Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Meghan Linsey has released her first solo album since age 14.

This has been quite an unusual year for Meghan Linsey, runner-up on Season 8 of The Voice.

In February, she was bitten in the face by a venomous brown recluse spider while sleeping. She still carries the scar.

In September, she was scheduled to sing the national anthem at a Tennessee Titans game the same weekend President Trump chastised NFL players for kneeling during the anthem.

Meghan knelt at the end of her performances, incurring the wrath of scores of fans in the process.

But the 31-year-old has turned the spider bite into a chance to warn others, appearing on The Doctors just last week.

And she’s never backed down from her national anthem decision, instead explaining her stance in an op-ed piece with The Washington Post.

Which brings us to this weekend and the release of Meghan’s new album, “Bold Like a Lion.” And makes the album title seem even more apt.

Meghan wrote the title track — which opens the album — with producer Tyler Cain and good friend Julie Moriva.

“It’s really about feeling empowered, overcoming adversity and standing up for things you believe in,” Meghan said in a Facebook chat on Friday. “I feel like that’s such an important part of who I am as an artist.”

Equally bold is the album’s sound. Meghan came to prominence as one half of the successful country duo “Steel Magnolia.”

By the time she reached The Voice stage, the duo was history and she was eager to venture beyond the bounds of country music.

She certainly does that on the pop-soul leaning new album, which features duets with Fred Schneider of the B-52’s on a song called “Freak 4 the Beat” and with Aloe Blacc on “Say It To My Face,” a stinging swipe at internet trolls.

The latter is one of the album’s highlights, along with the throwback sounding “Exes and Friends” and “Let It Go.” And it’s hard to imagine music fans of any genre not being pulled into the impassioned ballad “Mr. Homewrecker.”

“‘Mr. Homewrecker’ is a really special song,” Meghan told DigitalJournal.com. “It came from a very raw, real place and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to that one.”

We’ll soon see that song transformed into a music video. Meghan has posted a sneak peek on her Facebook page. And next week, signed physical copies of the album will be available from her website, along with an assortment of other goodies.

And Meghan’s celebrating the release tonight with a show at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Ga. Also performing: Sarah Potenza, another of the Season 8 standouts from The Voice.

Now, here’s that great duet with Aloe Blacc.

See also …
Albums and EPs released in 2017 by former The Voice artists
Singles released in 2017 by former The Voice artists