Carman Collins + Turning Real Life into Country Songs
- Stacie Jowers
- Mar 5
- 4 min read
Some artists write songs because they love music. Others write songs because they have something they need to say.
When independent country artist Carman Collins joined me for this episode of Talk & Tunes, it became clear very quickly that her songwriting comes from the second place. Her music isn’t built around chasing trends or trying to sound like someone else. It comes from real experiences — the kind that shape you, challenge you, and sometimes leave a mark that takes years to fully understand.
For Carman, songwriting is how those experiences turn into something meaningful.
And sometimes, those songs end up helping someone else feel a little less alone.
Carman has been singing since she was five years old. Like many artists, her earliest inspiration came from hearing a voice that stopped her in her tracks — Karen Carpenter. From the moment she first heard “Superstar,” music became something she wanted to be part of. Over the years that passion grew, and recently she’s been stepping more fully into the industry as an independent country artist building her career on her own terms.
It’s not always the fastest road, but it’s the one that allows her to stay authentic to the kind of artist she wants to be.
Introducing Herself Through “All American Girl”
One of the highlights of our conversation was Carman’s recent single, “All American Girl,” which released January 13.
For Carman, the song was meant to do something very specific: introduce listeners to who she is.
She wrote the track herself and described it as a snapshot of her personality — patriotic, strong-willed, and unapologetically honest. The goal wasn’t just to release another song. It was to give listeners a sense of the attitude and spirit she brings to her music.
As she explained during our conversation, the song is meant to reflect exactly who she is. It’s gritty. It’s confident. And it’s completely her.
For someone hearing Carman Collins for the first time, “All American Girl” is exactly what she hoped it would be — an introduction.
Writing From Real Life
When we talked about her songwriting process, one thing became very clear: Carman doesn’t approach writing like a formula. Instead, she starts with memories.
Sometimes that means revisiting experiences that weren’t easy to live through the first time. Growing up, Carman dealt with bullying throughout her school years — something that stayed with her long after those years ended. Rather than burying those experiences, she eventually found a way to turn them into music.
Some of those songs have been the hardest to write. And sometimes even harder to record.
But for Carman, honesty is what makes music powerful. She wants people listening to her songs to feel like they’re not the only ones navigating difficult moments in life. Music, she believes, has always had the ability to do that.
“If someone can listen to my song for three minutes and just get away from their everyday struggles, then I’ve done my job as an artist.” — Carman Collins
That idea — music as therapy — came up more than once during our conversation. Carman talked about how songwriting often begins with reflecting on how she felt during certain moments in her life and simply writing everything down. From there, melodies start forming, and eventually those scattered thoughts turn into a finished song.
It may not be the traditional songwriting method, but it’s the one that works for her.
And judging by the emotional connection her music creates, it’s clearly working.
The Heart of This Episode
One of the most powerful moments in the conversation came when Carman talked about learning to deal with criticism.
Every artist faces it eventually. Not every listener will like every song, and in the age of social media those opinions can appear instantly and publicly. For many artists, that kind of feedback can be incredibly difficult to navigate.
But Carman’s perspective comes from experience.
Because she spent so many years dealing with bullying growing up, she had to learn early how to protect her mindset and not let negativity define her. That lesson has carried directly into her music career. She understands that not every song will resonate with everyone — and she’s okay with that.
As she said during the episode, that’s why the “next” button exists.
What matters most to her are the listeners who do connect with the music — the ones who hear a lyric and realize someone else has felt the same way they have.
And in country music, that kind of connection is everything.
What’s Ahead for Carman Collins
While there are still a few announcements she can’t share just yet, Carman hinted that some exciting things are on the horizon.
New music is on the way, and opportunities continue to open up as her career gains momentum. One event she can already talk about is an upcoming performance at The Barn in Sanford, Florida on April 11, where she’ll be performing as part of a PTSD veteran charity event — a cause that’s close to her heart.
Supporting mental health awareness and advocacy has always been important to her, so being part of that event feels especially meaningful.
If the trajectory of the past year is any indication, this is only the beginning for Carman Collins.
At Rt66 Country Music, conversations like this are exactly why the show exists.
Behind every artist is a story — and often the songs we connect with the most come from the moments that were hardest to live through.
Carman Collins is turning those moments into music.
And somewhere out there, someone listening might need to hear exactly what she has to say.
🎙 Listen to the full episode of Talk & Tunes with Carman Collins — available now on Rt66, Spotify, and all major platforms.
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