Life & Work with Deidre Thornell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deidre Thornell.

Deidre, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been singing on stage since age 5. I started out singing at my elementary school talent shows – loved it. It was always the highlight of every year. I sang songs from artists like Shania Twain, Cher, Whitney Houston, Reba, Faith Hill. It’s crazy how some of those earliest memories I can recall so clearly as I’m writing this! When it was graduation from 6th grade, I remember crying to my mom asking her what I was going to do without the talent shows to look forward to every year. She said we would figure it out, and we did!

She enrolled me in an elite vocal coaching program with the Dallas-based renowned vocal coach, Linda Septien (Jessica Simpson, Demi Lovato, Jesse McCartney, etc). It wasn’t long until I was accepted into the Master Class program, which you had to audition for. Linda gave amazing seminars and taught us about how to conduct ourselves not only as artists but songwriters and business gurus in music as well. We performed for showcases a few times a year at venues like Hard Rock Cafe, The Granada Theatre, and a few other handfuls of famous Dallas venues. It was amazing to experience all of that from 11-14 years old.

I started playing with full bands on the weekends from age 11-21 years old at what we Texans call the “Opry Circuit”. Every Friday or Saturday night there’s a house band that plays to a family-friendly audience. To get in on performing, you have to go out and watch a show or two, get to know the owner or manager of the place, and audition after one night’s show.

My first audition was in Garland, Texas at Garland Opry – I was 11. My audition songs were Crazy by Patsy Cline and You’re No Good by Linda Ronstadt. My favorite Opry I performed at, was all of them of course, but up top has to be Grapevine Opry with Rocky Gribble and his band. Some amazing, memorable moments on that stage.

In high school, I took seasonal jobs singing and dancing for “Country is my Rock” and “Honky Tonk Christmas” at Six Flags Over Texas. It was heavy in choreography and vocals – also some of my favorite moments on stage! MEMORIES!!!! I’m proud to say that I shared a stage with The Voice’s Patrick Thomas (Team Blake). I made lifelong friends on that stage, and if I could go back for a day and re-live those moments I totally would. So fun.

In college, I started playing shows around Texas with a band I got together. I also took part in a nationwide competition called the “Country Showdown”. It’s been sponsored by many businesses in the past, but the years I took part, it was sponsored by Colgate and then Texaco. After performing at the local level for some time, I finally took a break from the competition. My mom encouraged me to give it one last year just to see if I could make it to Nashville.

The premise of this is to compete against local, state, and regional songwriters/artists for a chance to make it to Nashville for 100k, sponsorship, and a performance at The Ryman, with the host of the show (LeAnn Rimes, Jewel, etc.). So, I tried again one last time and won local, state, and regional finals (Shreveport, LA) and made it to Nashville in 2013 to perform on stage with 4 other talented artists, with Jewel as the host of the show.

It aired on GAC several times that year and was definitely a highlight. After that, I returned home to Dallas, worked, played shows, saved my money, and moved to Nashville in 2015.

Shortly after moving to Nashville, I connected with a boutique publisher in town who was a great mentor at the time and set me up on several co-writes that really elevated my songwriting. I was then able to put together my first Nashville-produced EP called Dallas. I had a sold-out show at 12th and Porter and another at The Rustic in Dallas. It was an incredible time!

I have been honing my songwriting and have met some pretty incredible people recently. That’s a whole story in itself – because it’s led me to release some of these new songs I have under my belt! WOOHOO!!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Fortunately, I have an amazing support system every step of the way, so that makes grinding through this music industry a little easier, but of course, it’s not a smooth road.

My parents divorced when I was 13 so that wasn’t an easy time for me, but through counseling, and through songwriting I found a lot of relief. I connected with one of my dearest mentors, Ron Grimes (LeAnn Rimes) who helped me co-write some of my first songs.

I was rejected for many years for the country showdown competition, never making it past the local level, until I stopped for a year, wrote some songs, finally had original material to perform, and was encouraged by my mom to do it again, and made it all the way to Nashville for the finals.

Of course, anytime you get a band together, that’s a struggle in itself. IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW. Can I get an Amen?

When I had just moved to Nashville, I was here maybe a couple of months, and I would call my mom crying. I was having panic and anxiety attacks. The only thing I had done at that point got in vocal lessons (Nashville Vocal Studio), which was AMAZING because it was like therapy for me every week. I remember saying to her, “What am I doing here? What’s my purpose? What do I do? Where do I start? I’m writing but I want to be on the road. It’s hard meeting people.”

She said to me, “Oh baby, don’t cry! I hate hearing you this upset. Do you want to move back to Dallas? Maybe this was too much?”

“… (SILENCE)… Hell no, I’m not done with this town!! I have work to do here. (In sobbing tears) I’m going to leave my mark here, even if I cry about it every day. I’m not moving back to Dallas.”

And then, of course, one thing leads to another and within months I was in the studio recording an EP, produced by a dear friend who works a lot with some of the biggest labels in town. Nashville tends to do this to people – just ask Garth Brooks.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a creative artist, you’re in the people-pleasing business whether you agree or disagree – like it or not. This concept has never bothered me. I love people. I love listening to people and hearing their hearts, their stories, their lives, their complaints, their happiness – it all makes for great songs too.

If I were to be on the outside looking in, I would say I specialize in connecting with people, but I’d prefer doing it from a stage or through a song. I’m most proud of 1. singing the National Anthem in front of 90k+ at Cowboys Stadium and 2. singing at The Ryman.

When I find out what sets me apart from others, I’ll let you know. Haven’t quite figured that one out yet.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are so many people who deserve credit, and I won’t be able to even think of them all but a few would have to be:

Carl Kornmeyer – LBK Entertainment & Publishing / Mentor

Jacob Rice – Songwriter / Producer / Mentor

Scott Sean White, Helene Cronin, Valerie Gale – Texas Songwriting Friends / Mentors

Bill DiLuigi, Brian Desveaux, Mark Mulch, Mike Astrichan, Aly Jordan, Elizabeth Dorros, Eben Dorros, Matthew Stewart, Kirsti Mana, Brinn Black, Corey Lee Barker, Ava Paige, Terri Jo Boxx, Troy Castellano, Bill O’Hanlon, Seth Cook, Marty Dodson, Clay Mills, Holly Salazar, Melissa Bollea, Allison Joy Williams, Jonathan Wells, Goose Gossett, Steve Dorian, Austin Evans, Emma Lynn White, Tucker Kent, Sheridan Gates, Hannah Bell, Misy Gardner – Nashville Songwriting Friends / Mentors

Hillwood Country Club (members and staff) – Helped me sell out my first Nashville show at 12th and Porter. I will forever be so grateful. Let’s do it again some time!

Nashville Deli (staff and customers) – Big cheerleaders here. Working part-time at this NY-style Deli has been the best through Covid times. I love everyone I work with – they are family to me! I love the customers, with who I have built amazing friendships – they are also family to me here in Nashville. It’s pretty incredible!

John W. Antonetti, M.D. – Biggest fan/Friend.

Bob Walker – Friend/Mentor/The Music of Nashville Show.

Also, anyone who has played a show or songwriter night for or with me – Thank you!!

Of course, my family and friends have supported me and have been my cheerleaders. I love every single one of you, from the deepest part of my heart and soul!!

Contact Info:

• Email: dndmanagementgroup@gmail.com
• Website: www.deidrethornell.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/deidre_thornell
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/deidrethornell
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/deidrethornell
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/deidrethornell

Image Credits
Jared Manzo, Alondra Florez, and Erika Rock