Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Perdue-Frazier.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born at Nashville Metropolitan General Hospital to Grand Ole Opry regular, Harvey Perdue, and Cross Plains native, Delores. Harvey also was the manager of the Nashville Airport at the time as well so there were some very cool opportunities that came with that. My father, Harvey, got his musical break in 1982 being discovered by Henry Slaughter. Then, my dad happened to move next door to Sam Wellington, the owner of the Four Guys. The Four Guys were a very prominent quartet who were Grand Ole Opry members, My father and Sam ended up exchanging music and thus The Four Guys began singing songs that he wrote. With that said, my father ended up having his own appearances as an artist, sharing the stage with legends such as Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe, Johnny Russell, and a plethora of others, as well as becoming a regular stand-in for The Ralph Emory Show. His run lasted from 1982-1999, I was basically “christened” into the country music and entertainment business. I was a backstage kid and also a performer myself from the age of 3, making my debut appearance singing “Let the Sunshine In.” I grew up with Gary S. Paxton as my father’s record producer so I have fond memories of hearing Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys phone in and seeing GRAMMYS being utilized to hold down painter’s tape. In 1992, I was the child that Bill Clinton carried across the Opry stage as he waved to the crowed at the Democratic National Convention as my family and I were special guests of President and Mrs. Clinton. My father had a Secret Service clearance and he worked 28 presidential flights without mishap as a manager at the Nashville Airport. I had the pleasure of boarding Airforce 1 and 2, and both the Presidential and Vice Presidential limousines. I became a child recording artist in Nashville at the age of 7 and recorded two albums. My song, “Paper Dolls” was an international sensation, especially in Germany. I also became a self-taught musician playing drums, acoustic guitar, and bass guitar all before the age of 15. I became my dad’s band drummer at the age of 9. We also traveled a lot so I know what life on the road is like also. I was homeschooled K through 12, and my mother was such a saint for that. I ended up graduating as the valedictorian of 57 students enrolled in my organization. Though music and recording were always a very big part, my mother had me saying my ABCs and 123s by sight and sound at age 2, I was reading encyclopedias by age 4, and I was writing cursive by age 6. However, though all of this sounds fun, life wasn’t always easy. At age 4, I had excruciating headaches begin and I was a sickly child. I did not get a formal diagnosis until 17 and we found out I had migraine disease. 1 in 7 Americans live with this disease which is completely debilitating. I ended up seeing a doctor who unfortunately, did not know how to treat my condition and I ended up addicted to opioids. I had graduated with my associate degree but had to drop out of my bachelor’s program and was on academic probation during this time with no hope in sight of ever finishing my dream education. Also during this time, my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer and she passed away on me. I wanted to die too. However, my angels were watching out for me. They sent this Nashville country girl (who was a whole lot rock ‘n’ roll) her dream rockstar and he saved my life. He got me off of the opioids. He got me eating whole foods and exercising everyday. I’m healthier now closer to 40 than I was at 16. I ended marrying him and we married in 2017. We met on a stage, he proposed on a stage, and we married on a stage. And…he’s got quite the resume himself, I’ll add. Over 400 albums he’s either sang on, wrote for, played on, produced, or engineered, music videos, documentaries…well…he needs his own interview. We were blessed to be in a VICE TV Network documentary, and I was under a 3-year contract with them and also a 3-year contract with Long Pond Media. A little-known secret about my father, Harvey, is that he was also a tent evangelist. The documentary that Brent and I were featured in together is part of VICE’s “Balls Deep” series and it is Season 1, Episode 1, and the episode is called “Tent Preachin’.” It can be found on Apple iTunes, Tubi, YouTube, and anywhere you can find VICE documentaries. It had confirmed 152 million views in 32 counties at one time. Anyhow…back to Brent and me. Brent got me back into college after we married and I graduated with my MBA. However, with life’s twists and turns, I realized I have a greater calling. I am now a spokesperson for Pfizer’s Nurtec ODT medication, which has been a complete game changer. My neurologist, that I was sent to after I changed primary care doctors, finally put me on the right treatment. I HAVE A LIFE NOW. I’m no longer bedridden and I am advocating as loud as I can for migraine disease. I am also a Community