Country Singer Jo Dee Messina Recalls Nashville Label Rejecting Her for Being "Too Fat"

The "Bye Bye" singer says she's "still talking about" the harsh criticism she faced early in her career.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:19pm

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Country music star Jo Dee Messina revealed that a Nashville record label rejected her early in her career because they said she was "too fat." Messina, now 55, said she was "devastated" by the critique, and that she's "still talking about it" 30 years later, despite going on to major success in the industry.

Why it matters

Messina's experience highlights the persistent body image pressures and discrimination that female artists in the music industry have faced, even as they achieve commercial success. Her story resonates with broader conversations about unrealistic beauty standards and the need for more inclusive representation in the entertainment world.

The details

During an interview on "The Bobby Bones Show," Messina shared that a Nashville record label told her producer they would have signed her if she was "10 pounds lighter." Messina said she was "devastated" by the feedback, but her sister encouraged her to "just keep going." Messina went on to break through in 1996 with her debut self-titled album, which featured the hit "Heads Carolina, Tails California." She is now set to release her first studio album in 12 years, "Bridges," this summer.

  • In 1996, Messina released her debut self-titled album.
  • In 2014, Messina released her last studio album, "Me."
  • In September 2017, Messina announced she was diagnosed with cancer.
  • By March 2018, Messina announced she was in remission and back to performing.
  • On March 14, 2026, Messina shared the story of being rejected by a Nashville label for being "too fat" in a recent interview.

The players

Jo Dee Messina

A 55-year-old country music singer known for hits like "Bye Bye" and "Heads Carolina, Tails California."

Messina's sister

Messina's "greatest support" who encouraged her to "just keep going" after the harsh rejection from the Nashville label.

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What they’re saying

“I remember I got turned down by a record label in Nashville. They said I was too fat. They told my producer that, 'Oh, if she was 10 pounds lighter, we'd have signed her.'”

— Jo Dee Messina, Country Singer (The Bobby Bones Show)

“They say you have to get passed on a thousand times before you get a deal.”

— Messina's sister (The Bobby Bones Show)

What’s next

Messina is currently on tour throughout America promoting her upcoming album "Bridges," which is set to be released this summer.

The takeaway

Messina's experience highlights the persistent body image pressures and discrimination that female artists in the music industry have faced, even as they achieve commercial success. Her story resonates with broader conversations about the need for more inclusive representation and acceptance of diverse body types in the entertainment world.