Music Spotlight artist, Taylor Hughes has one of all my all-time favorite country vocal sounds. Her rich contralto voice is one of the few females that I like to sing along with. Because of this, when she puts out new music, I pay attention because I know it’s going to be purposeful, gritty with a dash of outlaw. In other words, it’s right up my alley.

It’s been a year and a half since her last single, and her newest song, “Jesus and Jail” checks all the aforementioned boxes and more.

Even though she is still in her 20s, Taylor Hughes has always been a fan of Johnny Cash and outlaw country.

She told me, “I saw this shirt somewhere that said, ‘I live like Johnny Cash somewhere between Jesus and jail.’ And I was like, ok, I think I can kind of relate to this.”

She took the idea to write with Krystal King, a friend with whom she regularly composes her “edgier” songs.

She explained “I had written the first verse, but I needed someone to help me find the direction and [Krystal] was all in 100%.”

The rocking tune talks about no one being perfect and is an anthem for outlaw women. In the song the character confesses, “I’m guilty as charged/ Never claimed to be a saint/ But my heart’s a little lost/ So I came here today/ To bow my head, make the cross/ Sending up my one phone call/ Hope the Lord will pay my bail/ Cause hell, I’m somewhere between Jesus and jail.”

With the backbeat driven verses, Hughes reminds that the struggle we face between knowing what’s right and doing what’s right affects women as much as men. “[Outlaw country] not just for the boys,” she explained.

Hughes’ previous releases, “Good Taste” and “Praying to the Whiskey” also embody that southern rock sensibility, but her powerhouse vocals soar with “High On Something” which a tribute to her much beloved husband.

“Jesus and Jail” is a favorite at her live shows, and she hopes listeners will love it as much she does.

Taylor Hughes will be providing direct support for Morgan Miles at the Freedom Festival in Hendersonville, Tennessee, on July 3rd. She will also be busy this summer playing local bars, breweries, and honky tonks in her home state of Kentucky and Tennessee. If you get a chance to see her live, be sure to take it. You will not be disappointed.

You can follow Taylor Hughes on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and all streaming platforms.

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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and Twitter.