Leader for the Association of Migraine Disorders’ Shades for Migraine Campaign. I am putting together two silent Marches for Migraine in June, one for here in Hot Springs, and one for Oklahoma City as I was personally invited there. I changed my career path from running businesses for the past 18 years to pursuing a PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Sexual Traumas because I am also a sexual assault survivor. I want to help women who have been through trauma to heal. I believe healing is crucial to the human being. So many women out there have so much trauma, and most do not have the tools available to overcome it. Me…I am an overcomer. I do not allow any circumstance to bring me down. Yes, I also live with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as well–but it’s all about channeling. It’s how you look at life. A song once said, “Life is a Highway,” and it’s my calling to be AAA for people. I want to help women — and men—see that there is hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. You CAN, and you WILL come out on the other side; you will be blessed, healed, and successful. It is okay to NOT be okay, but do not let that control you…get up, dust your booty off, and get those boots walking and stop those problems in the dirt! If I can overcome, ANYONE can.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
You know, looking back, I would describe life as a road of mixed aggregates. I mean that as in sometimes the road has been smooth as if it were newly paved, sometimes bumpy, sometimes dirt, and sometimes, very, very rocky and gravelly. But…then…some days it’s that “clicky” annoying concrete road that hasn’t been maintained for a while with some major potholes. Sometimes it is a 10-lane freeway, and sometimes it is a two-lane or a one-way street. Overall, I am beyond thankful to my father God for my life’s journey. I would not change a thing if I could, despite some of the pain and tragedy along the way. Forgive me for being blunt, but I want our readers to feel my realness–I regret the times that I tried to destroy this beautiful gift called life and take it away from myself. Life is a true gift. I would tell anyone that no matter how terrible something is, how much something hurts, you can and you will get through it. This past year, my husband, Brent, asked what I wanted for my birthday gift from him. The greatest gift he gave me was an all-day hike at Lake Catherine State Park. I climbed a 450 ft. peak and watched the most beautiful waterfall. Earlier this year, we went to Yosemite and I climbed Lembert Dome, about 7000 ft. To be able to see the beauty and the majesty–to realize that “wow, just like this beautiful nature is part of God’s plan, I am too” is one of the greatest blessings and actualizations of my life. Let me say something…I feel like someone needs to see this today. Wherever you are right now, hurts unbearably. It does stink. It does feel impossible. You wonder how you will ever, ever make it out. Believe me, after taking an entire bottle of Valium at 24-years-old during a migraine attack one night hoping to go be with my mother, I wanted out. But…16 hours later…I woke up…no side effects whatsoever…so mad at God. But, the thing is, he had a plan for me. He has a plan for you too! My reader friend, you are going to come out stronger, wiser, and more beautiful than ever before–whether you are a woman or a man–you are so beautiful and precious. You are making it out, keep pushing. Do not give up, your greatest day is just around the corner. If I can make it, anyone can–I believe in you!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Jane of all trades and a mistress of many! My first page tells you a lot about me. I’ve spent my life as a singer, songwriter, self-taught musician (totally by ear with perfect pitch), and I am also a watercolor artist. I am an avid academic, I live to learn. I am a yogi, a whole food enthusiast, a beginning tai-chi practitioner, Reiki healer, gourmet cook, urban explorer, traveler, migraine advocate, a cheerleader to women in recovery, fur baby mom, rock n roll wife, backline company businessowner, PhD student, and retired beauty queen…so many things!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
No matter where I go, what I do, or who I become, my greatest accomplishment will be that I got to take care of my mother the last 4 years of her life. She was and is my hero to this day, and all that I am or hope to be I owe to God, my mom, and my husband, Brent Frazier. The second thing is I will always be true to myself…even if it means I lose “friends” (notice friends in quotations, readers!).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jenniferperduefrazier.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1nonly_jfrazier/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennpfrazier/
Image Credits
Main Photo: Jeff Fuller Freeman Photography
Hair: Adrianne Brooks/Whiplash Beauty/Eddie@LoX Salon
Makeup: Big Event Designs
Manicure/Pedicure: Nancy @ Mary’s Nails
Gown: Buffie’s All the Rage
