2020, we had obtained my service dog Lucy, and had traveled out of town to go through training with her. The first day of training, I took a hard fall that resulted in 2 broken bones in my wrist and a torn meniscus in my knee. Within a couple of weeks, I was admitted to the hospital with an unknown diagnosis, which was later determined to be one of the very first cases of COVID. During that time, it was determined that I had a complete blockage in my sinuses, and that was the initial cause of the accident, as it had caused a mild blackout episode, resulting in the fall. I was in training for ballroom dance competition, at that time, but due to my medical situations and the pandemic, I was unable to dance as I awaited the surgical procedure required for my sinus blockages. During that period of intense isolation, my mom encouraged me to start writing down my feelings. I had started playing piano and had my dad show me 3 chords on the guitar. I asked the orthopedic doctor if I could play instruments as my physical therapy, and he agreed. My feelings started turning into songs, and I began creating my own melodies and music composition. This challenging time, ended up fueling a passion in me, that led to my first open mic night in June of 2020. Standing on stage, singing and playing guitar, along with the interaction from the crowd, confirmed that MUSIC is what I was meant to do. The stage created a platform, where I could share my story and encourage and inspire others to pursue their passion and chase their dreams!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I was 12 years old when I stepped on stage, for my first open mic night in June 2020. In less than 3 years, I have opened for numerous artists across various states, recorded in studios in Texas and Tennessee and learned not only the piano and guitar, but also the banjo and mandolin. I’ve gotten the opportunity to co-write with many singer/songwriters, even some Hall of Fame members!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a singer/songwriter/musician, is being able to connect with the audience on so many levels. It gives me the opportunity to share my story, as a form of inspiration and motivation for others, with hopes of giving them the opportunity to share their story with me. I believe the craft of songwriting is intriguing, and the delivery of a song can be emotional and/or energizing. My goal, with each performance, is to tap into those emotions and be able to touch someone’s heart in a positive and inspiring way.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to encourage every single individual out there…to be their own voice, write their own story and believe in themselves like nobody else can. I have to work a little harder, due to my medical situation…but my illness does not define me…I get to define ME! Hard work beats talent, especially if talent doesn’t work hard!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hadliejomusic.com
• Instagram: @hadliejomusic
• Facebook: Hadlie Jo Music
• Youtube: Hadlie Jo