Caroline Jones talks motherhood, new record and joining Zac Brown Band

Caroline Jones, member of the Zac Brown Band, will take the stage at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, July 20.

For many musicians, life on the road can blur the line between the mundane and the strenuous. But for Caroline Jones, the country singer-songwriter and newest member of Zac Brown Band, tour life has become a vessel of love and the joys of newfound motherhood.

“It means a lot to me now that I have a baby, to stand up on stage and for my son to see that,” Jones shares over a recent phone call. “The gift of music and the community of music is something he’ll grow up around on this tour.”

Since taking on her new role as a mother, life for Jones has “done a complete 360, in the best way.” She’s now able to live the best of both worlds: nurturing her family while embracing the rockstar life. Although her touring roster is extensive—having performed with legends like Jimmy Buffet, The Eagles, One Republic, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Kip Moore, Lee Brice, Sara Evans, and her dear friend Kenny Chesney—there’s something uniquely different, a rush of pure adrenaline she’s never quite experienced before, as she hits the road once more as part of Chesney’s Sun Goes Down tour, but this time with Zac Brown Band, stopping at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, July 20.

This moment in time also feels like a full-circle experience for Jones, who opened for Chesney’s Songs for the Saints tour across North America in 2019. Prior to that, she had toured extensively as a supporting act for both Brown and her mentor, Jimmy Buffett, which paved the way for her opening slot with Chesney. It’s an equally surreal experience for Jones, who has been a Chesney fan since her teenage years when she was just starting to dive into the waters of country music. Now, being able to share the stage with him every night is “a pinch-me moment.”

The country songstress joined Zac Brown Band in 2022, but her journey with them started years earlier. As their opening act, she had shared stages with the band on and off, weaving her melodies into their outings.

After the world began to recover from the pandemic’s quiet, Brown reached out to Jones with a proposition: Would she like to play with the band a few times here and there? Those few gigs turned into a permanent spot in the band, marking a significant milestone as she became the first female addition to the Zac Brown Band.

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“I was so excited and so honored to take advantage of the opportunity,” Jones shares. “As a musician, to be on stage with the quality of musicianship, it was a surreal opportunity to learn from them, and to this day, I still feel that way; I’m still learning so much. I have so much to learn from every single one of them. They all have way more stage and life experience than I do, and soaking that up is key for me.”

Learning has been at the heart of her latest record, too. Last October marked the release of Jones’s third studio album, “Homesite,” a project that dives deep into themes of grit, resilience, and the journey of becoming a new parent. Featuring collaborations with familiar friends like Zac Brown Band and Vince Gill, among others, the 11-track album is a testament to her growth both as an artist and as a mother. Co-produced and written by Jones herself, “Homesite” weaves together stories of personal triumph and the evolution of her musical journey.

As Jones worked toward creating “Homesite,” she did so with a clear vision. Long before she began the physical journey of pregnancy, she was already writing songs about starting a family. For Jones, writing the album before becoming pregnant was a deliberate choice—encapsulating a chapter of life and ensuring it stood as a timeless ode. Tracks like “Homesite” and “Talking To Milo” capture Jones’s emotional grappling with the decisions that defined that pivotal period in her life.

“The themes that immediately come to mind for this record are grit and resilience, which are qualities you find through motherhood,” Jones said. “As you mature in this career and in life, you become accountable for your own choices and decisions. Some things go your way, and some don’t. But there’s a humility that comes with that, and a strength. It’s something that can only come with time and experience, especially in this industry, where there are so many highs and lows. It can be easy to second-guess yourself, especially with the influence of social media. We all feel those pressures. It’s about figuring out who you are and doubling down on that, and these are the big themes I wanted to carry within the record.”

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Now, Jones feels more comfortable in her cowgirl boots than ever, with a renewed conviction to tour, play, and create for the world. Joining the Zac Brown Band has been an unreal experience, as she would put it, especially playing at large arenas like SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Jones hopes to inspire others to believe that even the tiniest dreams can manifest into something real. With every note she sings and every stage she steps onto, she aims to give voice to those dreams, proving that perseverance and passion can break barriers and create lasting legacies.

“First and foremost, I hope to be an example for other women, not just through my words, but through my actions and who I am.  And if I can accomplish that, then I’m doing fine. It means the world to me.”