How were the holidays for you? Any special plans or was it mostly just hanging with family and friends?

Annie: The holidays were awesome. It was a traditional holiday celebration with my family. Lots of presents and food. This might’ve been the best Christmas ever actually. Now that my little brothers are getting older, we’re really connecting on a new level and I’m enjoying getting to know them as friends as well as a part of my family.

You said that you got some things for Christmas that you “Did not know that you wanted, but now you can’t live without. “ Can you tell us what some of things are? Did you get your fill of Bing Cherry Salad?

Annie: No Binger this year! We can’t find the bing cherries at the grocery store anymore! Woohoo! I’m actually using one of the gifts right now. My brothers got me one of those laptop table/cushion thingy’s that you put on your lap while you type. I use it everyday. The Saints snuggie was of course an unexpected thrill. But I’ve got some advice for everybody: amazon.com wish list.

 Any new years resolutions?

Annie: As usual, I make a vow to get in shape. I stuck to the Flat Belly Diet for Men (there was no way I could survive on the Women’s version) for about 3 weeks.

What is the biggest thing that has changed in your life since joining Sugarland?

Annie: Stability. It’s very rare that we musicians have a job that we can count on for a year at a time. It’s a great blessing.

Annie when you are off the road do you spend most of your time in Nashville? I understand you have a cool condo that you have Annified?  Weren’t there pictures of spray painted pink chairs in your backyard?  Including a few cooking experiments?

Annie:  Yes, I have a fabulous condo in Nashville that is sort of like a real-life version of the Barbie Dream House. The rooms are white, red, pink and lavender, like a valentine. I’ve got all my grape-lamps on display. I’m still not great at cooking, but thanks to some cookbooks given to me by some generous fans, I’m learning slowly.

 It has been almost a year since the 40 Watt show.  I have to say that I was there both nights and it was absolutely amazing!  Does Sugarland have any plans to play any shows like that this year?

Annie:  None that I know of but you never know…   (Sugarland played the 40 Watt in Athens Georgia last February. The 40 Watt holds about 500 people. Imagine seeing Sugarland at the local bar where they cut their teeth on the local music scene.)  Click Here and Here to View Annie and Sugarland in action at the 40 Watt 

So with the new tour coming up, what preparations do you go through to get ready to go back on the road?

 Annie:  Well the first thing I actually start thinking about is when I have to schedule a hair appointment. I try to plan it as close to our departure date as possible. It’s hard to find time to get your hair done on the road so I have to get as much mileage out of each cut as possible. Everything else comes together during rehearsals. I’m excited about getting back out there this year!

And we are very excited to see you guys out on the road. What does it take to get a show ready for the tour? What kind of time frame and practice schedule to you go through? Do you have any input into the show’s production and arrangements of the set list and songs?

Annie:  It takes months to get a show ready for tour. My contribution (i.e. rehearsing the music and stage blocking) will only take a couple of weeks. But designers and crew have been working since last year to get this new show ready. It will take over a month to put the whole thing together once everything is assembled and ready to go. I don’t have much input as far as the set is concerned, although people must think that I do because they’re always suggesting songs to me for us to play.

What is a typical day like on the road on the day of a show?

Annie:  Walk into the venue around 9ish. FIND CATERING. Find dressing room. Piddle around on my laptop or work on my Berklee online school homework until lunch. Eat lunch, work out, and sound check anywhere between 3-5. Take a shower (maybe, hehehe) eat dinner, start getting ready for the show. We all like to be together for at least 30 minutes before the show starts (The band I mean). The band shares a dressing room and we get the Ipod cranking and the hair spray sprayin’ and get into show mode. Then we play a show, come back to the dressing room, change into our PJ’s and get on the bus for a good night’s sleep!

So tell me more about your Berklee online school homework.
What exactly are you studying?

Annie:  I’m working toward a Master’s certificate in Music Business with an emphasis on Marketing. I’m taking classes that are focused on the changing climate of the industry and how artists with a DIY work-ethic can make some real headway in the emerging music industry.

Annie:  I think that this is a wonderful idea…

What’s usually running on the IPOD before the show?

Annie:  Brandon has a killer play-list of soft hits from the 70’s and other crazy stuff that he’s into. He’s the guy in the band who knows all these unknown killer bands and so we jam out to a lot of random stuff. When we really want to get pumped up we put on the Bee Gees.

What is the biggest misconception of life on the road with Sugarland? What is the biggest perk?

Annie:  I think people probably think it’s a lot more of a party environment. It’s really very low key. There are so many perks. My life is like one giant perk. I love all the presents from fans. I have to say, I love getting presents. Especially practical presents like candles, wine, gift cards, etc… I don’t have a lot of space to store things, so anything I can eat, spend, or burn is good.  

Do you do anything that totally annoys your band mates?

Annie:  I’m sure that I do. For one thing, I’ll sometimes do exercise videos in the dressing room. That can be annoying. Also, I’m not good at sharing, especially when it comes to food.  But I usually pick up everyone’s towels and put them in the dirty towel bin at the end of the night so that kind of makes up for it.

What do they do that annoys you? ( off the record of course)
Annie:  I honestly couldn’t be more blessed with a wonderful group of guys to share my life with. We all get along so well because we don’t really get on each other’s nerves.

Is it difficult to eat right and stay fit on the road?  You always look very fit and sassy on stage. You really look like you are having fun.

