I guess the biggest thing was singing the National Anthem at the Chicago Bulls game in early April…I arrived early to the game and was told I could sit courtside and watch the players do their warmups. So fun to be so close to these talented men~ I felt so short haha!

I was pretty nervous…I actually don’t get nervous for performances. There are only a few shows in the last few years that have made my knees shake. The last time I was real nervous was when I performed on the PBS show “Legends & Lyrics” back in 2009. This was my second time singing the anthem– very exciting!!

Just 2 weeks later, I was invited back to sing the first game of the Chicago Bulls NBA playoff game. WOO HOO!! So this past Saturday, I went to the game and sang the anthem for a roaring crowd of basketball fans.

I just finished editing the behind the scenes of my experience and its available on my website, www.jessicaraemusic.com, please sign up and go to the MEMBERS page to see it =)

Also be sure to stay in touch with me on

facebook.com/jessicaraemusic

and twitter…@imjessicarae

Jessica Rae, Glen Mitchell copyright 2008

WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO HERE

A lifetime of struggles on his face

So many lines for a man his age

All he could talk about was finding faith

He told me lived a misspent youth

he got into drugs and too much booze

No one who cared, nothing to lose

Then late one night, feeling helpless

he stumbled into?

CHORUS:

24 Hour Church in Memphis

A place for the lonely, the lost and the desperate

Somewhere, there?s somebody listening

Helping you out of the rut you?ve been in

for silent advice from a

Higher power, there?s always a seat at the 24 hour

Church In Memphis

I got a friend who turned to me

She didn?t know if she believed

I told her of that wise young man

I hadn?t seen her for some time

Something had changed behind her eyes

She told me when it all began

Was late one night, feeling helpless

she stumbled into? that

CHORUS:

BRIDGE:

Now Im lower than Ive ever been

So many things Im questioning

But I know I?ll be alright

cause its just a 3 hour drive

To a

CHORUS:

I’m thrilled to be singing the National Anthem. Bulls vs the NY Knicks…maybe YOU can get tickets and watch =)

Glen rounded up a bass player (Taylor Swift’s band) and a drummer (Kellie Pickler’s band), and we got into the studio! With a fast deadline approaching, we were able to produce and master our tune within just a few days! With the amazing talent of everyone involved, I’m thrilled with the way it turned out. I can’t wait to share the music video~ right now we are working on exclusives with different companies to see where it will be shown first…this has taken more time than expected. Isn’t that like everything? I should always assume its going to take more time than expected…lesson is, again, learned.

Here are some fun photos from the session! If you’d like to purchase the single (I’d love you forever) please visit HERE =) Thanks for reading. Please pass along to your friends~

Directed by David McKay.

https://vimeo.com/davidmckayfilms

Director of Photography, Colton Salmons

http://www.light-box-studios.com/

A huge thank you to David McKay, Colton Salmons, Glen Mitchell, Beth Skillicorn, Roy Skillicorn, Mark Lonsway, Stancy Tomlinson, Michael and Emily Estok, Vinnie Alibrandy, Matt Horton and Nichole Sims. Your talents and generosity helped make this production shine!

I am forever grateful to the man who told me his life story, thus inspiring this song.

Meeting with the President of Vietti Foods, Phil Connelly, I loved hearing that his company is dedicated to helping independent artists become recognized~ Distributed in 8 southern states, product labels display artists’ bios to introduce themselves to the consumer. How fantastic! I just received some of the cans that my bio will be on~ I’ll let you know when they hit stores and maybe you can see my face in your local grocery store!

Beth Skillicorn just received some great press from a NY blogger~ NYCARTSCENE. Check out the article HERE and learn about the deep philosophical thought that goes behind each art piece…

I will be singing the National Anthem on April 10th — the United Center in Chicago. CHICAGO BULLS vs. NY Knicks!! Should be an amazing game~ should you be in the area, please get your tickets HERE and help cheer me on!

check out their website!

Check out the article HERE

If you don’t have my acoustic album featuring the songs “I Could Get Used to This” and “24 Hour Church (in Memphis)” please visit my website and purchase it. Makes for a great stocking stuffer for friends too =)

I’m reading the book, Drop City, and this quote popped out at me. It struck an obvious note, actually a discord, with an artist’s ability to somehow find all the time it takes to create songs and time to pay all the bills. Which brings me to the point of asking for help– asking for you to help or maybe having you ask your friends to help.

If you are feeling generous and are willing to invest in my career, I would be sooo appreciative! I have no savings account. My money is constantly being invested– producing and distributing CD’s, hiring associative musicians, producing music videos, the hiring of engineers, directors, stylists, my travel expenses for performances, the time payments on my violin, my guitar, buying and leasing the necessary sound equipment, extra supplies of strings, ramen noodles, etc. The list goes on and on, and I don’t want to bore you with the details. If you enjoy my voice, and my songs, …if you like what you hear and read about me, …if you believe that an artist needs help, …if you are willing to invest in me, an artist who’s not ready to give up, …if you want to see me and what I stand for, family, virtue and laughter, become more visible, …please contribute — even $1, to help defray all my costs, allow me to keep buying time to allow me to concentrate on writing and getting more stories told and sung.

