Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Best.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey in music began long before Nashville became my home. Growing up in Eastern Canada, I developed a love for performing at a very young age.
Eventually, my journey brought me to the United States, first to Charlottesville Virginia where I was part of an all-girl band “Best & Walker”. We played the circuit and traveled around the state a bit opening shows for bigger names in music. I eventually came to Nashville, where I continued pursuing my passion for music through songwriting, live performances, television appearances, and recording projects. One of my proudest songwriting milestones came when I wrote “Golden Years” for a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. The song later earned recognition from ASCAP, reminding me how powerful music can be in telling people’s stories and connecting generations.
Over the years, I’ve had opportunities to appear in music videos for artists like Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton, be featured in the film Country Strong, and participate in the television series Nashville as a musician for Rayna James. I was also a Top 33 finalist on USA Network’s Nashville Star, which was an exciting experience early in my career.
In 2015, I was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in New Brunswick, and that same year, I became an American citizen. Both milestones represent important parts of who I am and the journey that brought me to where I am today.
My career has continued to evolve, earning recognition through various music awards and allowing me to share my experiences as a featured speaker and educator at Summer NAMM. I’ve also been a voting member of the Recording Academy since 2015, which has given me another meaningful connection to the music industry.
I’m still writing, recording, and releasing music that reflects my life, experiences, and faith. My recent releases, “If I Go To Heaven” and “Rock That Doesn’t Roll,” were submitted for GRAMMY consideration in the Contemporary Christian field. I’ve learned that a music career is not always a straight path, but if you remain passionate, keep creating, and believe in what you do, there is always another chapter waiting to be written. For me, the journey is far from over, and I’m grateful for every opportunity to share my music with the world.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Wow, yeah…I gotta say that a career in music is rarely a smooth or a straight road. Music is a business of rejection, waiting, and putting yourself out there over and over again. I don’t know WHY we musicians have the patience for this, but we somehow love it enough to stick with it. There have been incredible moments, amazing opportunities, and milestones I’m incredibly proud of, but there have also been plenty of challenges, detours, and times when I’ve had to dig deep and remind myself why I started doing this in the first place. So, no, it hasn’t always been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t trade the journey. I believe there’s always another song to write, another door to open, and another opportunity around the corner, especially being a songwriter, there is no age limit to writing songs for movies, tv commercials, and of course for publishing companies looking for that hit song.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
WHO I AM? I’m one of a kind..Haha..No but seriously I’m a songwriter and independent recording artist based in Nashville, and I’ve been doing this long enough to know that no two music careers look alike! My roots are in country music, but my work spans songwriting, recording, live performance, television, film, and faith-inspired music. I specialize in storytelling through song, whether it’s a heartfelt country tune, a holiday song, or music that speaks to life’s deeper meaning.
MOST PROUD OF? I’m proud of my songwriting recognition from ASCAP for “Golden Years,” my award-winning work, and the opportunities I’ve had to appear in productions like Nashville and Country Strong, perform on NBC’s TODAY show, and serve as a speaker and educator at NAMM. As a Recording Academy voting member, I also appreciate being part of a community that recognizes the craft and creativity behind music.
WHAT SETS ME APART: What sets me apart is that I’m not afraid to keep evolving. I’ve built my career as an independent artist, learned to create my own opportunities, and explored different sides of the entertainment industry without losing sight of why I started: the love of music and connecting with people. I’m still writing, recording, and discovering new ways to share my songs. I believe experience gives a song depth, and I have plenty more stories left to tell!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
One book I’ve always been glad to have in my collection is Chas Williams’ foundational book titled “The Nashville Number System”. It’s such a valuable resource for musicians in helping understanding the language of music. I’ve also read other good books including this one, Nashville Voyager Magazine online, but yeah, this question gives me the chance to share something a little more personal…I’m writing a book of my own! It’s my autobiography, which has been quite a journey in itself. It’s given me the opportunity to look back at the experiences, challenges, unexpected turns, and memorable moments that have shaped my life and career in music. I’m not quite ready to reveal everything just yet about my book, but I’m excited to share my story when the time is right. After all, I’ve learned a few things along the way, and there’s a lot more to the story than what people see onstage!
www.brendabest.net
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brendabest.net
- Instagram: @brendabestnashville
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaBestNashville
- Twitter: @brendabest
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brendabest
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/brendabestnashville
- Other: https://brendabest.net/grammy-fyc-2026-2027
