My Granddad was a bluegrass musician in East Tennessee and he was always playing the accordion around me growing up. He encouraged me to pursue music and I have even played his accordion in some of my recordings. I believe music is truly healing and in 2014 I released a song called “Granddad” about my relationship with him.

Sarah Harralson is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter known for her lyrical honesty, heartfelt storytelling, and powerful vocals. Her music blends authentic life experiences with universal themes, resonating with audiences worldwide. She has collaborated with industry legends, toured internationally, and continues to inspire through both her songs and volunteer work.

You began writing songs at just ten years old, inspired by your grandfather. How has his influence continued to shape your music and message over the years?

You’ve worked with industry legends like Johnny Garcia and toured internationally with symphonies—what have been some of the most transformative moments in your journey so far?

Being able to work with people like Johnny has helped me grow as an artist and songwriter. Touring internationally in eastern Europe was a pivotal moment in my music career to help me get on bigger stages worldwide to share my music. I signed a record and publishing deal in 2024 with Synapse Publishing & Entertainment and my music feels like it is at a whole new level working with Synapse and producer Dale Penner.

Your 2023 single “Blue Ribbon” is a deeply personal tribute to your mother. How did writing and releasing that song impact you emotionally, and what has the response been like?

I wrote “Blue Ribbon” about my mother’s 5 year battle with Colon Cancer. Unfortunately, she lost the battle in 2022. The song raises awareness for colon cancer and is a healing anthem for patients and survivors of the cancer. I was able to record the song and have my mother hear the song before she passed away. It was a very healing song for me to write, and the music video features patients and survivors from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Many people battling this cancer have reached out to me and said that this song has brought them hope and healing, which is very heartwarming.

Your music has been featured in a range of platforms — from Google Ireland ads to Hulu’s Living for the Dead. How do you approach writing music that’s both personal and universal enough for these broader formats?

I never wrote “Creature of Habit” or “Slow Me Down” specifically for sync placements, but they lyrically and melodically fit the theme of what these shows and companies were looking for. Anytime I write a song, whether it is for film and TV or not, I strive for the song to be relatable to people. I always want to write about authentic experiences I have been through, but I like my music to be universal so people can take what they need from it.

You stepped into the role of producer on Outside the Lines in 2023. How did it feel to take creative control behind the scenes, and what did you learn through that process?

I gained production experience during my time at Belmont University, but the West of Me and Outside the Lines albums were the first albums where I took a producer role on my own music. It can be very difficult being a producer on songs where you are also the artist, because you often feel like the songs are never done. It was beautiful having creative control to experiment and learning more about production along the way. I am currently co-producing my next project with Dale Penner (Nickelback, Loverboy) and it has been great having another producer to work with and try different techniques together.

You’ve been praised for your lyrical honesty and raw vocal delivery. What’s your songwriting process like when you’re crafting such emotionally rich material?

I think it’s important to stay authentic as a songwriter. People can tell when someone is inauthentic and it can be hard for people to relate to a piece of music when it doesn’t come from the heart. Even when I am co-writing a song, I like to draw from what I am feeling along with my co-writer’s experiences and thoughts.

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As an active volunteer with Musicians On Call, you've touched thousands of lives. How has that experience influenced your perspective as a performer and songwriter?

I’ve been volunteering with Musicians On Call since 2015, bringing the healing power of music to the bedsides of nearly 20,000 hospital patients nationally. This experience has made me realize my purpose as an artist, which is to provide healing music to people globally. I don’t think people realize how much hospital patients benefit from live music. Music can bring people joy and hope through the most painful times

You're now branching into other creative fields like voiceover work, podcasting, and even children's books. How do these projects complement your music career and help expand your storytelling voice?

I definitely wear a lot of hats these days! I enjoy doing all of these creative outlets and some of them are endeavors that I never planned on doing. I think storytelling goes beyond just music - I have been able to lend my voice to different formats such as educating people about the music industry via my podcast Mind Your Music Business, telling a story about friendship to children in my book Turtle Tears, and even simply through using my voice for audiobooks, which many enjoy. All of these different endeavors always make for fun conversation.

With your recent signing to Synapse Publishing & Entertainment and the upcoming documentary Women Behind the Lyrics, what’s next for you in 2025? What are you most excited about?

I just released my new single, “Put Yourself in My Boots”, which is a single from the upcoming documentary, Women Behind the Lyrics. The documentary features myself, Wendy Moten, Delaney Ann, and Judy Paster and takes a look at what it is like being a woman in the music industry and on the road. Our tour kicks off this October and our new single, “Paved the Way” releases on August 15th. You can follow @womenbehingthelyrics to stay up to date on our journey.

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