Thank you…so so so much!

I believe in JESSICA RAE. Please visit HERE to donate.

Jessica Rae’s WOWIE CHRISTMAS BUTTER COOKIES

1 c. butter

1 c. sugar

1 egg

1 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

Cream the butter thoroughly. Add the sugar gradually and when light and fluffy, add the egg, vanilla and milk. Beat well. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together and add (gradually) to the creamed mixture. Chill, then roll on a lightly floured board to an eighth-inch thickness. Cut as desired (cookie cutters) Place on baking sheets and bake in a 350-degree oven from 9 to 12 minutes, according to the size and thickness. (Keep an close eye on them, you want them to stay golden brown.)

VANILLA CREAM FROSTING

2 T. butter

1-3/4 c. confectioners sugar

3-4 T. light cream

½ tsp. vanilla

coloring

Beat the butter until very soft, add sugar, vanilla and cream to make a spreading consistency. (Separate the frosting into small bowls and color the frosting red for Santa’s sleigh shaped cookies, green for the Christmas tree shaped cookies, add candy balls and edible glitter for ornaments, you get the idea.) So good!

If you’re like me, you’re in the middle of holiday shopping, trying to avoid the malls because there is mayhem in every store!! I have done most of my shopping online and I’m glad to say I’ve had little to no stress =) While you’re shopping this season, I hope that you will keep me, and my career, in your thoughts while thinking of stocking stuffers and gifts for your family and friends. I have many items in my STORE that you can check out but here are a couple ideas. Maybe a Jessica Rae TSHIRT or Vanilla Air Freshener OR maybe a CD or 2 for your friends and family!! There are posters and hats as well– I hope you visit the store on my website and maybe purchase something. So many ideas for this holiday season AND you can support me and my career this holiday! A good deed all around!!! =) Thanks in advance your your continued support!!!

don’t forget to stay in touch with me on these other websites below and subscribe to my blog =)

http://twitter.com/imjessicarae

http://www.youtube.com/jessicaraemusic

I wrote this song with Todd Pachey after hearing a message in church one Sunday. The message hit me as it was describing the hard times and struggles we all face in life and how we need to keep on getting up, keep on moving on, keep on trying…and we’ll succeed. On that Sunday, I was feeling pretty down and the message broke me. I wrote the title “Keep On” and the next writing appt I had with Todd, I brought it up. He liked the idea and I love how the song turned out!! Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I turn to my new anthem “Keep On”. If I think too hard about the lyrics while I’m singing it, its hard to get through…hopefully this song speaks to you as much as it does for me.

you can see a video HERE

KEEP ON

Todd Pachey, Jessica Rae 2011

When the world wants you to give up
every door seems to close
All your prayers go unanswered
You feel lost and on your own
Keep On

Every time your faith is tested
on that long and desperate road
you feel like you want to turn around
pack it up and just go home
Keep On, Keep On

CHORUS
Keep on fighting don’t stop trying
Life is never easy
Stand for something don’t let nothing
Take livin’ out of dreamin
you’re never given more than you can handle
Breathe in, be strong
When You’re Barely hangin’ on
Keep On

You’re Hopeless when it comes to love
Tired of tears and the pain
Your jaded heart has given up
think you’ll never love again
Keep On

CHORUS

BRIDGE
Keep on lovin’ when there’s no love left
Lose your fear with no regrets
Live each day like its your last

CHORUS

I’ll be talking about my new CD- if you haven’t purchased it, I would appreciate your support! you can buy it HERE. Makes for a great Christmas stocking stuffer =) OR if you want a cute tshirt, check it out!! An “I Hate Love” tshirt…

So lets take my song “24 Hour Church (in Memphis)”. I just finished producing a music video on this song- Im thrilled! The release date will be Feb 2012.

While trying to make money in the crazy town of Nashville, I’ve taken many strange jobs. At one of them, there was a gentleman who always came over to me and spoke to me about his life, his faith and all the mistakes he’s made. Told me he lost his wife to a divorce, never had kids and was at a point where he felt he had “nothing to lose”— he got to this point by drinking too much and taking drugs. He continued to tell me that one night when he had lost all hope he stumbled into this church in Memphis– open 24 hours. That 24 hour church saved this man and he had a different story from that moment on. He changed his life around and was living his life in faith. How great is that?

I will release some photos from the shoot soon~

I also have a new song “Keep On” — check out the video on my YouTube channel and don’t forget to subscribe =) you’ll get updates automatically when I upload a new video!!

http://www.youtube.com/jessicaraemusic

My friend, John Nicolaides, owns Molly’s Cupcakes (started in Chicago, now on Bleeker St. in NYC) and he offered to supply my fans with cupcakes for the evening!! Soo with any Jessica Rae purchase fans would receive a free cupcake…and THESE cupcakes are unbelievable. I am thrilled to have such amazing friends!!

the cupcakes even have my logo on it =)