Star Jackson “You Do You”
Americana Highways brings you this premiere of Star Jackson’s song “You Do You” from her forthcoming album. The music was produced by Kent Wells; mixed by Kent Wells and Steve Williamson; engineered by Kyle Dickinson with assistance from Kat Luchterhand; and mastered by Kevin Willis.
“You Do You” is Star Jackson on vocals; Kent Wells on acoustic guitar; Scotty Sanders on steel guitar; Evan Hutchings on drums; Jerry McPherson on electric guitar; Mark Hill on bass; and Mike Rojas on keys.
The video was produced by Kimberly Nail. We had a chance to chat with Star about the music and more. The video appears just beneath the interview.
Americana Highways: The song tackles outside expectations with sass and heart—was there a specific expectation you were most fed up with when writing it?
SJ: Absolutely. I think I just got tired of feeling like I had to shrink myself to make others comfortable. As a Southern woman, a mama, and someone chasing big dreams, there’s this unspoken rule to be polite, quiet, agreeable—but I was suffocating under that. I had a lot of folks supporting me and my dreams when I moved the family to Nashville after getting married and having babies. There was also a lot of talk back home of “I can’t believe she is deciding to chase her dream now- Shouldn’t she be prioritizing her family?” Well guess what? You can do both. I can do both. I am doing both. “You Do You” came from a place of finally saying, “No more.” I don’t owe anyone a watered-down version of myself to fit their narrative of me. This song was my line in the sand—gracefully and freely drawn, but firm.
AH: Your debut single “High Horse” made a strong first impression—how do you see “You Do You” building on or branching out from that?
SJ: “High Horse” was about calling out hypocrisy and judgment—it had strength to it, with a whole lot of fire underneath. “You Do You” carries that same spirit but feels lighter, freer. It’s more about releasing what doesn’t serve you and choosing joy in who you are. I think both songs are about self-respect, but this one leans into the freedom that comes when you stop explaining yourself and just live. It’s a natural next step in the story.
AH: You talk about being a ‘modern-day pioneer woman with a mic’—how does that identity shape your role as an artist?
SJ: That phrase really speaks to how I see myself—rooted in tradition but not afraid to push forward- not afraid to go in a direction that isn’t “safe.” As a Southern woman, a mama, a wife, and an artist, I carry a lot—but I also create from it. Being a “modern-day pioneer” means honoring where I come from while giving myself the space to grow, question, and evolve. I want my music to reflect the strength and softness it takes to build a life while staying true to yourself. That’s what drives me—telling the truth, holding the line, and singing it all out loud.
Thank very much for chatting with us, Star Jackson. This song draws a firm boundary in sweet country style as Star asks the honest rhetorical question: “how about you do you and I’ll do me?” Throw off the chains of judgement and follow the path you love! And it’s all done with steel guitar driving the country tones and guitars and keys towing the line. Smashing.
You can find the music here: https://ffm.to/star-jackson-you-do-you
