While a certain country music star has been making headlines for his dramatic weight loss, 1990s country music icon Jo Dee Messina has also been getting in shape.
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If you follow the "Heads Carolina, Tails California" singer on TikTok, then you're probably already familiar with her workout content. Fans have been asking her about her exercise routine, sharing in the comments how her hard work has motivated them to take care of themselves.
Jo Dee Messina Might Have Been a Little Too Hard on Herself
On the Taste of Country Nights podcast, Messina opened up about the moment she knew she had to make a change.
"I started to see pictures of myself, and I didn't recognize myself," she said. "I wouldn't let people take pictures. I'm like [to my assistant] 'Just please stop taking pictures of me, I don't even know who that is, it's so gross."
Several years ago, Messina reached a turning point and decided to alter her lifestyle, which included starting a new fitness routine.
"It's been two years," she explained. "It wasn't like 'Hey, let's pop a pill and be skinny in a month,' this is like 'keep going, keep going, keep going.'"
While she didn't share exactly how many pounds she has lost, fans have certainly been inspired by Messina's journey. And this summer, the singer will release her first album in over a decade, Bridges.
A Record Exec Told Messina She Was Too Fat
In hindsight, it's hard to believe that any record company executive in their right mind would reject Messina. She has had nine number one hits, 16 Top 40 songs, and awards and nominations from the ACM, CMA, AMA, Billboard, and Grammy Awards.
But earlier in her career, she was working to make a name for herself. We reported last week that a label once rejected the 55-year-old because of her weight.
"I remember I got turned down by a record label in Nashville. They said I was too fat," she said. "They told my producer that, 'Oh, if she was 10 pounds lighter, we'd have signed her.'"
Those words "devastated" Messina and have stayed with her for decades.
"It's 30 years later, I'm still talking about it," she said. "I didn't let it go."
Despite this setback, Messina pressed on with the encouragement of her sister, who told her to "just keep going."
Messina said, "They say you have to get passed on a thousand times before you get a deal."