Annie:  That’s funny. I named my car “Sassy” in high school.    I can relate to “sassy.” It shouldn’t be as hard as it is for me to stay fit on the road. We have an amazing chef who makes healthy food as well as comfort food. I seem to always gravitate towards the comfort food. We lug a treadmill around with us and at some point during the day, you’ll find me walking at an incline, thumbing through a magazine. I’ve got time to bust my butt and run stairs, but I don’t do it…

 So did you go to the super bowl?  What do you think of Saintsmania” and “The Who Dat Nation?  I understand that you have a New Orleans Saints Snuggie? Whoa!! Is it a limited edition? Is it going on tour with you?

Annie:  I didn’t get to go to the game but I screamed my head off watching it on TV. Unbelievable game! And yes, I’ll be bringing out the Saints Snuggie. Snuggies are really handy on tour actually. Temperatures can change dramatically from city to city. And I need my hands free to answer all these interview questions.

Nice. How did the Clem Clammers with your Fantasy football league end up?

Annie:  Not great, I came in 8th place. But the Saints won the Super bowl so it’s all good.

I understand you work with Sorted Noise productions. Any exciting sessions that you were part of during your time in Nashville?  Did you play any showcases ?

Annie:  I’m busting my butt over at Sorted Noise. I sing backgrounds on any of their projects where a female BGV is needed. Mostly though, I’ve moved into a marketing position and am applying everything I’ve learned from touring to help teach our artists how to market themselves.

As far as exciting projects go, we did an album last year for  Ellis Paul, a long-time friend of Kristian’s. Kristian co-wrote several of the songs on the record and Ellis actually co-wrote “Little Wood Guitar” from Green and Gold with Jennifer and Kristian. He’s an amazingly talented artist and I was thrilled that we got to work with him. I just played in a promotional video with Sorted Noise-produced Perrin Lamb. He’s a great artist in the indie-singer/songwriter tradition. Look for the video on my website soon!

Can’t wait to see it. Any new up and coming artists that have caught your eye?

Annie:  Well, we’re working with a lot of them! Secrets In Stereo, Ellis and Perrin of course, Kylee Johnson, Have You Heard… there’s some really great artists that we’re working with right now!

Any plans to record your own CD?

Annie:  I’ve been kicking around the idea of making an EP of myself singing and playing the ukulele, but nothing’s set in stone. We’ll see!

Do you have any advice for up and coming artists or bands? What is the best advice you could give them now that you have been on tour and been behind the scenes with such a mega successful group as Sugarland?

Annie:  If I’ve learned anything, it might be that it is incredibly difficult to be an artist at the level of Sugarland. It’s non-stop work for Jennifer and Kristian. The chances of getting to this level to begin with are one in a million. My best advice is to try and be as authentically “you” as possible. If you can be yourself, that will shine through in your artistry and make you stand out from the crowd. That’s about the best chance anyone’s got.

Annie I think your opportunities are endless. You are super talented, beautiful, funny and smart. Anything that you decide to do…I think you are going to do it. Where do you see your self in 10 years? Do you want to settle down and have kids? (You need to have at least 3 so that they could create a band with bass, guitar and drums. HAHA.)

Thanks for those kind words!  Ideally, I can keep traveling with Sugarland for the next long while here and all the women on tour can strategically plan to have babies at the same time – Little Big Town style. Then we can build cribs in the bunks and live happily ever after. I’d also like to buy a big piece of land and build a compound for my whole family so we can always be together. Not sure if either of those things will happen, but a girl can dream can’t she?

 Yes you absolutely can Annie. Thank you Annie so much for taking the time to answer some questions for Sugarlandmania.com.  It has been really fun learning more about you.   See you out on the Road!

Sugarland talks to media backstage at the 2009 CMA Awards after winning Duo of the Year.

Country music hitmaker Sugarland comes to Roanoke Friday
The successful band playing Roanoke on Friday is aiming for pop domination.
By Tad Dickens

There’s no room for doubt that Sugarland — after five years, three platinum-selling albums and armloads of major music awards — is a country music success.

So it’s kind of funny to hear band member Kristian Bush say the band is “still waiting” for its “big chance.”

He’s dead serious, though. Bush and Sugarland partner Jennifer Nettles want a heaping helping of pop music domination, too. There’s just one problem, Bush said: The act has had crossover chart success throughout its career, but has felt nothing but “awkward resistance” from pop radio.

“We believe that what we do, it doesn’t really matter what you call it,” said Bush, whose band hits the Roanoke Civic Center Coliseum on Friday night. “And I don’t really think that we’re mad about it. I just think you have to be patient … [waiting for the] word of mouth that spreads when people listen to our music and go: ‘Man this is good, I want to play it for you. I want to play this record for you. I want you to hear this.’”

Click Here to read the rest of the article and hear the 45 minute podcast.

Sugarland Canada Revival Interview Part 1

Sugarland Canada Revival Interview Part 2

Sugarland Canada Revival Interview Part 3

Sugarlands Annie Clements Interview How I Got the Sugarland Gig
Find out how Annie got the call and where she was when she got the gig with Sugarland!

Sugarland-Backstage at George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade Concert

Jennifer Nettles sat down with American Songwriter Magazine during Sugarland’s recent concert stop in Edinburgh, Scotland.    Here is a preview of the article:  “I was talking to Gail, my manager, about coming over here,” says Sugarland’s sparkling frontwoman Jennifer Nettles of the decision to tour Europe, “and she’s like, ‘You know, lots of people are afraid to try… to go over there and play to smaller crowds, for people who don’t really know who you are…’”

Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article

ACM’s Top Vocal Duo. Listen tp Sugarland talk about their European shows, their live shows, Kristian’s scruff on the beard and the theory of evolution, their choice of singing What I’d Give and trying to introduce their sound to and ever expanding new audience, and writing for the new CD. GAC host Suzanne Alexander interviews Sugarland, the Top Vocal Dup at this year’s 44th Annual ACM Awards Show.